Toadies

Toadies are an American rock band formed in 1989 in Fort Worth, Texas, best known for the song " Possum Kingdom". The band's classic lineup consisted of Vaden Todd Lewis (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Lisa Umbarger (bass guitar), Darrel Herbert (lead guitar), and Mark Reznicek (drums). It formed in 1989 and disbanded in 2001 after Umbarger left the group. The band reformed and released the album ''No Deliverance'' in 2008. In 2010, they re-released the album '' Feeler'' with Kirtland Records (the album's original release had been denied by Interscope in 1997). The band's most recent album, '' The Lower Side of Uptown'', was released in September 2017.

Biography

Early years, ''Rubberneck'', and commercial breakthrough (1989–1996)

Toadies began in 1989 in Fort Worth, Texas. It recorded a few cassette self-releases and an E.P. titled ''Pleather'' before signing to Interscope Records. Its first full-length album '' Rubberneck'' was released in the summer of 1994. Featuring a sound described as "distinctly grunge" and "distinctly Texan", ''Rubberneck'' included six singles, " Possum Kingdom", "Mister Love", "Away", "Tyler", "Backslider" and "I Come From the Water". "Backslider" can be heard in the film '' Black Sheep''. "Possum Kingdom" would later become a playable track in the Xbox 360 version of '' Guitar Hero II''. Interscope did not properly promote the album for its first year on release, calling it a "marketing strategy", until "Possum Kingdom" became a successful single in late 1995, reaching number nine on the Mainstream Rock Chart.

Toadies toured extensively throughout the 1990s supporting '' Rubberneck'', opening for artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, White Zombie, Bush, and The Butthole Surfers. The band also headlined and co-headlined tours with acts such as Supersuckers, and The Reverend Horton Heat. Toadies were a regular act at the festivals Edgefest in Dallas, and Buzzfest in Houston during these years.

''Feeler'' sessions, ''Hell Below/Stars Above'', and breakup (1997–2002)

The band entered the studio in 1997 to record new tracks for a second album, '' Feeler''. Interscope Records did not approve the finished product, and rejected its 1998 release. In 2000, they went back to the studio, salvaged some of the songs from the '' Feeler'' sessions, and released their second full-length album ''Hell Below/Stars Above'' in the spring of 2001. Portland-based musician Elliott Smith performed piano backup for the title track.

''Hell Below/Stars Above'' was not promoted by Interscope, and saw poor sales. The band toured in the spring and summer of 2001 in support of the new album, until bassist Lisa Umbarger unexpectedly resigned from the band on July 14, 2001. Umbarger told the Dallas Observer that she resigned after realizing that Interscope Records was not going to promote the band. Vaden Todd Lewis decided to break up the band rather than continue without her, a decision which "stunned" Umbarger. The band played a few farewell shows later that summer, with Mark Hughes filling in for Umbarger, before parting ways after their final show on October 1, 2001.

Shortly after the break-up, a live album, '' Best of Toadies: Live from Paradise'', was released. It was recorded earlier in 2001 at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, MA. The album was released through Aezra Records, but Kirtland Records later picked up the band's back catalogue.

''No Deliverance'', ''Feeler'' release, and ''Play.Rock.Music'' (2006–2013)

Toadies reformed for a reunion show on March 11, 2006, headlining the Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day parade concert, drawing in an estimated 100,000 people. In March 2007, they embarked on a mini-tour, playing dates in Austin, Houston, and Dallas. The final show of the mini-tour was recorded and released as the live album ''Rock Show''.

The band released its third studio album, ''No Deliverance'', on August 19, 2008, via Kirtland Records. The lead single for the album was the title track.

Toadies performed at Lollapalooza on August 2, 2008, Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival on May 16, 2009, and May 18, 2013, and Austin City Limits Music Festival on October 4, 2009. In addition, on August 31, 2008, the Toadies headlined the inaugural Dia De Los Toadies, an annual Texas music festival organized by and featuring the band.

In June 2010 it was announced that '' Feeler'', the follow-up album to '' Rubberneck'' that was shelved by Interscope, would finally be seeing a release. Vaden Todd Lewis was quoted as saying: "Since there are unfinished versions floating around on the Internet, it is important to us that people hear it as we meant it to be." The band was unable to obtain the original 1997 ''Feeler'' masters from Interscope, and re-recorded the album in 2010. The album was released on July 20, 2010.

The band's fifth album, ''Play.Rock.Music'', was released July 31, 2012 on Kirtland Records. A promotional video for the track, "Summer of the Strange," can be viewed on Clark Vogeler's YouTube channel.