Few people get to be famous and anonymous at the same time. With a career spanning more than four decades, the multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer Todd Rundgren has had an active hand in shaping the sound of American popular music. Starting in 1972 with his top 40 hits “Hello, It’s Me” and “I Saw the Light,” Rundgren carved out a niche as the go-to producer for bands and musicians wanting to take it to the next level. He’s worked with a wide assortment including Badfinger, the New York Dolls, the Band, Meat Loaf, and the Psychedelic Furs, while maintaining a lucrative career as an in-demand performer and collaborator. As he stated in his party-starting anthem from 1983, “Bang on the Drum All Day,” Rundgren’s career continues to be defined by his single-minded determination to blur the line between work and play. He brings his underappreciated bag of musical tricks to the National on Thursday, Aug. 20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. $20-$25. thenationalva.com.