According to Todd Rundgren, the answer, based on the free concert he played in downtown Detroit last night, is a resounding no. And my hat's off to him for that decision. My wife and sister-in-law who attended with me were beside themselves. "No Hello It's Me!?!...aargh!!" Maybe that quote isn't quite accurate but they both said something along those lines. Todd only reached back into that very deep catalog of his a few times. He did play I Saw the Light and even went back to his Nazz days for a kick-ass rendition of Open My Eyes. But most of the night was taken up by tunes from his latest CD Arena. For myself, I was delighted by this approach and respected his decision to play new material over a host of tired relics (great as they are) that he's had his fill of I'm sure. His band was excellent (what a joy to see the great Prairie Prince again on the drums) and I was amazed at the range and power of Todd's voice. The guy can wail. read more...

But back to the question, do you have to play the hits? I suppose you'll always disappoint people if you don't. I guess it boils down to whether you care that much. Or whether you can stand to play a 30 year old song yet again that you've grown to detest when you'd much rather play something more recent that you're a lot more excited about playing. Besides, it's the new material you're wanting to sell and what better way to do that than by playing it in front of a big crowd. Yeah, some won't like it - maybe even most - but there's a great chance others will and want to rush out the next day to buy a copy. I intend to...if I can find it that is. The selection in record stores these days is appalling...but I digress.

Two of my very best friends in the world make their living playing the same batch of tired old chestnuts two or three or more times a week. My Blue Bang Theory bandmate Paul Kingery plays with Three Dog Night and you better believe 95% of their show consists of the million sellers they put out back in the 60s and 70s. I get to see the band once every couple of years and yeah, I do enjoy hearing them. But honestly, I think I'd go nuts if I had to perform that same batch of tunes 75 times a year. And then there's my pal Remy Lambert from Fifty Amp Fuse, perhaps the best cover band I've ever seen. They're right in the middle of their busiest time of year playing the outdoor festival circuit in and around Detroit. Four or five gigs a week, setting it up and playing KC and the Sunshine Band and Play That Funky Music White Boy and Journey and Jessie's Girl and then tearing it all down, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, etc. We're Only In It For The Money, the great Frank Zappa once said. And who am I to talk? I sit at a desk crunching numbers at Ford for 8 hours a day. Wouldn't I rather play Joy to the World or Anyway You Want It for a bunch of screaming fans? Hmm. Tough question.