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Problems, problems -- the Toadies have had a few over the last couple
of years. They didn't like touring with Bush. They're also sick of singing
that dark little ditty -- set in a Texas campground -- about murder or
rape or vampires or homosexuals or childhood crushes or something.
Of course, "Possum Kingdom" is the song that catapulted their
previously ignored Interscope release Rubberneck into the platinum
stratosphere, and you can imagine what a pain in the ass it must be to
deal with that.
As you can see, the Toadies have the problems that just about every
other band on the planet would kill to have. It's what they get for being
one of the best acts playing today -- recorded, live, local or not. Their
songs are coarse and catchy, so simple in structure they're primal. Todd
Lewis' vocals, resonant with emotional subtext, give away more than his
lyrics report.
Last year, the Toadies faced a lineup change that brought pin-up guitar
hero Clark Vogeler in to replace Darrel Herbert, and the death of
soundman and good friend David Kerher. Still, as a band, they have a
new cohesion, and the new songs are said to be a product of the whole
band, not just Lewis' twisted vision. -- Scott Kelton Jones