For a while Toadies were the perfect combination of edgy, accessible and aloof. Their debut full-length Rubberneck and its unforgettable (and somewhat sexually disturbed) single “Possum Kingdom” saw the Fort Worth foursome riding the mildly embarrassing post-grunge wave into commercial success. Then the band took the better part of a decade before a proper follow-up—and once it finally dropped, Toadies split up. They’d executed the perfect game plan as faintly memorable one-hit wonders, leaving shoals of be-flannelled alt-rockers wanting more. But a few years back, Toadies started playing again. Nineties nostalgia was in full swing, and everyone was simply elated to hear the old Rubberneck tunes. And then they released another record. And then they played Nashville. And they played Nashville again. It’s hard to say now whether or not anyone really gives a damn about their latest material or what Toadies will do at this show that they didn’t do at Exit/In a few months ago. As a friend of ours put it: “Until that dude starts screaming ‘Doooo ya wanna diiie??’ this band is completely moot.” But it’s a free show, so you stand to lose absolutely nothing. American Bang and Ten out of Tenn open. 6:30 p.m. at Live on the Green, 1 Public Square
Thu., Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m., 2009
