I remember seeing Toad the Wet Sprocket’s “All I Want” music video circa 1994 when I was about 15 years old. I didn’t own the CD at the time, but I liked them a lot. Little did I know at the time, lead singer Glen Phillips wasn’t much older than me, having been just 14 years old when he started the band with his high school classmates. 30 years later I would be within a few feet of the band shooting photos at the awesome Vogue venue in Indianapolis, Indiana. Phillips, walking out barefoot, with the rest of the band closely behind huddled and greeted the crowd. “Toad” was right at home with this Indianapolis crowd. Phillips even commented how he had a chance the previous day to walk on the Monon Trail and how friendly and kind everyone was he passed on the popular trail. Phillips was backed by original members Todd Nichols on lead guitar, Dean Dinning on bass guitar, Jonathan Kingham, touring keyboards and backup vocals, and Josh Daubin, on drums, who was absolutely fun to watch. They opened with Best of Me, All I Want, and closed the show with a satisfying encore of Ocean. The band sounded youthful, healthy, and Phillips’ positive spirit carried the evening.
Toad the Wet Sprocket had five songs that reached Billboard’stop 25 or better. Their current tour is scheduled into July of 2022. They will be back in Indianapolis at Indy’s larger and newest music venue, TCU Ampitheater at White River State Park.
Stephen Kellogg put on a great opening performance with a heartfelt performance and a charming stories about being a dad. His music tells stories, but if you want more, he’s got a book too, called Objects in the Mirror. I hope he will be back again in Indy sometime soon.
Set list: Best of me
All I want
Hold on
Crowing
Fly
Windmills
Starting now
Cali wasted
Good intentions
Whatever I fear
Game day
Brother
Fever
Way away
Transient whales
The moment
Nightingale
Crazy life
Fall down
Wrong
Ocean