Consciously or not, 1978's HERMIT OF MINK HOLLOW was Todd Rundgren's farewell to the AM-radio-friendly pop of the first decade of his career. For the tour promoting that album, Rundgren chose to play only in the sort of small clubs he'd toured in the late '60s with his first band, the Nazz, and BACK TO THE BARS, recorded at L.A.'s Roxy, Cleveland's Agora, and New York's Bottom Line, is the two-disc result.
Somewhat unexpectedly, this is no stripped-down affair. Besides his usual backing band, Utopia, these shows feature a number of special guests, including Rundgren's old friend and compatriot Mark "Moogy" Klingman, Spencer Davis, Stevie Nicks, and fellow Philadelphians Daryl Hall and John Oates, whose vocals enliven the Philly-soul medley "I'm So Proud / Ooh Baby Baby / La La Means I Love You / I Saw The Light". BACK TO THE BARS is an enjoyable live romp.|
Rovi