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Toadies make a run for the top

Things are really coming together for the Toadies. After endless touring in support of the major label debut, "Rubberneck," the Toadies finally gained some recognition with the radio and MTV success of the single, "Possum Kingdom." Now the Toadies are finally getting their big break opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' arena tour, and they are having loads of fun doing it.

Lisa Umbarger, Todd Lewis, Mark Reznicek and Darrel Herbert are no newcomers to the music scene. The Toadies were formed in 1989, when Lewis and Umbarger worked together in a record store and they decided to form a band. They "were lucky enough to steal (Reznicek) and (Herbert) from other bands," Umbarger noted, and that was the beginning of the Toadies.

Umbarger explained that the music scene in Texas, where the Toadies originated, was "really healthy." "There's like a lot of bands (like Reverend Horton Heat and MC900Ft. Jesus) who totally paved the way for bands like us." The road to get out of Dallas alone, though, was tough. "We did stuff on our own that we stole money for," bassist Umbarger joked. "We'd like, steal people's stuff and sell it and then go into the studio. We like broke into this church and hocked a bunch of organs and then went into the studio."

The result of all this thievery and recording got the Toadies a release on Grass Records. This EP got the attention of some major labels, and the Toadies eventually chose Interscope Records and released "Rubberneck" in late 1994.

When asked why they signed with Interscope, Umbarger said, "They told us to! They made us! I mean, look at who they had on their label at the time. They'd just got Helmet, Rocket From The Crypt, and then they have Snoop Dog ... they were a great label to sign with to get your stuff out there. But they still were a minor-major label."

Drummer Reznicek revealed how the Toadies got their name: "The label said, `Ya know, that Frogstomp (Silverchair) record is out and it's hot now; the kids dig it. The reptilian thing is good, so go with it.'"

"Rubberneck" is a seemingly dark pop record that focuses on the realistic aspects of life and religion. Umbarger explained why so many of the songs deal with religion: "Todd's dad is a preacher. The end. ... So when you have that kind of background, thusly you can't get away from it ... even if you don't necessarily agree with it in adulthood."

Umbarger said that the ideas for most of the songs just come from everyday life. "People like Diana Ross make us mad and we write a song about her. The record company makes us mad and we write a song about 'em. But then they say, `You can't write that song' and they send us a memo ... saying, `Why don't you do this song?' and send us the tableture."

The first single, "Backslider," "is just strict autobiography right there," Lewis explained. The song deals with Lewis' baptism. "I Come From the Water," which received a little airplay on ZRock in Detroit this past year, "is just your basic evolution kind of thing," Umbarger said. "(The song) is about one thing taught to you in church and another in school," Lewis added.

The big hit single, "Possum Kingdom," is "The song everyone told us would make it," Umbarger said. When asked if they thought it would become a big hit, Umbarger said, "It's hard to be objective about your songs when you're in the band."

The new single, "Away," seems poised for the same kind of success. "It's the only song on the record with anything near a positive message," Lewis joked. The video for the song is kind of wacky, with Lewis sinking further into the earth as the day goes on. "The concept was taking yourself out of whatever situation you're in where you're not happy and putting yourself in a better situation," Lewis explained.

Touring has been a constant in the Toadies' lives for the past year and a half. In late 1994, on their first tour ever (opening for Southern California punk outfit Samiam), they learned a few things. "(Samiam) totally took us under their wings and they knew we were totally green and they showed us the ropes ... it was cool," Umbarger said.

Minimal success has allowed the Toadies to move from touring in a van to a tour bus, which is much more comfortable. "When you're in the van, you can get a lot more bored," Umbarger reminisced. "In the bus ... we don't have to ... make conversation and think of things to do. We used to have these really cool sing-a-longs where our throats'd be sore so we'd whistle or slap each other. Slap-a-longs."

Playing in front of 10,000 people on their current tour is a bit different. "It's unnerving to look around and see like a couple thousand more faces back there behind you," Umbarger said.

When asked if they ever thought they'd be in this situation, drummer Reznicek said, "I knew it." Umbarger added, "Mark's the only one. He would tell us about it and we would say, `Nooo!' I mean, not in your wildest dreams." But Lewis added: "It's really cool -- I don't think we're really geared for it."

Lewis was wrong, because the Toadies were geared for the 10,000-plus audience at their recent concert at the Palace; they got the crowd going early with their tight stage presence. Their set consisted of most of the songs on "Rubberneck," including "Possum Kingdom" and "Away," which got the people in the pit hopping and thrashing. The set also included a couple of new songs, which Umbarger said are new to the crowd, but like a year old to the band. The crowd didn't seem to mind, and by the time the set was over, the crowd was warmed up and ready for the Chili Peppers.

The Toadies are "hoping maybe this fall to get into the studio and do some more stuff," Umbarger joked. "We have a lot of material and a lot of good ideas. ... The new songs for the album are just acoustic from `Rubberneck.' ... We figure there's a lot of life left in this record."