The New Cars didn't offer any big surprises Saturday night at the Riverside Theater, except one.

They were really good.

OK, and they were fun, too.

The New Cars, previously known as The Cars before the band broke up in the late 1980s, have toured over the skepticism of fans and others who wondered just how good the band could be without its original lineup. The five-member band still has two of its original members – guitarist Elliot Easton and keyboardist Greg Hawkes – but it might as well be called "Todd Rundgren and the New Cars."

Rundgren, a longtime singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer who has had hits of his own, agreed to lead the latest version of the Cars when original lead singer and guitarist Rick Ocasek opted out of a reunion. As much as Rundgren tried to share the spotlight with his band mates Saturday night, the new/old band still was dominated by his presence. But that was a good thing.

Rundgren brought energy to a band that previously had the stage presence of a group of wooden cigar store Indians. Split-jumping, wind-milling and running about the stage, Rundgren was having as good a time as an audience that seemed split between Cars fans and Rundgren fans. Of course, the latter group was delighted when the band broke into Rundgren's hit "I Saw the Light" and later when they played "Bang the Drum All Day."

But the night was really dedicated to loyal Cars fans, people who came to see the band play familiar old Cars tunes like "My Best Friend's Girl," "Let's Go," "Let the Good Times Roll," "Bye Bye Love," "Just What I Needed" and "Moving in Stereo," just to name a few of the 21 songs The New Cars played during a 90-minute set and a 10-minute encore. Those fans got everything they came to see. Yet while the band played little in the way of new material, this was no nostalgia act. They played with the enthusiasm and precision of a new band playing new songs.

Rundgren handled most of the vocals, often sounding like Ocasek but never enough to make you forget it was really Rundgren. Bassist and long-time Rundgren associate Kasim Sultan took the mike a few times, notably on "All Mixed Up," and "Drive," and the sound was uncannily like the old Cars.

The band was tight, playing in front of a "New Cars" logo with a stainless steel set replete with steel circles surrounding drummer Prairie Prince and Hawkes.

Rundgren said prior to the Milwaukee engagement that the future of the New Cars would depend on audience response. Given Saturday night's appreciative audience, there may be a future for the New Cars.

Impressive opening act Persephone's Bees roared through a 40-minute set that put everyone on notice that they are a band to watch. Led by singer/songwriter/keyboardist Angelina Moysov, the Bees played a bit of post-New Wave, a little metal and, amazingly, Fairport Convention. Moysov prowled the stage like a young Grace Slick when she wasn't playing keyboards or Theremin, and guitarist Tom Ayres showed some interesting stage presence, especially when Moysov played guitar behind Ayres' back. The band played with a strut worthy of an opening act, and if they keep their act together they could have a bright future.

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Posted by screamin on Nov. 27, 2006 at 2:03 p.m. (report)

Did this person see the same show I did? Gilbertson in the Journal Sentinel had a much more accurate review of the show. 1-It was too loud for the room. 2-Two past members of the Cars does not even make a good Cars cover band. 3-Kasim Sulton, God love him, could not match Benjamin Orr's vocals on "Drive". Why even try? 4-No one wants to see this line up, if the attendance was an indication. Could only have been 500 people there total. SHAME THE REVIEW WAS SO FAR OFF THE MARK.

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