Voodoo Tonic

"Play Tyler! Play Tyler!" chanted the overly exuberant crowd. The chant went on tirelessly throughout the night. In fact, the chant grew louder as the fans got the sense that the show was nearing its end. Finally, as the notes of Tyler echoed through the speakers, the crowd hung onto every note and word as the song of lust, stalking and fear in a girl permeated through the streets of Hollywood. Todd Lewis, Mark Reznicek, Clark Vogeler, and Doni Blair had finally made it back to Hollywood and I was there to get the full scoop. 

"The response has been incredible", says Shelly, "and look at how many are showing up for the performances."

As sound check ended, Doni approached us and laughed as he was wondering who was talking to his wife… It was great to see them and catch up. Instantly the doors to the Roxy were opened… The merchant counter was set up and the opening acts were about to get up on stage. The line, wrapped around the Roxy, were filled with fans and stories. Stories of “The first time I heard the Toadies” and “The Toadies bring me back to…” I was …. When I heard the Toadies” Lot’s of memories. I smiled as I remember working with the Toadies at KTCU in Ft. Worth, Being at the video shoot for Possom Kingdom, Seeing them at the Engine Room in Ft. Worth, and partying with them after the shows at Melissa’s.

As the Toadies show got started… the Roxy was packed. All ages were waiting to see a band that has not toured for 10 years or so the energy and excitement was high… So many fans looking forward to see them perform again and many seeing them for the first time thinking that they would never see them perform. Taking the stage… they broke right into Mexican Hairless. The crowd sings to “I Come From the Water”, The roar as Backslider is played and looking around as Todd leads this show of Rock, Lust and Reunion.

Establishing the “GP” (Game Plan) early Todd explained how “We are going to play Rubberneck, a good chunk of Hell Below, Some stuff from soundtracks and if we have time some new stuff. As the crowd agreed, The concert continued… “Quitter” starts the crowd into explosive angst and the pit starts up. The front row hands raised reaching for Todd as he is screaming into the bullet Mic and Clark is swinging around on the guitar feeding off of the crowd right of the stage. Recalling the show… all but Velvet was played from Rubberneck. During a break, Todd reaches out to the crowd asking… Who is here for the first time seeing a Toadies show? The crowd overwhelmingly yells and right then, you felt, the Toadies never were gone.

Nearly a couple hours later and hearing the crowd request it all night…, finally Todd, Mark, Guitarist Clark Vogler and Bass player Doni Blair played “Tyler” a song of lust, stalking and fear in a girl from the 1995 release Rubberneck.

There was always something a little uneasy about Toadies Music… Whether it is a struggle between right, wrong, laughing, dancing, stalking, survival… The Toadies are back. So Long Loving Nights.