So the Toadies (Famously known for their epic mid 90's album Possum Kingdom) are back on the scene with a new album and made a tour stop at the Newport here in Columbus.
It was a helluva show tonight put on by the Toadies and a decent effort from their openers.
The first opener was pretty good. The lead singer had a great throaty shades of Chris Cornell voice to him. Although a little too much flamboyant '80s hair band feel with his stage presence.
2nd opener was from the UK. Couldn't get over the lead guitarists never combed bowl hair cut with a chunk of hair standing straight up in the back. They tried to be too hardcore but it doesn't jive well with me considering I'm well used to UK bands being the Oasis, U2, Keane, Spacehog and other BritPop varieties. Following the footsteps of Judas Priest or Def Leppard won't get you much attention in my book.
So by the end of the 2nd band I found my way up to the 3rd 4th row to the right of the stage. Wasn't as big of a crowd as I was expecting. Just enough to make it feel full, but few enough that no one needed to invade on another’s personal space.
Roadies were doing their thing, the mic check guy was on his game and everything was good. After 10 minutes of some bad house music (Newport never has good house music) and an empty stage, the same mic check roadie walked across the stage flicking his flashlight giving the go signal.
Trumpeted gladiator'esq music came on the loudspeakers for a few minutes and one by one the band members came out on stage. The bass'ist and lead guitarist looked to be younger guys, lead singer and drummer were definitely original members recalling the glance I look at the album liner notes to Possum Kingdom. Shades of grey were in effect here but aside from the color of their hair you wouldn't know they were pushing their mid 40's by the way they played.
The familiar guitar riffs of Mexican Hairless sounds started to fill the air, my ears and soon there after the ripping vocals of Backslider filled my chest. I've listened to this album god knows how many times in the past 10+ years. It always gives you that rush. It may fill your ears turned up to the right volume but when it's cranked up to 11 and played right in front of you it's almost orgasmic.
The guys continued alternating the old favorites with the newer stuff. While I haven’t had the chance to listen to the newer stuff there certainly wasn't any difference compared to their original works. I think the guys took comfort in the fact that there were a good handful in the crowd that new the lyrics to the newer stuff. Equally I think they enjoyed playing to a rather rambunchous crowd. The crowd wasn't big enough to support crowd surfing but there was a good handful that got their mosh pit action on.
Mid set still alternating between old and new some drunken jackass decided to throw his beer bottle at the lead singer landing just to the left of his feet. It startled him a bit but he kept on playing nonetheless. I don't know who the guy was but he needs to save that shit for when Nickleback comes to town. But they didn't say anything and just slowed things down with a nice rendition of 'I Burn'. Loved the flirty tiny guitar riffs in this song. Todd Lewis (I had to look up his name) gave his vocals a rest and let the audience in on the fun.
However by this time the crowd was getting restless and more and more drunk on giant 32 oz. plastic cups of Budwiser. Thsoe cups emptied pretty fast but not specifically down peoples throats. As the band teasingly started into Possum Kingdom glasses were raised with each opening riff. They really opened up on the song. The vocals, the guitars, the short bass solo, it was all in full effect as was I singing at the top of my lungs jumping up and down with the crowd. I couldn't help but smile knowing I was finally seeing one of my favorite songs ever from my budding years as a alternative rock music fan live. It managed to conjure up all those feelings of yesteryear when MTV wasn't full of jail-bait teenager reality shows.
A few slower songs from their newer stuff and with the ending of each song the calls for Tyler got louder and louder. Finally Todd just said basically 'Hey guys enough you know you want the best song for the closer right?' then I believe they ended their main set with I Come from the Water.
That got the crowd all riled up again as they left the stage and the roadies neatened up the stage and the band I'm sure downed a few beers to soothe their vocal chords. The crowd did the same. Soon enough they were back out for the encore to shouts of "Toadies! Toadies! Toadies!"
Another newer song or two then finally those hauntingly creepy chords of Tyler started off.
... until the guitarist messed up and killed the mood. But everyone laughed it off and they started again. Just like with Possum Kingdom there wasn't a person in the crowd that didn't know the words. Everyone crooned along with 'We will wake up'. The crowd pumped their fists and shouted 'I stumble in the hallway' then everyone just yelled at the top of their lungs 'I will be with her toniiiight, I will be with her toniiiight, I will be with her toniiiight"
And with that the band thanked the crowd, stuck around to shake a few hands and the more than pleased crowd walked out with huge smiles on their face.
Cliffs: Fantastic Show!