Toadies
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 in Fort Worth, Texas, United States |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
| Website | toadies |
Toadies is a rock group from the United States, established in 1989 in Fort Worth, Texas, best known for their popular track "Possum Kingdom". The original members included Vaden Todd Lewis on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Lisa Umbarger playing bass, Darrel Herbert on lead guitar, and Mark Reznicek handling drums. Before disbanding in 2001 after Umbarger left the band, they had released two studio albums. The group reunited in 2006 and followed up with the album No Deliverance in 2008. In 2010, they re-released Feeler under Kirtland Records, after its initial 1997 version was rejected by Interscope Records. Their most recent record, The Lower Side of Uptown, came out in September 2017.
Formation, Rubberneck, and rise to fame (1989–1996)
Originating in Fort Worth, Texas in 1989, Toadies put out several cassette demos along with an EP titled Pleather before securing a deal with Interscope Records. Their first full-length album, Rubberneck, was released during the summer of 1994 and showcased a sound that blended grunge influences with a distinct Texan character. From this album came six singles, notably "Possum Kingdom", which climbed to number nine on the Mainstream Rock Chart. Although initially receiving limited backing from Interscope, "Possum Kingdom" later gained renewed popularity as part of the Xbox 360 edition of Guitar Hero II.
Throughout the decade, Toadies maintained an active touring schedule, supporting prominent bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Zombie, and Bush, while also leading their own tours alongside groups like Supersuckers and The Reverend Horton Heat. They regularly appeared at regional music festivals including Edgefest in Dallas and Buzzfest held in Houston.
Feeler recordings, Hell Below/Stars Above, and dissolution (1997–2002)
In 1997, the band recorded material intended for their sophomore album Feeler, but Interscope Records declined to release it. Subsequently, in 2000, Toadies revisited this material and selected certain tracks to create their second official album, Hell Below/Stars Above, which was issued in spring 2001. Notably, Portland artist Elliott Smith contributed piano parts to the title song.
Despite its release, Hell Below/Stars Above received little promotional effort from Interscope and experienced disappointing sales figures. During the tour supporting the album, bassist Lisa Umbarger abruptly departed in July 2001 due to frustrations over insufficient label backing. Lead singer Vaden Todd Lewis opted to disband the group rather than continue without her. The band wrapped up a handful of final performances with Mark Hughes filling in before officially ending activities in October 2001.
After their split, a live album titled Best of Toadies: Live from Paradise, recorded earlier that year at Boston’s Paradise Rock Club, was issued through Aezra Records. Eventually, the rights to their previous recordings were acquired by Kirtland Records.
No Deliverance, official release of Feeler, and Play.Rock.Music era (2006–2013)
Toadies came together again for a headline performance on March 11, 2006, at the Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day parade concert, drawing an audience of approximately 100,000. In March 2007, they embarked on a brief tour across Austin, Houston, and Dallas, culminating in the release of a live album titled Rock Show.
Their third studio effort, No Deliverance, was issued on August 19, 2008, through Kirtland Records, featuring the title track as its lead single.
The group appeared at prominent music festivals such as Lollapalooza on August 2, 2008, the Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival on May 16, 2009 and May 18, 2013, and the Austin City Limits Music Festival on October 4, 2009. On August 31, 2008, they headlined the first-ever Dia De Los Toadies, an annual Texas-based music festival founded by the band.
In June 2010, Toadies revealed plans to release Feeler, their long-delayed follow-up to Rubberneck. Since they could not secure the original masters from Interscope Records, the band re-recorded the album in 2010; it was officially released on July 20 of that year. Lead vocalist Vaden Todd Lewis highlighted their intention to present the album as originally envisioned.
Their fifth album, Play.Rock.Music, came out on July 31, 2012 via Kirtland Records. The song "Summer of the Strange" was promoted with a video published on Clark Vogeler's YouTube channel.
Rubberneck 20th anniversary celebration, Heretics and The Lower Side of Uptown (2014–2021)
On January 7, 2014, Toadies announced through their Facebook page that Kirtland Records would reissue their Rubberneck album including five unreleased bonus tracks. The announcement also confirmed a nationwide tour commemorating the album’s 20th anniversary, where the band performed the entire record live from start to finish. Supporting acts included Supersuckers and Battleme. This tour wrapped up in September 2014 with a final complete performance of Rubberneck at the seventh annual Dia De Los Toadies festival held in Fort Worth.
In January 2015, Everclear unveiled its fourth annual multi-city Summerland Tour lineup featuring Everclear along with Toadies, American Hi-Fi, and Fuel.
June 2015 saw Toadies announce their eighth studio album titled Heretics, which was released on September 18. This record offers “re-imagined and reinterpreted” versions of several Toadies classics such as "Possum Kingdom" and "Backslider," alongside two new compositions and a cover of Blondie’s 1979 hit single "Heart of Glass". The band supported the release with a fall tour beginning at the eighth annual Dia De Los Toadies festival.
The ninth album from Toadies, The Lower Side of Uptown, was released on September 8, 2017 via Kirtland Records. They launched a fall tour starting September 6 in Denton, Texas with support from Local H.
Damn You All to Hell EP, Rubberneck 25th anniversary tour and The Charmer (2022–present)
On September 13, 2022, Toadies released their EP Damn You All to Hell, coinciding with a North American tour celebrating the silver anniversary of Rubberneck. This EP contains four previously unreleased tracks including a cover of David Bowie’s "Sound and Vision." Three songs originated from sessions for their latest full-length album The Lower Side of Uptown, while "Forgiven" dates back to the recording period for No Deliverance.
On January 8, 2024, Toadies announced their upcoming eighth studio album titled The Charmer, recorded with producer Steve Albini at Chicago’s Electrical Audio, scheduled for release later that year. However, following Albini’s passing in May 2024, the album’s release has encountered several postponements.
Band members
Current lineup
- Vaden Todd Lewis – lead vocals (1989–2001; 2006–present), rhythm guitar (1989–1991; 1992–2001; 2006–present), bass guitar (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 musicians
- Edo Levi – percussion (2001)
Past 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, deceased 2004)
- Darrel Herbert – lead guitar (1992–1996)
- Mark Hughes – bass (2001, 2006–2008)
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)
- The Charmer (forthcoming)