Toad the Wet Sprocket burst into the alternative rock scene in the ’90s. I remember vividly ordering their CD from the mail-order CD club Columbia House. I was in my early 20s when I started to listen to grunge and alternative rock. As you know, if you lived in Los Angeles in that era, the go-to station for alternative rock was KROQ. KROQ played a lot of Toad the Wet Sprocket. “All I Want” was one of my absolute favorites of all time. The lyrics of “All I Want” in my opinion, are honest and create imagery that it’s ok to feel this way. The passage “All I want is to feel this way, to be this close, to feel the same. All I want is to feel this way the evening speaks, I feel it say,” is ethereal and timeless. It’s just the right combination of notes and instruments which create that perfect moment whatever you’re doing.
When I heard TTWS was performing in my neck of the woods at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on June 1st, I immediately purchased the tickets that included a meet and greet. I was so stoked to see and hear them live. But when I received an email about the meet and greet, I learned that it started at 4 pm. I was disappointed because it was exactly the same time my son was having his graduation ceremony. So I emailed the management and asked them if I can do it before or after the show, and they replied that they will do their best to accommodate but no guarantees. After the graduation ceremony, I immediately went to the Coach House and asked if I could still get a photo-op because I missed it. Long story short, I had a photo-op with the band, and Glenn Philipps, who is the vocalist, mentioned, “So I heard your son had a graduation.”
At 9:00 pm on the dot, the band went on stage. The crowd started screaming and whistling, no doubt TTWS captured their audience’s attention. The audience was a mixture of young music fans, gen x, and older folks who all showed enthusiasm. On my table was a group of family from San Diego who brought their four teens and saw them belting out the lyrics. On the other side of the table were baby boomers but incredibly young at heart and the rest were mostly Gen Xers some of them brought their kids. I also saw some Gen Z’s who came on their own.
On stage Glen Phillips mentioned that this was Day 2 of their tour. Toad the Wet Sprocket opened with a melodic material, “Windmills”. The guitars chimed and the audience became engaged. Following “Windmills” was “Come Down” “The Moment”, and “Crowing” in which the lyrics and tunes were imbued with a sense of emotion and passion that was infectious.
And of course “All I Want” TTWS’s biggest hit and first successful song were the audience favorite which swept up with joy and love. In the second part of the show, the lead vocalist Glen Philipps mentioned that they will not leave the stage and then wait for the applause and then come back. So they carried on with their string of hits from “Good Intentions” and “Walk on the Ocean” to “Fall Down” where the band kept building momentum and the fans voiced their approval by dancing.
Closing the show was “I Will Not Take These Things for Granted” where Phillips put on a master class with lush vocals that showcased his underrated singing voice. The packed venue exploded with the biggest cheers of the night.
The sold-out show of Toad the Wet Sprocket was a testament to the wealth of talent that every member of the band has coupled with powerful lyrics and standout tunes. No doubt I will see them again. Catch them live on tour. https://toadthewetsprocket.com/on-tour/
For a complete setlist, go to setlist.fm.
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