Todd Rundgren Delivers A Gem On Return To Riviera

Concert Review
Todd Rundgren
Tuesday April 30, 2024
West-Herr Riviera Theatre
North Tonawanda, NY
Review: Joseph Suto
Photos: Joseph Suto

The West Herr Riviera Theatre welcomed Todd Rundgren Tuesday evening. His performance marked the first time he played the venue since 2019. Rundgren is certainly no stranger to the venue having played it numerous times in the past. This time around he brought his Me/We Tour. Rundgren treated the crowd to a two hour plus extravaganza that touched on all phases of his long career.

The band Rundgren assembled this time around was stellar. Mainstays drummer Prairie Prince and bassist Kasim Sultan helped keep that rhythm section solid. He added in guitarist Bruce McDaniel, keyboardist Gil Assayas and multi-instrumentalist Bobby Strickland to round out the current touring band.

Sometimes with Rundgren you never know what you may hear. He dug up rare plays of “Woman’s World”, “The Last Ride” and “Flesh & Blood” as appetizers. Served up as the main course were “Buffalo Grass”, “Kindness” and the utopian gem “Secret Society”. Just amazing considering how long Rundgren has been doing this for. He is definitely never one to rest on his laurels.

Rundgren as it is known is not a fan of many of his hits. To satisfy the fans and probably to not have to play the full song of each he incorporated them into a medley for the first encore that featured “I Saw the Light”, “Can We Still Be Friends” and his highest charting song “Hello It’s Me”. No surprise that as soon as the band broke into “I Saw the Light” it received the loudest ovation of the night.

It really is astounding at how deep he goes into his catalog at this juncture of his career. Where most artists would settle into playing their hits and not going into their catalog deep at all Rundgren does the opposite. He has done an amazing job retaining and satisfying his fanbase by not really following any formula. Anyone who has never seen Rundgren must make a spot for doing so on their bucket list. You get another chance in September out in Hammondsport, NY.

Set List

I Think You Know
Secret Society (Utopia Song)
Weakness
Stood Up
Lost Horizon
Buffalo Grass
Beloved Infidel
Hit Me Like a Train
Wouldn’t You Like to Know
Sweet
Kindness
Woman’s World
Afterlife
Down With the Ship
Flesh & Blood
Honest Work
Rock Love (Utopia Song)
God Said
Fascist Christ
Hawking
Worldwide Epiphany