In november of 1998, I was able to open up a show for my hero Todd Rundgren. This was at a venue called Northern Lights In Clifton Park N.Y. It was the tour Todd was doing, where he sheduled, as he called it, just a smattering of dates. Jesse Gress was there and Todd invited an audience member to hang out onstage and run the computer.As I entered the club, Todd was onstage soudchecking, and I waited my turn. When I was told to go up onstage, Todd was still there and sort of moaned at me as he left the stage. I said nothing. I really do look a bit like todd and one gentlemen approached me to tell me how much he enjoyed "nearly human" It was kinda embarrassing for me, but I did not correct him. I performed a thirty minute set, and felt good about the show. Todd played a casual and fun set, and I celebrated with a few drinks. A friend of mine said that mary lou arnold said it was cool that I met todd, who was enjoying microwaveable italian food, and jack daniels backstage. When I told him I was mistaken for him, he responded "You gotta stop sounded so much like me!" with I guess is a kind of bitter-sweet comment. At least he didnt say I sounded like "Asia". He then signed my just purchased copy of TR-I t.v., it read "to John the Mello-tron", because I did a song about how there is too much mellotron in modern music, Anyways if any of you are in the albany ny area, look for my group The Staziaks or do a search engine on the staziaks, and see if I really do look like todd, I dont know. It was a dream of a lifetime to open for the wizard. I now live in boston and am following my songwriting dream, sincerely....
john powhida
jpowhida@earthlink.net