Todd isn't really Godd, at least not anymore. He's just a guy who used to have a few hits, sell a few records, and tour, both solo and with a band called Utopia. I've been a fan since 1974, seen him through the ups and (mostly) downs.
For the past several years he's been living on Kauai, making music when he feels like it, making the kind of music he feels like making, seemingly without regard for sales or popularity.
But that's probably stating it too favorably. I think he'd like his music to be more popular than it is, and can't seem to find the right groove anymore.
Which is why he used to play 3000 seat arenas, but last night played the Key Club in Hollywood to a crowd of maybe 200. I was there, with my friend Doug and his friend John.
First of all, the "Key Club" makes it sound like some sort of exclusive, polished brass password-only speakeasy. But no. It's not much more than the usual sticky-table-and-bar-food music venue like all the others on the Sunset Strip, like the Troubador or the Roxy.
One notable image of the evening: Doug's friend John had brain surgery 8 months ago, and has lost a lot of weight. He seems to be recovering well, but the surgery was a shock to his system, and he still cannot swallow anything, so he has a feeding tube in his stomach through which to put formula, etc. But the tube also accepts dry martinis, which John proceeded to suck out of his martini glass with a large plastic syringe and inject directly into stomach via the tube. Doctor's orders!
A lackluster opening act wandered on and off stage, whining pitifully about some Gen-Y problem or something. Todd came out around 10:15, which of course is when I usually go to bed. True to Todd's iconoclasm, he played only about five old songs to begin with, a few of them covers -- one was The Call's "The Walls Came Down," a song I really like -- and then launched into all 13 songs of his new, yet-to-be-released album. 13 new songs in a row is a bit of a grind for any audience. But everyone listened politely. I even liked a few of the new tunes.
John is friends with a few guys in the band, and had managed to get us a reserved table upstairs and our tickets comped. But unfortunately the sightlines from upstairs sucked, so after a while I went downstairs to stand with the rest of the Great Unwashed. This was more fun, I was pretty close to the stage. (See the photo above, from the crummy camera in my iPhone.)
As I was stomping my feet and generally enjoying myself, I looked around and noticed everyone looked really old. Many gray and balding heads, lots of paunchy guts. Gross! I suddenly felt tired. The show ended soon after.
Todd, of course, who just turned sixty, looked great. Come to think of it, I hate him.
2 comments:
Brian, You have always, do always, and will always make me laugh. You really know how to turn a phrase. Love, Your Sister (your biggest fan)
Hey Brian - I think we're in a similar place in our love/frustration with Todd. I've seen him over 30 times since 1989 (I got onboard with his last truly great album, Nearly Human). I've seen some great shows and some lousy ones (if he's playing solo acoustic, be afraid). So I wasn't sure I was even going to go to his SF show last night, until hours before the show. His last SF show was a snoozer and the lethargic AARP crowd had me rather uncomfortable. But I went -- with great apprehension -- mainly because I knew he'd be playing new material.
I was pleased to find the Great American Music Hall crowd was at near capacity (600+). Todd's voice was pretty rusty at first - he explained that he'd had just 3 hours of sleep: "Thanks, United Airlines" but he warmed up as the show progressed. And it was great to hear the rarely played "Love in Action" open the set.
The crowd was very energetic. At times it really sounded like a big rock show. Considering how few of his oldies he played, I could have lived without 2 covers of one-hit wonder 80s tunes (Lunatic Fringe and Walls Came Down). Both were played as political statements, but I'd have preferred a Woody Guthrie or Billy Bragg cover. And if he's just on an 80s kick, he could have at least played "Come On Eileen" fer fux sake.
I was pleasantly surprised with the new material and the crowd ate it up. And closing the show with the classics Couldn't I Just Tell You and Just One Victory (when is a presidential candidate going to get smart and use this as a campaign song?) made the whole night worthwhile. I'd nearly given up on Todd, but once again, he surprised me.
- Joseph (Lee Anne's pal)
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