By: Jesse Norell
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Toad the Wet Sprocket - Publicity Photo from their MySpace page
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For those who have not seen a concert at the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre, it is a wonderful change of scenery from the average bar. The amphitheatre overlooks a swampy lake and a (fake) moss-covered wood backdrop lies behind the stage; though, unfortunately, the scenery was offset by a big, ugly Subway sign hanging from the top of the stage. The sold-out crowd, comprised largely of 35 to 45-year-olds, made things a bit cramped due the many ponchos and narrow rows of benches, but it was a very enjoyable setup and we only had to endure a few minutes of light rain.
Opening the evening punctually from 7:30 to 8:00 pm was Luce (pronounced Loose) from San Francisco. I had no idea who they were until they played their third song, with the chorus, “It’s been a pretty good day, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” Previously, when I had heard this song on the radio I thought it was some Sugar Ray-type band (yuck), but I actually found Luce to be quite enjoyable. Luce is comprised of acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums and a keyboard/trumpet player, and my favorite part of the band was the electric guitar player. He was fun to watch as he hopped up and down in his checkered shoes and played a beautiful, swelling solo during one of the slower, darker tunes. The songs had a straight ahead, acoustic rock-with-an-organ sound.
The things that I love the most about Toad the Wet Sprocket’s CDs are the melody, the harmony and the intensity. This show had the smooth, catchy, signature melodies and an abundance of spot-on three-part harmonies, but it lacked some of the intensity. 80% of the songs were played one full step down from the original keys, which made the guitars sound low and rich, but made the vocals more mellow and subdued. At $32.50 per ticket ($42+ after Ticketmaster charges) I didn’t like leaving with the feeling that singer Glen Phillips was holding out on me, saving his voice for the next show. I think many people go to concerts like this simply to hear their favorite songs, but I go to hear the bands sing and play their hearts out.
Toad did not disappoint in terms of their setlist (see below), as they played all of their hits and the best of their non-radio tunes. The highlight turned out not to be the angst ridden “Amnesia” (due to lack of angst), but the more melancholy crooners such as “Windmills” and “Crowing.” Phillips surprisingly put the most passionate yelling into his first of two solo acoustic songs called “True.” He gave much of the credit for the song to Minnesota legend Dan Wilson who co-wrote the song. While he was at it, he thanked the audience and the state of Minnesota for Husker Du, Prince, the Honeydogs, and brats that will never be equaled in Santa Barbara. The stage banter was hilarious throughout the show.
Electric guitarist Todd Nichols somehow managed to write the perfect complement part for each song. His riffs were thick and resonant, yet smooth and unobtrusive. He sang lead on “Inside,” which again employed interplay between the three vocalists. Harmonies came together effortlessly song after song, and I wondered how other bands live without this asset. Toad closed the set with the hit “Fall Down,” after which the crowd leapt to its feet, applauding for an encore. The band obliged and the entire crowd remained standing for the final three songs.
I think the amount I enjoy a concert (and many other things for that matter) depends a lot upon my expectations. With the pricey tickets and the great things I’d heard about Toad’s live show, I was expecting the kind of cathartic experience I had when I’d first heard the band 10+ years ago. All I got was a lot of well-written songs, performed by amazing musicians with gorgeous instrument tones and beautiful singing voices at a stunning venue. Poor me.
Set list:
--- Encore---
Location Info:
Minnesota Zoo Amphitheater
Artist Info: Luce, Toad the Wet Sprocket
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