Toadies’ sound hasn’t aged as well as some of its members. Photo of Anaheim, Calif., show by .
I remember reading an interview a couple years back where Kim Deal was asked what challenges the Pixies had getting a set together for their first reunion tour. She said several times she had to stop Joey Santiago from really ripping the guitar because he had gotten so much better since they originally recorded their albums. didn’t have that problem Wednesday night on the Denver leg of their new album/reunion tour.
After getting a packed crowd hopping with that one song we all remember (the one about the boathouse, a theoretical vampire and a possibly soon-to-be-bloodless blushing bride), Toadies ran through several other older tracks from their platinum selling album “Rubberneck.” They followed that with a handful of tunes from their newest album, “No Deliverance,” and we had a hearty mess of power chords and slightly off time signatures that only raised one’s appetite without beddin’ her back down again.
The ’90s were a good time for offbeat indie punk bands, and this show reminded me of a lot of good times. But today Toadies’ feedback segue ways seem contrived when bands like Sonic Youth have created a whole genre out of guitar noise. Their crunchy guitar tones seem safe under the wall that was Swervedriver. Their cathcy lyrics, juvenile, next to Archers of Loaf.
If Rubberneck was important to you, you might dig the Toadies’ newest LP. But if you get a nostalgic itch, scratch it with some of the lesser known masterpieces from the time.
I suggest Barkmarket’s “L. Ron.” It will treat you well, my sweet angels, so help me Jesus.
Jme White is a Denver writer and musician and regular Reverb contributor.
