Toadies

Toadies are an American rock band formed in 1989 in Fort Worth, Texas, best known for the song "Possum Kingdom". The band's classic lineup consisted of Vaden Todd Lewis (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Lisa Umbarger (bass guitar), Darrel Herbert (lead guitar), and Mark Reznicek (drums). The band released two studio albums before disbanding in 2001 after Umbarger left the group. The band reformed in 2006 and released the album No Deliverance two years later In 2010, they re-released the album Feeler with Kirtland Records (the album's original release was denied by Interscope in 1997). The band's most recent album, The Lower Side of Uptown, was released in September 2017.

Biography

Early years, Rubberneck, and commercial breakthrough (1989–1996)

Toadies began in 1989 in Fort Worth, Texas. They recorded a few cassette self-releases and an EP titled Pleather before signing to Interscope Records. Their first full-length album, Rubberneck, was released in the summer of 1994. Featuring a sound described as "distinctly grunge" and "distinctly Texan",<ref name="DailyCal Rubberneck Reunion"/> Rubberneck included six singles, "Possum Kingdom", "Mister Love", "Away", "Tyler", "Backslider" and "I Come From the Water". "Backslider" can be heard in the film Black Sheep. "Possum Kingdom" would later become a playable track in the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero II. Interscope did not properly promote the album for its first year on release, calling it a "marketing strategy",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> until "Possum Kingdom" became a successful single in late 1995, reaching number nine on the Mainstream Rock Chart.

Toadies toured extensively throughout the 1990s supporting Rubberneck, opening for artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Zombie, Bush, and The Butthole Surfers. The band also headlined and co-headlined tours with acts such as Supersuckers, and The Reverend Horton Heat. Toadies were a regular act at the festivals Edgefest in Dallas, and Buzzfest in Houston during these years.

Feeler sessions, Hell Below/Stars Above, and breakup (1997–2002)

The band entered the studio in 1997 to record new tracks for a second album, Feeler.<ref name="Feeler (Spin)">Template:Cite news</ref> Interscope Records did not approve the finished product, and rejected its 1998 release.<ref name="Feeler (Spin)" /><ref name="Feeler (Avalanche)">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Feeler (Statesman)">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2000, they went back to the studio, salvaged some of the songs from the Feeler sessions, and released their second full-length album Hell Below/Stars Above in the spring of 2001.<ref name="Feeler (Avalanche)" /><ref name="Feeler (Statesman)" /> Portland-based musician Elliott Smith performed piano backup for the title track.

Hell Below/Stars Above was not promoted by Interscope and saw poor sales.<ref name="Observer 2001 Breakup">Template:Cite news</ref> The band toured in the spring and summer of 2001 in support of the new album, until bassist Lisa Umbarger unexpectedly resigned from the band on July 14, 2001. Umbarger told the Dallas Observer that she resigned after realizing that Interscope Records was not going to promote the band.<ref name="Observer 2001 Breakup" /> Vaden Todd Lewis decided to break up the band rather than continue without her, a decision which "stunned" Umbarger.<ref name="Observer 2001 Breakup" /> The band played a few farewell shows later that summer, with Mark Hughes filling in for Umbarger, before parting ways after their final show on October 1, 2001.<ref name="Observer 2001 Breakup" />

Shortly after the break-up, a live album, Best of Toadies: Live from Paradise, was released. It was recorded earlier in 2001 at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA. The album was released through Aezra Records, but Kirtland Records later picked up the band's back catalogue.

No Deliverance, Feeler release, and Play.Rock.Music (2006–2013)

Toadies reformed for a reunion show on March 11, 2006, headlining the Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day parade concert, drawing in an estimated 100,000 people.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In March 2007, they embarked on a mini-tour, playing dates in Austin, Houston, and Dallas. The final show of the mini-tour was recorded and released as the live album Rock Show.

The band released its third studio album, No Deliverance, on August 19, 2008, via Kirtland Records. The lead single for the album was the title track.

Toadies performed at Lollapalooza on August 2, 2008, Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival on May 16, 2009, and May 18, 2013, and Austin City Limits Music Festival on October 4, 2009. In addition, on August 31, 2008, the Toadies headlined the inaugural Dia De Los Toadies, an annual Texas music festival organized by and featuring the band.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In June 2010 it was announced that Feeler, the follow-up album to Rubberneck that was shelved by Interscope, would finally be seeing a release. Vaden Todd Lewis was quoted as saying: "Since there are unfinished versions floating around on the Internet, it is important to us that people hear it as we meant it to be." The band was unable to obtain the original 1997 Feeler masters from Interscope, and re-recorded the album in 2010.<ref name="Feeler (Spin)" /> The album was released on July 20, 2010.

The band's fifth album, Play.Rock.Music, was released July 31, 2012 on Kirtland Records. A promotional video for the track, "Summer of the Strange," can be viewed on Clark Vogeler's YouTube channel.<ref name="Clark Vogeler's YouTube Channel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Toadies Rubberneck 20th Anniversary Tour.jpg

Toadies performing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the Rubberneck 20th Anniversary Tour.

Rubberneck 20th-anniversary reissue and tour (2014)

On January 7, 2014, the Toadies announced via its Facebook page that its Rubberneck album would be reissued by Kirtland Records with five previously unreleased bonus tracks.<ref name="2014FB1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref name="Observer010814">Template:Cite news</ref> The announcement also revealed plans for a nationwide Rubberneck 20-year anniversary tour, featuring the Toadies playing the entire Rubberneck album "front to back", with supporting acts Supersuckers and Battleme.<ref name="2014FB1" /><ref name="2014FB2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> The tour ended in September 2014 with a final Rubberneck start to finish performance, followed by performances of the band's more recent songs, at the seventh annual Dia De Los Toadies festival in Fort Worth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Heretics and Summerland Tour (2015)

In January 2015, Everclear announced its fourth annual multi-city Summerland Tour via Twitter.<ref name="AnthemSummer2015">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The 2015 Summerland Tour featured Everclear and Toadies, as well as alternative rock bands American Hi-Fi and Fuel.<ref name="AnthemSummer2015" />

In June 2015, Toadies announced that its eighth album, Heretics, would be released September 18.<ref name="GuideLiveHeretics">Template:Cite news</ref> The album "re-imagines and reinterprets" several Toadies songs such as "Possum Kingdom" and "Backslider," and featured two new songs and a cover of Blondie's 1979 single "Heart of Glass".<ref name="GuideLiveHeretics" /> The Toadies also launched a new tour to promote Heretics in the fall of 2015, with the tour starting at the eighth annual Dia De Los Toadies music festival in September 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="DO 2015 Dia Review">Template:Cite news</ref>

The Lower Side of Uptown and Tour (2017)

The Toadies released its ninth album, The Lower Side of Uptown on September 8, 2017, via Kirtland Records. On September 6, 2017, band members kicked off their fall tour with Local H in Denton, Texas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

Damn You All to Hell EP and Rubberneck 25th Anniversary Tour (2022)

Toadies released the EP Damn You All to Hell on September 13, 2022, as they began touring North America to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the album Rubberneck.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The EP is four previously unreleased tracks, including a cover of David Bowie's 'Sound and Vision.' Three of the songs were recorded during sessions for the band's last studio album The Lower Side Of Uptown, while 'Forgiven' was recorded during the No Deliverance session.

Band members

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2 Current members

• Vaden Todd Lewis – lead vocals (1989–2001; 2006–present), rhythm guitar (1989–1991; 1992–2001; 2006–present), bass (2008)
• Mark Reznicek – drums (1991–2001; 2006–present)
• Clark Vogeler – lead guitar, backing vocals (1996–2001; 2006–present)
• Doni Blair – bass, backing vocals (2008–present)

Touring members

• Edo Levi – percussion (2001)

Former members

• Charles Mooney III – lead guitar (1989–1993)
• Lisa Umbarger – bass (1989–2001), backing vocals (1996–2001)
• Guy Vaughan – drums (1989)
• Terry Valderas – drums (1989)
• Michael Jerome – drums (1989–1990)
• Charles Madison Winchell III – drums (1990–1991)
• Tracey Sauerwein – rhythm guitar (1991–1992, died 2004)
• Darrel Herbert – lead guitar (1992–1996)
• Mark Hughes – bass (2001, 2006–2008)

Timeline

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 id:backing value:pink        legend:Backing_vocals
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 bar:Todd     text:"Vaden Todd Lewis"
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 bar:Doni     text:"Doni Blair"
 bar:Guy      text:"Guy Vaughan"
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 bar:Mark     from:03/11/2006 till:end        color:drums

 width:7 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

 bar:Todd     from:01/01/2008 till:08/19/2008 color:bass

 width:3 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)

 bar:Todd     from:01/01/1989 till:06/01/1991 color:rhythm
 bar:Todd     from:06/02/1992 till:10/01/2001 color:rhythm
 bar:Todd     from:03/11/2006 till:end        color:rhythm
 bar:Lisa     from:06/02/1996 till:07/14/2001 color:backing
 bar:Clark    from:09/01/1996 till:10/01/2001 color:backing
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 at:03/20/2001 color:black  layer:back
 at:08/19/2008 color:black  layer:back
 at:08/10/2010 color:black  layer:back
 at:07/31/2012 color:black  layer:back
 at:09/18/2015 color:black  layer:back
color:ep
width:2
at:06/01/1989
at:06/26/1992
at:05/18/1993
at:02/08/2008
at:09/18/2022

</timeline>

Discography

• Rubberneck (1994)
• Hell Below/Stars Above (2001)
• No Deliverance (2008)
• Feeler (2010)
• Play.Rock.Music (2012)
• Heretics (2015)
• The Lower Side of Uptown (2017)

See also

• Dia De Los Toadies
• List of alternative music artists

External links

• The Toadies official website
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• Interview with Vaden Todd Lewis 11/14/2007
• New Times Broward-Palm Beach: Stand and Deliver