Big Head Todd

If you check out Todd Rundgren's MySpace page, which features a large shirtless photo of the aging songwriter, or his website, which trumpets him almost deafeningly, it's clear the man is full of himself. But look back at his career. There was the Nazz, a garage band that still inspires new generations of leather-jacketed longhairs. There was the Nazz hit "Hello It's Me," later transformed into a swooning slice of piano-pop by Rundgren solo. Classic albums followed (Runt , anyone?), and Rundgren produced everyone under the sun, including Meat Loaf, the New York Dolls, the Band, Cheap Trick, and Hall & Oates. Then came the New Cars, which found him replacing Ric Ocasek. Still, it worked, like almost every weird idea ever to spring from Rundgren's head. So, yeah, bragging rights are all his.
Thu., July 3, 8 p.m., 2008