Runt in Amsterdam

Review by Herman Roovers (Switch to
)
6/13/2005

Todd & Joe: Loving you's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it!

part 1

Ethel, Todd and Joe in Amsterdam Carr⁄ 11 - 06 - 2005

There's something odd about this gig. Great names, great music, great audience and some greatest hits. But only at the end of the concert there's synergy.

Okay, Joe is a great singer/pianoplayer, has a good voice and - very important - has a lot of (European) hitsingles. And the Amsterdam audience likes them (the songs) en him (the guy) very much. But it's a bit to easy, to middle of the road, to common to impress, to predictable. Less tension/excitement.


part 2

Ethel, Todd and Joe in Amsterdam Carré 11 – 06 - 2005

Okay, Ethel is a classic rock ensemble. They start with a "heavy metal look/sound a like" mini-gig. Ever heard of Apocalyptica, the Scandinavian classic rockers who sound like Metallica? This is the lighter New York-version with humour. And with a very impressive climax: a gospel & blues song in a way you never have heard.

(to be continued)


Part 3

Okay, Todd has charisma, humour and a fistful of in crowd hits on the European continent. And he is very courageous. Playing the heavy-song Black and white for a Joe Jackson-audience is asking for some trouble. Combined with a not so strong voice and not so strong guitar playing this could have been a real disaster. And it was… at the start of the Todd – Hello it’s me – Rundgren-show. Fortunately he sang the very humorous Bang on the ukulele/drum , so part of the Jackson-audience accepted his extravert way of performing. And after a tremendous Pretending to care (with Ethel) he got the applause he (partly) deserved.

Okay, there was the end of the concert. The Rundgren-Jackson-Ethel-all-star-band started rocking for elderly people and scored with a Beatles easy tune. And the show went on with Soul brother and Stood up (great Ethel back up arrangement!). But, Soul Brothers Joe & Todd…. Why did you wait so long? It could have been a night to remember. Now, it was dust in the wind. And a very tough evening for both fan groups. Loving you is a dirty job, but we did it!

End of this review. We’ll be back the next day/gig.

Ciao from Holland,

Herman Roovers

hroovers@kabelfoon.nl


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06/11/2005 - Carre - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

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