Todd Rundgren in the Access Showroom at Aliante Station
Las Vegas, NV
June 20, 2009
 The always original Todd Rundgren performed live in Las Vegas in the 650-seat Access Showroom at Aliante Station on Saturday June 20, 2009. The date was part of Rundgren’s international Arena Tour 2009.Rundgren has left so many fingerprints on music, they grasp mainstream consciousness with “Hello, It’s Me” and Runt’s “We Gotta Get You A Woman.” He has produced for The Band, The Tubes, Grand Funk Railroad, Badfinger, Bad Religion, Cheap Trick, The Psychedelic Furs and Meat Loaf, among others. Rundgren formed the band Utopia and is credited with inventing the marriage of music and multimedia.
On stage Rundgren appeared the confident unapologetic artist who is focused on the present rather than on the past and a redelivery of old tunes. Accompanied by his tour band with Jesse Cress on guitar, Prarie Prince on drums, Kasim Sulton on keyboard and guitar, and Rachel Haden on bass, they started the set with five old favorites including Something/Anything’s “I Saw the Light.” Then Rundgren announced a live performance of his latest album Arena, the heart of the 90-minute 20-song set.
With his two-tone hair, muscle shirt, shades and his guitar, Rundgren fit the role of accomplished rock star as he launched into Arena’s opening track, “Mad,” with more vitality and intensity than seen on the older tunes.
Playing through the album, they followed with “Afraid,” “Mercenary” and “Gun.” With “Courage” they performed a new song that emerges as instantly classic Rundgren.
After “Weakness,” Rundgren called for a sky-high fist pump from the audience for “Strike” before apologetically remembering, oh yeah, “You’re old now.” The band slowed with “Pissin,” “Today” and “Bardo” before reaching another peak with “Mountaintop.”
“Panic” led to “Manup” that brought the audience to their feet. Both encores switched back to vintage numbers that left the audience satisfied.
Rundgren’s genius was understated and accessible in this venue of the Access Showroom which offers exactly what its name implies, access to the artist. This is an audience that has stayed with this artist until they return full circle to the small venues in which they found him four decades ago.
With the wisdom of a seasoned artist known for his vision, Todd Rundgren focused on the now. The audience, undoubtedly, will come back for more. While the show was intimate, Todd Rundgren now, as always, delivers Arena quality.
Terry Martinez – MusicReviews.com Senior Reviewer/Assistant Editor
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