Toad the Wet Sprocket, an alternative rock band formed in 1986, was the show opener for the Barenaked Ladies performance last evening.
I had originally planned to attend the event with my family as a favor to my father, as he has been a fan of both bands throughout his life. My father, being the band lover he is, bought VIP meet-and-greet tickets for Toad the Wet Sprocket before the show.
The VIP experience started at 4 p.m. in Stephens Auditorium. We were invited to the ticket office and provided with VIP passes and signed posters that featured Toad the Wet Sprocket album covers. I am not a massive supporter of the band, so I looked to my father for a cue. Apparently, this memorabilia impressed him, as the long-time supporter he is.
After being provided with the “welcome experience,” we were escorted to the meet and greet area, which honestly failed to impress me. I had never had a meet-and-greet experience, so I was expecting what I saw in movies and TV shows: a big, well-lit room with a line of people waiting to see the performers.
Instead, I was greeted by a small, dimly lit space situated next to the merchandise table, where people were frantically setting up for that evening’s show. There were about 15 of us in line to take a picture with the performers, so the whole meet and greet experience took about 10 minutes. However, I was thankful that Toad the Wet Sprocket had a guest liaison to help the meet-and-greet process go smoothly. Before the band came out to meet us, the liaison provided us with rules and boundaries for the safety of the performers, which gave a sense of safety to my anxious heart.
After meeting with the band, we were told to wait while they set up their instruments. We ended up waiting around 15 to 20 minutes before being escorted to the concert venue to watch a pre-show warmup. The band played three songs for us in a very intimate setting. The songs featured were “The Moment,” “Crowing” and “Brother.” The last song was at the request of my own father.
The pre-show was my favorite part of the whole concert. The band sat down with us and talked about life issues, what it was like for the lead singer, Glen Phillips, to grow up in a Jewish household and even touched on mental health struggles.
The tone of the band was very brassy and warm, with Phillips providing an extra sense of cohesiveness and comfort to the music. You could tell that the band had been playing together for a long time based on how well their music and voices blended together.
After the pre-show, we were told to leave the theater and come back when the doors were scheduled to open at 6:30 p.m.
When I returned to the theater, I had some time to kill. Naturally, the only correct thing to do in this situation is shop. So, that being said, I made my way to the merchandise table. Toad the Wet Sprocket’s merchandise impressed me quite a bit. Sitting next to the Barenaked Ladies merchandise, I was thankful that my father came to the show for Toad the Wet Sprocket. The band’s merchandise was tasteful and not obviously a band tee. This is something that I look for when looking for concert merchandise.
Finally, it was time for the concert. I found my seat and settled in for a good night.
The band came out with a display of strobe lights and haze, both of which were warned about with signs outside of the theater for viewers with sensitivity to flashing lights. Phillips was performing without shoes on a decorative rug. Apparently, this has been a long-running tradition for him, as it helps him stay cool while performing.
Throughout the night, the band had audience members standing, clapping, screaming and waving their flashlights along to the beat of the music.
At one point during the performance, Phillips pointed out the sheer size of Stephens Auditorium, saying, “This is the tallest theater I think we have ever played in.”
Phillips also thanked Iowa State, as his father is a graduate of Iowa State.
“[I’m] happy to be in Ames,” Phillips said. “Happy to be at Iowa State University.”
My favorite songs that were played over the course of the evening were “Transient Whales,” “Nanci” and “Nightingale.”
During “Transient Whales,” the strobe lighting changed into a captivating sunray effect, casting the band in a cool glow as they performed. The song filled Stephens with warmth, comfort and a heavy beat as the band played together like old friends.
“Nanci” was one of my favorites because of the “tinny” sound of the mandolin featured in the song. This song also had a very catchy beat that I find myself humming, even as I am writing this.
Finally, “Nightingale” knocked it out of the ballpark. The audience stood and clapped along to the music and cheered when Dean Dinning, a guitar player for the band, joined the percussionist behind the drumset to help finish out the song. The two band members successfully played a one-man drum set as if it was second nature.
The band finished their show with “All I Want,” arguably their most popular song. I was able to sing along. After their final note was played, the audience erupted into applause and screams and gave a standing ovation.
I left Stephens Auditorium that evening with greater respect for my father’s music taste, Toad the Wet Sprocket and undiscovered bands in general. I am so thankful I attended that performance.
I now have a new artist to add to my playlists and get all of my friends, and maybe you, attached to.
