13 Jun Toad The Wet Sprocket, on Kids, Tour, and Celebrating 1994
It’s hard to believe Toad the Wet Sprocket’s 1994 album Dulcinea turned 30 in May. And it’s even harder not to pine for my Gen X youth while listening to it.
“Fall Down” is one of the catchiest and most recognizable ’90s radio hits, a nod to a bygone era of record stores, fliers, ticket stubs, and shows like Dawson’s Creek. The Santa Barbara band’s signature sunny vocal harmonies, emotive lyrics, and arpeggiated guitar riffs on songs like “Something’s Always Wrong” offer a refreshing counterpoint to heavier grunge-style ’90s staples.
Decades later, the band that defined the “jangle pop” subgenre of alt-rock is still making music that evokes that carefree, summertime vibe.
Better yet, life and fatherhood seems to have brought bandmates Glen Phillips, Dean Dinning, and Todd Nichols a new perspective and fresh inspiration.
In honor of Father’s Day, we recently caught up with TTWS’s lead vocalist Phillips and bassist Dinning to share their wisdom on music, parenting, and what to expect on the band’s upcoming tour — which kicks off in July — with Gin Blossoms and Barenaked Ladies.
Rockmommy: Hey! I remember the first time I heard a Toad the Wet Sprocket song — at the HFSTival in Washington, D.C., in the 1990s! I think it was “Fall Down!” When you think back to those early days as a band, what do you miss the most?
Dean Dinning: I guess I miss working with a great record label like we did in the ’90s when we were with Columbia Records. We had a fantastic team there, and Toad having an audience all these years later is in large part due to a lot of very hard work on their part. The HFSTival was one of those legendary gigs where I need to pull out a photo when people ask “what’s the biggest audience you’ve ever had?” Still shocking.
Glen Phillips: Everything was new back then. I was in my early 20s, wasn’t a father yet — that happened at 25 — and it just seemed like the world kept opening up to us. It was a very surreal whirlwind.
Rockmommy: What’s it like touring in your 20s or 30s versus your 40s (or 50s!)? What are the main 2-3 differences?
Dean Dinning: Well, when you’re in your 50’s you try to exercise more and go for walks, and prioritize sleep and things like that. Also everyone has different eating requirements than they had in the past. Just getting to the end of a tour without hurting yourself, or hurting your voice starts to look like a good goal.
Glen Phillips: I go to bed right after the show right now. Sleep and managing vocal fatigue are at the top of my priority list. I used to go out and drink and sleep in. Now I wake up early and go for a run. Oh, and there’s cell phones and GPS and a host of other new tech that makes everything except being in the moment way easier.
Rockmommy: Who are your favorite new artists who have emerged over the last few years?
Dean Dinning: I am constantly falling in love with new artists. As for bands, I don’t think there’s anybody doing it better right now than The Beths, from Aukland New Zealand. When they play in California we try to go to all their shows, following them around like they’re the Grateful Dead. If you want to listen to a great female singer songwriter it’s got to be Madi Diaz. She has a song called “Same Risk.” Holy cow. And a fantastic live singer.
Glen Phillips: Recently I’ve been obsessed with Mk.gee (Todd from Toad turned me on to him) and Madison Cunningham. Both of them are surprising and satisfying — they’ll go a place you’d never guess but it’s always the right choice.
Rockmommy: Do you and your kids share the same musical taste? Are any of them involved in their own musical or other creative projects?
Dean Dinning: We have a family playlist that we all add songs to. We start a new one every year, and sometimes when we’re driving in the car we’ll go back and listen to songs we’re listening to in years past. Generally we all have pretty good taste. Lots of creative projects going on, not really focused on music though. More video and film.
Glen Phillips: We have a lot of crossover. My kids turned me on to Alt-J and Ethiopian jazz and any number of strange delights. They all play a little guitar and sing. My youngest has an angel’s voice but doesn’t like performing. She keeps the singing for kids she works with.
Rockmommy: What’s the best thing about being a dad? How does parenthood inform your music?
Dean Dinning: The best thing about being a rock dad is when there’s a pandemic and your tour gets back a year, and your kid decides to wear a different Toad the Wet Sprocket T-shirt every day for the entire year. Or your kid messages you on tour asking for tickets to your show for friends who live in other states.
Glen Phillips: I was gone a lot when they were young but I also got to be really available when I was home. I’ve loved every stage of parenthood, and I was blessed with some truly amazing daughters. They’re such good, fun, smart, caring and kind people. They’re all adults now, and all happily partnered. I feel very lucky.
Rockmommy: Any hints of what we can expect on tour this summer? A mix of old and new?
Dean Dinning: There will be about seven songs that folks would expect. We’ve been doing an acoustic set in the middle of the show, and I’m hoping we continue with that. We are looking at adding some songs we haven’t done in a while to change things up.
Glen Phillips: We can’t wait to get back on the road. We’ll lean a little hard on the Dulcinea album as it just had a 30th anniversary but we’ll play a bit of everything else, too. We’ve been having a really good time on tour for the last few years and we intend to keep that rolling. It feels good to be having an upswing and be getting along so much better. I think the audiences can feel it too.
Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.
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