Quartet joins Todd Rundgren for world premiere at UF

October 4, 2012

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Today’s premier post-classical string quartet, ETHEL, and multi-platinum recording artist Todd Rundgren launch the world premiere of their Tell Me Something Good tour at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Phillips Center for Performing Arts.

Tell Me Something Good brings ETHEL and Rundgren together as they draw material and inspiration from the sounds and scenes of the 1970s. Tabbed “The ‘Me’ Decade,” the 1970s were a restless, intelligent, dissatisfied time – a decade of contradictions, loss and discovery.

The thrilling collaboration of ETHEL, which Pitchfork deemed “a necessary jet of cold water in the contemporary classical scene,” and Rundgren (electric and acoustic guitars, ukulele, piano) is surprising fans with groundbreaking compositions and nontraditional improvisation.

Both artists will pull from their vast catalogs and will also perform collaborations, including arrangements of “I Saw the Light,” “Flamingo,” “Zen Archer,” “Stood Up,” “Black Maria” and Lord Chancellor’s “Nightmare Song,” to name a few. Steered by Rundgren’s acrobatic vocal delivery, ETHEL recreates intricate vocal backgrounds on strings, swooping and sliding through the daredevil stop-and-start melodies.

ETHEL and Rundgren first toured together in 2005, finding a deep connection and ongoing friendship in their passion for authenticity and their curiosity about emerging music.

Tickets are on sale and available for this performance. Call 352-392-ARTS (2787) or 800-905-ARTS (toll free within Florida), or visit www.performingarts.ufl.edu for more information.

Tickets are $15 to $30. UF students pay $10.