pacificlectic : concert reviews & eclectic music news

FYI… PHOTOS of the SHOW at the BOTTOM

Last night was my fourth opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, Toad the Wet Sprocket.  I have been able to see frontman Glen Phillips many times, and he does throw in some Toad tunes here and there – but it’s not quite the same as the full conglomerate Toad experience with guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning and drummer Randy Guss.  While Toad’s alternative melodic rock isn’t in my usual jazz or metal wheelhouse, I could never pass up a chance to see them… even if it meant making a 4 hour round-trip up to Eugene’s big sister, Portland.

Opener Hey Marseilles went on around 8 and played a full and energetic set of what they call “folkestral” music.

The seven piece band is from Seattle, and the guys were hard to pin down on any instrument.  Several of the guys swaped out instruments for each song.  They definitely had the folky, singer-songwriter band elements, but mixed in some great violin, viola, cello, accordion, trumpet, amidst traditional rock guitar, bass & drums.

Check out their video for “Rio” from their new album To Travels and Trunks.

If you go to their MySpace page, you can download the “Rio” single for free.  See the download button in the left pane under their contact info.

Glen, Todd, Dean & Randy of Toad the Wet Sprocket hit the stage around 9pm with an extra player – Johnny Hawthorn on slide guitar, electric mandolin, and guitar.  The packed Crystal Ballroom got a taste of something from every album…

Setlist: ~90 mins

• Something’s Always Wrong
• Rings
• Stupid
• Woodburning
• Crowing
• Good Intentions
• Is It For Me
• Windmills
• Torn
• Before You Were Born
• Spirit [The Waterboys cover] ->
• Know Me
• Nightingale Song
• Come Back Down
• Whatever I Fear
• All I Want
• Fall Down
• Encore: Come Down
• Brother
• Walk on the Ocean
  

There were no new songs, Lapdog tunes, or Glen solo material as they have done in the past.  This was all Toad from all around their decade long catalogue.  My favorites of the night were “Windmills” and “Whatever I Fear” – and some of their classics like “Brother,” “All I Want,” and “Walk On the Ocean” were crowd favorites as well.

The fact that Toad keeps touring on occasion keeps me hopeful that they may record again.  In the meantime, check out Glen’s multitude of projects and Todd & Dean’s work as well (see links below).  Support indie music!

many more photos below

The Appropriate Linkage:

• Toad’s Site
• Toad on MySpace
• Glen Phillips’ Site
• Glen on MySpace
• Todd Nichols on MySpace
• Dean Dinning on MySpace
  
• Lapdog on MySpace (Todd/Dean/Randy’s now-defunct side-project)
• WPA’s Site (Glen side-project with Nickel Creek, Luke Bulla, etc)
• WPA on MySpace
• Plover’s Site (Glen one-off?)
• RemoteTreeChildren’s Site (Glen one-off?)
• Hey Marseilles’ Site (opener)
• Hey Marseilles on MySpace
• McMennamin’s Crystal Ballroom
• Prior Related Reviews~
  • Works Progress Administration (Glen, etc) @ WOW Hall (Sept 2009)
  • Glen Solo @ WOW Hall (Feb 2008)

Check out more tour dates below.

~Dan – np: Wynton Marsalis – Tune in Tomorrow

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET &
HEY MARSEILLES PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2010 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution

(click for larger)

Glen Phillips and/or Toad TWS Tour Dates