http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/15210854-todd-rundgren-rocks-canalside
Todd Rundgren Rocks Canalside
Buffalo : NY : USA | Aug 15, 2013 at 10:32 PM PDT
By Sherrill Fulghum
On August 15 Canalside ath te Erie Canal Harbourside in Buffalo got down and loud with some good old fashioned rock and roll when This is Fiction, Sister Sparrow, andTodd Rundgren took the stage.
Buffalo's own This is Fiction got the night of rock started off and played a six song set to a rather small but very enthusiastic crowd. One fan even shouted that he wanted to marry the lead singer Derek's guitar. Derek responded that the guitar was single.
After a break to reset the stage, and a few impatient fans shouting to bring on the band, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds took the stage. Sister Sparrow is a rock band with a female singer, a harmonic player, and a brass section of trumpet, trombone, and baritone saxophone. Among the songs during the 10 song set on the beautiful summer evening was "Make it Rain"; and dedicating the song to all mothers in the crowd Sister Sparrow sang "Mama Knows".
The New York eight piece band began as a family affair with big brother Jackson on the harmonica and cousin Bram holding it down on the drums. But Jackson is much more than just the typical harmonica player, he made that tiny little instrument sound as huge as a Hammond organ - and soudned just like one too.
As Sister Sparrow was ending their set and the sun was getting low in the sky, the area around the stage was as crowded as a street corner at The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. During the break, the crowd was tense with anticipation and ready to explode with excitement as they waited to hear the headlining artist of the week - Todd Rundgren.
Finally the big man took the stage and after working the stage - constantly moving - and performing a couple of songs Rundgren donned a green guitar saying, "yeah, it's a guitar. Guitars are cool".
Soon a stool appeared alongside an instrument case/table with Rundgren telling the crowd that his conctract required a certain amount of sit time - about four songs -; adding that sometimes he even had a snack - holding up a banana. As it turned out when he announced that it was time for his snack, the "banana" was a musical shaker.
Teasing the crowd Rundgren told them that he was going to perform his biggest hit...in Australia which turned out to be "Can We Still Be Friends".
Once his required "sit time" was fulfilled, Rundgren again took to rocking the stage and conducting his four piece band performing a number of his hit songs; but there was one missing from the list...until the encore. Once again teasing the fans Rundgren contenplated as to which song they should perform for the what turned out to be a two song encore. Then everyone heard the big one..."Hello it's Me".
At 65 Rundgren shows no signs of waning, he hasn't lost his voice or musical ability like some rockers of his era. The packed crowd danced, sang, and clapped along and when it all came to an end; they stood and chanted for more when the roadies began to tear down the stage. Reluctantly the fans began to disperse, many hanging around the stage hoping for souvenirs.
Sherrill Fulghum is based in Niagara Falls, New York, United States of America, and is an Anchor for Allvoices.
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