#n i started hating the main riff. the thing whole song is based off of ..... time 4 a break i think!

[jwowwsboobs]

luvvvvvvvwv how everytime im like ive wrrten a song time 2 record it while im recording it i realize how important the drums r n then i try 2 make a drum track n then i

[motleyfuckingcruee]

Still Kids (Mick Mars x Reader)

Requested:

@lovestorey98

Summary:

From the prompts list "Have you lost your damn mind?!"

Warnings:

Angst, fluff, language

SONG THE TITLE IS BASED OFF OF:

Still Kids

REQUESTS ARE OPEN!!!!

COMMENT IF YOU WANT TO BE ON A TAGLIST! OR GO TO MY BIO TO ADD YOURSELF TO ONE!

//

Mick’s P.O.V

I finish up writing some new guitar riffs. (Y/N) decided to run off and do something with Nikki and Tommy. I know they’re going to try to get her to do some dumb shit, but she’s smarter than that. She knows me enough to know that I’ll kick their asses if they make her do something stupid. For some reason she has a soft spot for those two morons. She was best friends with them before Vince and I came along.

She followed Nikki around wherever he went. They did grow up together. They met when Nikki’s grandparents moved to Texas. Ever since then they’ve been inseparable.

It’s funny that when the band first started, she hated me. At least she acted like it. She’d always give me dirty looks and short answers. I was always trying to figure out what the hell I did to her. Then I asked her on a date one night, and to my surprise, she said yes. I was ecstatic.

Now here we are two years later, happily dating. She still won’t tell me why she didn’t like me when we first met. Maybe she didn’t like my style or something? I have no clue. She claims she’s not complicated, but she is. She tells me one thing, then gets mad when I do it because she thought she said something else. She’s a handful, but I love her very much.

She calls me a grumpy old man a lot. Especially around the guys. Now instead of just calling me old man, they gotta add grumpy at the front. It’s bullshit! I try not to get mad at them for saying it because then I’ll get in trouble by (Y/N).

Speaking of that dork, I need to go find her. I want to take her out for dinner while we’re still in New York. She’s always wanted to see the crammed city, and I promised to take her.

If Nikki didn’t beat me to it, that is.

I walk out of the hotel room. If they’re anywhere, I’m guessing they’re in Nikki’s room.

I hate to admit it, but I’m often jealous of Nikki. She’s just so comfortable with him. I feel he takes advantage of that a lot. I’m almost positive that before we got together, her and Nikki had a friends with benefits relationship. At least that’s what Vince told me. He might have been trying to get under my skin. If that’s the case, he definitely got what he wanted.

I arrive at the door. I don’t hear anything which is worrying. They’re usually screaming at the top of their lungs about something. Often her and Nikki are singing some New York Dolls song.

I knock at the door. Lightly at first, then louder and louder. I wait for five minutes, which feels like five years. Nothing. No one answers. Maybe Vince will know.

I walk down to the hotel bar. I quickly find Vince’s bright blonde hair. He has multiple busty blondes hanging around him. I don’t know which is more disgusting. The fact that the girls are acting like he’s God’s gift, or that he’s letting them act like that. His ego is already big enough. I love the guy, but he can be such an asshole. May I bring up the mustard incident again?

I push through the sea of barely dressed girls. Many of them ask if I’m in the band and the ones who do recognize me try to grab me. I lightly shove them off. I’m considering yelling out that I have a girlfriend so that maybe they’ll leave me alone, but I know they won’t. I’d just be yelling for no reason and I’m not a loud person.

I finally reach Vince who now has one of them sitting on his lap. She kisses his neck like they’re in goddamn private. I internally cringe at the sight. Vince looks over from the other girl he was talking to. His eyes light up with surprise. He knows I usually just keep multiple bottles of Jack in my room so that I wouldn’t have to come down here and socialize.

“Mick!” He nearly yells over the chatter of the girls and loud music. A large smile covers his smug face. “What’re you doing down here man? I thought you were writing?”

“I was!” I yell back, trying to get closer to him. “I’m looking for (Y/N) and the two morons. Have you seen them?”

“They were down here. Then they said something about pulling a prank on Doc in his room,” Vince says, getting distracted by the girls once more.

“Okay,” I say quietly.

I make my way out of the hotel lobby. I walk towards Doc’s room.

I’m just hoping they aren’t doing anything too dangerous. Knowing that trio, though, they’ll probably be really drunk and think they’re invincible. Those idiots. I love (Y/N) with my whole heart, but when she gets with those two it’s like she has no brain cells left. She does whatever they do. That’s why the guys like to do shit with her. She’ll agree to it no matter what it is. She’s always up for anything.

I finally find Doc’s hallway. Please tell me they’re still there. If they’re not I’ll go back to my hotel room and finish up that bottle of Jack that (Y/N) tried to steal from me. I stop in my tracks as the smell of smoke meets my nose. I run down the hallway.

The door that’s supposed to lead into Doc’s room is wide open with smoke pouring out of it. My eyes widen. What the hell are those idiots doing?!

I go into the room to see Tommy, Nikki, and (Y/N) laughing their asses off as Tommy holds a lighter up to the curtains.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR GODDAMN MIND?!”

They all look like little kids that just got into trouble. They’re clearly very intoxicated. I run into the bathroom and start filling those little cups they give you full of water. I go back into the main room, throwing water on the curtains. They all took a step away from me, snickering to themselves. I’m going to kill those goddamned Terror Twins. This is bullshit. I finally get the fire out. I feel like I just ran a marathon.

I turn to the trio, feeling less angry now. “All three of you get out of this room.”

They walk out into the hallway, me following close behind. I close the door and push them towards the elevator. I personally walk Nikki and Tommy back to their rooms. My hand clutches tight onto (Y/N)’s. I guess I’m scared that if I let go, she’ll run back to Nikki. That’s the happiest I’ve seen her in a while. Maybe she’d be happier with him.

(Y/N) and I get back to our room. She looks a hell of a lot more sober now, but her face is covered with some ash that came from the curtains. I don’t know how she got that on her face, but I’m not going to question it. I pull (Y/N) into the bathroom. I lift her up silently, placing her on the counter. I grab a rag and wet it. I feel her eyes follow my every move. I’m not disappointed in her. My mind is just swirling with thoughts of her and Nikki. Maybe she would be happier with him.

I start to wipe her face with the damp rag. I focus on every place the gray is. It’s a bit more difficult to get off than I thought it would be. I scrub a bit harder, trying to do it as lightly as I can.

“I’m sorry,” (Y/N) says quietly.

“For what, love?”

She sighs. “For being stupid with Nikki and Tommy again. I know you don’t like it.”

I smile a bit. “I’m not mad. You’re a grown woman. You can do what you want.”

She furrows her eyebrows. “Then what’s on your mind? You’re clearly upset about something. You’re never this quiet when it’s just us.”

She knows me too well.

“It’s just-.” I stop myself. I just need to get it out. Deal with the aftermath later. “Would you be happier with Nikki?”

“What?” She laughs nervously.

“Would you be happier if you were dating Nikki and not me?”

She laughs. I feel my cheeks turn red. So she agrees. Without warning she grabs my face in her dainty hands. She looks me straight in the eyes. I love her (E/C) eyes.

“What kind of question is that?” (Y/N) says. “I love you, Mick. Not Nikki. I love him as my best friend. How I love you is completely different. You’re the only guy I ever want to be with. I’m so happy with you.”

She leans in and kisses me. Her lips mold with mine perfectly. I grin, feeling my heart soar. So she doesn’t regret being with me. That makes me so happy. She makes me so happy. I love her to the next galaxy and back. She’s the love of my life without any question. I don’t know where I’d be without her.

I pull back, resting my forehead against hers. “I love you so much, (Y/N).)

Taglist:

All fics: @the--blackdahlia @sugar-content @sharon6713 @siliwanoel @charlyallise @lo-bells @lauravic @livingdeadharley @kawennote09 @ozzypawsbone-princeofbarkness

Mick: @timeisthewound

[thefreshfinds]

JOHNNY QUEST THE REBEL:

Johnny The Quest’s rhymes are beyond any listener’s wildest dreams. While others use their music to speak on artificial topics like sex, drugs & their drip, Johnny Quest the Rebel uses his natural skill to not only put the hating n-ggas to sleep, but he also conveys an influential message. If it isn’t through clever punchlines & entendres, then he gets personal — telling his own story for others to relate to. However Johnny Quest the Rebel is one who believes that one should F.R.Y.D  (F.ollow R.each Y.our D.reams) because he knows what it’s like to feel lost & unsure of how you are. Wholeheartedly he defines as one who’s empathic, truthful & real. The “Rebel” side comes from a daily challenge of having an active role in life. “I believe that one of our purposes is to unravel the world.” he goes on to say. On the whole Johnny Quest the Rebel is the voice who demands the world to give up the answers because often we are left wondering “why?”

Starting his musical journey in two different points of his life — Johnny Quest the Rebel first got his big break in 2000/2001. He recalls the first time he freestyled with his older brother & cousins in his Grandma’s basement, saying that they all grew up pretty humble. So Johnny figured if he could be a kid star like Bow Wow then they would never have to worry about money. As he grew up & did a couple of group projects, it wasn’t until he hit rock bottom in 2012 when he started to use music as a therapeutic process to help battle with anxiety & depression. “Music, amongst a few other things, helped me re-instill my confidence & got me out of my low.” Johnny Quest the Rebel adds “It always has, even as a listener, but I just owned that I wanted my music to do for others as it had for me.” After hearing responses from his music, Johnny decided to take music seriously. He was going to live his dream & wake up the people! Till this day he’s thanking his lucky stars. To define Johnny Quest the Rebel’s sound, would be more of a renaissance style. It has all the main components of our golden era of hip hop: storytelling, being the voice for those who are afraid to speak & genre defying — testing all sounds solely to reach different audiences. DREAM gives you a snippet of Johnny Quest the Rebel’s versatility and star power. “You will hear me express how it feels to have a dream even that moment when you realize you can really make it happen.” he adds. “Find your dream & pursue it with 1000% effort, 10x the amount you personally thought you could give.” All in all DREAM sheds some light on Johnny Quest the Rebel’s journey & gives people who have dreams some inspiration to keep going. Like the famous writer Marsha Norman says, “Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you.”

The Break Down:

1. Dream: Stomping into your circadian rhythm, Johnny the Quest keeps one alert in the first song “Dream”. Before the beat drop, an high pitched voice echoes out “Dream” over the white noise. Then the beat fuses in beside the familiar voice with sprialing hi-hats, an 808, reverse & futuristic sound effect. However once Johnny booms in saying “all I had was a dream” that’s when things go in full effect. As the beat continues on, Sunnie sings the chorus with effortless passion & sensuality, “If I close my eyes a little longer, baby everything will be ok *insert vocal run to “ok”*/In fact that don’t kill me, it only made me stronger/Well I say turn a dream into tomorrow/And turn tomorrow into today. Johnny Quest the Rebel then uses smooth yet minimal auto-tune for the cut-throat bars he’s about to spit. Ultimately, Johnny Quest The Rebel leads by example that anything is possible if you work hard for it & advices others to do the same. Sometimes we wait for opportunities to come but we should go and find them instead. An example can be seen from this very line from Johnny: “All about the timing, not the diamonds or the risk/But a young Rebel said I need to shine too/Hunting down dreams cause they won’t find you/.../If it glitter & it golden let it blind you.”

2. Truth or Dare: “Truth or Dare” levels up as the second track with a finely tuned violin chord & 808’s that are guaranteed to stick with you from the very beginning to the end. Ultimately the wise MC speaks on his undying hunger to accomplish his goal to make it. “Young Pixar, for my dreams I will risk all. Only way is up when you’re coming from a pitfall.” Even when he’s lived in a nightmare, he still rose with the sun & made things happen. Not only for himself, but for his people as well. Johnny Quest the Rebel also feels highly blessed & favored to be living his dream. Fading out is a voice that says “Don’t wake me up.” & then the famous phrase (and album title) “Dream.”

3. Projects 2 Mansions: “Projects 2 Mansions” breaks the rims off the speaker with it’s stormy base (& yes! It really does sound like it could come off an 90’s sitcom). As the base goes ham, the background leaves some space for the twinkle effect & hi-hats to work it’s magic. The reverb here is the “oooh” & “yeah” that’s highly pitched but also mesmerizing. As Johnny Quest the Rebel questions the listener “Is this everything that you’ve dreamed of? The most hated on I dream love.” he also uses punchlines & metaphors to speak on his luxurious life, living his best life with the homies & gives the haters something to think about. “Hustle like Russell, back when I had to bag a Kimora.” Johnny Quest the Rebel also spreads the word on how it happened (& if you do this too, who’s to say that it won’t happen as soon as tomorrow!?) “Cause I done paid my dues, I swear they cost a lot/.../Only reason that I’m here, somebody paid for me/Don’t get caught up in these streets & be somebodies prey homie. Instead of a 9 to 5, he’s doing what he loves. But to get there is pretty simple: Dream first, hustle second.

4. In My Zone: “Channel surfing on electric waves,” Johnny Quest the Rebel gives us some insight on what pushes him on a daily to achieve his dreams. “Catch Johnny on the star track/..All white but I’m all black/90’s baby so I’m all that/Searching for my bag of chips on different continents. Trying condiments. Even when the going gets rough, Johnny Quest the Rebel advices all in the song to just stay in your zone because eventually it will all pay off. Believe it or not, he’s been through the drafts. Still, he can never be taken out. In unison a feminine voice says in the back “In My Zone.” during certain parts (& the vocals even resemble the singer, The Weeknd’s range). The beat also has a chill-wave feel to it & just cruises into your cerebral cortex.

5. JOHNNY TSUNAMI (SKIT): This short excerpt sounds as if it comes from the greater times when technology was on the rise. At first the interviewer explains who Johnny Quest is & ask then goes on to ask him the question, “Why this quest for the perfect wave?”. Gracefully, he stays composed & gives the best answers to this one which are followed by a couple more.

6. Top of The World: As he takes a hit & answers how to catch the perfect wave — Johnny Quest the Rebel, the beat goes ham with laser beams & hi-hats. While on a “surf board with a dream catcher,” the MC goes to say that this first verse was a favorite because he left some gems that most people won't understand on the first listen. “I love when people listen them come back weeks or months later & are like, “Oh that’s what you meant”. This song also falls in as his favorite one off the project as well, “It came together so smoothly & it’s a dope song.” he adds “I wanted a record that I was able to stay true but that could be listened to in different spaces that everybody could get on they wave.” For me, I interpreted this song’s message as a P.S.A for those who are afraid to break out of their comfort zone. Don’t say you’re going to do something. Just do it. Even if you fall, brush yourself off. Try again. After all, you create your destiny. An example can be seen in these lines: “Life’s a b*tch & I treat it like a model..Now they’re calling me the Native Sun/Waves speaking in my native tongue/Talk back with a body language/English probably is a second language.”

7. www.(420 Reprise): Paying contribute to his right hand Mary Jane, the beat takes a sultry approach( which could be contributed thanks to the fumes or the lighter that sparks up in every song off of Dream) & finds a way to our “Blaze it Up” playlist. As the guitar strings make an appeasing tune, Johnny Quest The Rebel speaks about his daily ritual: to smoke & drink water. Yet he also lets us in a little & speaks on the best piece of advice he’s received from his lady “She tell me not to worry ‘bout what they say/Master your high, grasshopper till you feel like Sensei/And then you treat the world like it’s your dojo/ You gotta give back where nobody can steal your mojo.” At the end, the guitar goes into solo & nails what a guitar riff should sound like.

8. 20/20 Vision: In midst of the snaps, snares & twinkle sound effect — Johnny Quest the Rebel sings in auto-tune “I see in 20/20 my vision, so clear, so clear.” According to the MC the profound message is that any/everyone who has a dream is going to see their vision before anyone will support it or believe it is possible. “Shit this record might make someone quit they day job.” Johnny adds. As long as you keep your focus & work ethic intact then the sky is the limit.

By: Natalee Gilbert

LINK(S):

1. DREAM: https://soundcloud.com/jquesttherebel/sets/dream

2. Instagram: @jquesttherebel

[josieswrk]

My Father

In a writing flow, keeping it going. Cleaned all the gross things in my house I’ve been procrastinating - the bathroom, the stove, and some leftover soup stock that went bad. Taking a writing break to clear my nose. I feel like gagging.

The last father-daughter date I remember having with my father was in 2018, the week my grandfather died. We were in Seoul, two days after we had interred my harabujee’s ashes in a hillside far outside of the city, somewhere close to the DMZ.

My grandmother’s house is simple and warm. A small crucified Jesus hangs from yellowing wallpaper, over a flat-screen television set warbling the news. Family members dressed in black are spread out across the heated ondol floors. Some lay on their sides, propping up their heads up with their hand, some are seated upright, peeling fruit. Two slim candles from my grandmothers seongdang, or Catholic church, burn quietly next to the television in front of my grandfather’s chosang photograph, encased in a thick wooden frame. In the photograph, my grandfather appears reserved, dressed in a black suit jacket, his grey hair combed neatly. In the photograph, he almost imperceptible smile on his lips, his eyes staring straight at you through large wire-rimmed glasses.

In my memory the scene is quiet but tense. My family must have hit a lull between fights, everyone restoring their strength before the next battle to come. My father, wanting to get a break from his family, had been suggesting for days that we steal away for an afternoon to run errands and get coffee, our shared love language. 

My father announced to our family members that we were leaving, as we put on our shoes and bundled up for the Korean winter in the foyer. My grandfather passed in January, right around New Year’s. The cold was such that it sliced at my legs with an icy knife even if I was wearing pants. I don’t know how my old great aunts and uncles managed to climb up the trail to my grandfather’s grave, the freezing cold biting at any unprotected skin. 

My father and I stepped into the cold apartment stairwell and called the stainless steel elevator. Our shoes echoed against the grey granite floors as we waited for the elevator window to appear. We took the narrow elevator down to the ground floor and began to make our way down to the main street, where the shops were. My dad’s side of the family lives in Donam-dong, in a village of tall apartment buildings on top of a hill. We walked for a ways before reaching “the shortcut,” a covered stairway that took you straight down the side of the hill to street level. From there, we walked a couple blocks to the cell phone servicing store. 

I’m not sure if there is an equivalent in America. It was a store dedicated to repairing and troubleshooting cell phones, not selling them. The small office space was filled with nine or so desks, each with an IT man or woman. When you arrive, you get a number and wait for your number to flash over the attendant who was ready for you, the way you would wait in line at the deli. 

I sat on the waiting chairs until my dad finished what he needed to do, and then we walked back out into the cold together. We found the nearest coffeeshop (I think it was a Tom N Toms) and stepped inside. My dad ordered two large coffees for us and we sat together at a small wooden table, each of us in a comfortable black leather chair. 

This date stands out in my mind, not only because it was our last one but because it reflected a shift in our relationship. Something about my grandfather’s death had tipped the scales. As soon as I landed at Inchon airport, I knew that I wasn’t arriving as a spectator. I was here to support my father so that he could grieve as a son. I have seen my father cry before, albeit not very often. But this was the first time I saw him sob with his whole body, kneeling in front of my grandfather’s grave. This time, when my family fought, I was no longer a timid spectator, sensitive little Jungah stressed out over conflict. This time, I stepped in and defended my parents when the accusations against them crossed the boundary into the ridiculous. For the first time in my life, the adults were looking at me with new eyes, asking me for my opinion, saying that my arguments made sense. 

Safe within the walls of Tom N Toms, a hot cup of coffee in each of our hands, my dad and I could pretend for a couple hours that things were normal. We talked about many things, including his thoughts about his relatives. I think growing up I was always an 애늙으니, a child with an old soul, because my parents were always sharing stories of their relatives with me. “This samchon has this fatal flaw and that’s why he failed at his business.” “You have to be thankful when things are going well and don’t get too greedy - that’s when things start to go wrong.” “This cousin was unhappy in their marriage because they married someone who was not right for them.”

My dad and I have an interesting relationship. We’re both passionate brainiacs with poor communication skills. Sometimes we’re bouncing off ideas and theories like two jazz musicians adding layers of complexity and nuance as we riff back and forth. Sometimes, our chests are puffing up for a fight, usually based on misunderstandings and leaps in logic that we think the other person should be able to easily follow. Sometimes, my dad makes me so frustrated with his aggressive projections and assumptions about my arguments that I’ve shredded up napkins to keep my cool. 

When I was growing up, his anger was more explosive. I hated it the most when he exploded in the car, a small, enclosed space. He would, by all accounts, lose it. The car would fill with his angry voice and sometimes his hand would throttle the gear shifter (wow, what is that stick called?) 

But the dad I have now is so different from the dad I had then... a testament to God’s work in his life. He also learned how to better love me. “I learned from Dr. Lea [my therapist] that it’s not necessarily a good thing when you always do what I say and never fight back,” he once told me. “So I’m trying to see you arguing back as something healthy.” 

It’s weird to think about my dad’s most explosive moments. Now he’s such a chill guy... he has his moments of anxiety, sure, but not anger, not toward us. When he gets drunk he always, always says “You know that I lub yoo right?” his eyes closing and lips curling in an annoying smile. And yes, he says that he loves me even when he’s sober too. 

These days when we talk, he always reminds me not to worry about my future. Once, he reminded me of the lyrics to a famous Christian song: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know-ow-ow He holds the future. And life is worth the living, just because He lives.” “Life is worth living, Jungah-ya,” he said in the car, me sobbing in the passenger seat next to him. “Just because He lives.”

A date with my father in Seoul seems like an impossible occurrence now, with the pandemic who knows when either of us will be in Korea ever again. But for a few hours that day, we got to sneak away from the rest of our family and be ourselves over cups of steaming hot coffee. How often do I get to have my father to myself, to pick his brain and study his face? His salt and pepper hair, his wire-frame glasses, his small eyes and button nose. It’s a memory I know I’ll be thinking of in the future, when the time comes for me to grieve my father the way he grieved his. 

[themusicenthusiast]

Friday, December 30th, 2016 – The Toadies Wrap Up 2016 with a Passionate Performance at Billy Bob’s Texas

On this New Year’s Eve, Eve The Toadies were back at Billy Bob’s Texas in their hometown of Fort Worth, continuing the tradition of taking over the world’s largest honky tonk. Now in its fourth year, it’s not that uncommon to see the venue that typically hosts acclaimed country artists transformed into a rockers sanctuary; cowboy hats being something your eyes had to struggle to find on this night. (Normally, you wouldn’t even be able to count them all.) The people of D-FW turned out in droves to see the hometown heroes one last time in 2016, and while I missed their show here back in 2015, this was by far the biggest crowd they’ve pulled here in comparison to the first two years. Upon arriving, Los Skarnales (the Houston-based ensemble having been one of the bands that performed at this year’s Dia de los Toadies) was getting the crowd warmed up. They were doing an excellent job at that, their more unique blend of music that includes some ska elements (thanks to a trumpet and trombone) with hints of punk and even some traditional Mexican music mixed in having everyone captivated. They’re as high-energy as they come, several jumps being worked in to the performance, while the primary singer, Felipe, did all he could to ensure they had everyone’s attention, often surveying the spectators from the edge of the stage, encouraging them to sing along. It didn’t matter that the lyrics were all in Spanish, the people enjoyed it and cheered often. The Los Skarnales official drinking song seemed to a crowd favorite; and as they walked off the stage, thanking everybody for listening, they had made at least a few new fans. The wait began for The Toadies, chants of “TOADIES!” ringing out, while the bass sound check earned some surprising screams, the audience clearly eager to get to the main course. The wait was minimal, and a few minutes after 10:30 the theme to Star Wars blared out over the sound system, presumably as a tribute to the late Carrie Fisher. That ushered the musicians out underneath the spotlights, serving as quite an epic intro as Doni Blair, Mark Reznicek, Clark Vogeler, and Vaden Todd Lewis appeared. “I didn’t expect to see you here!” Lewis commented, cupping his hands over his eyes as if to see everyone better, feigning some slight surprise at the turnout. The crowd continued to roar, ceasing only a few seconds in to “Mexican Hairless” that instrumental cut and lead track from the platinum selling Rubberneck acted as a prelude to another revered track from the album.

The segue was rather seamless, though people were cheering and applauding so loudly they drowned out the opening riffs of “I Come From the Water”, recognizing it only when Reznicek jumped in with the percussion… which only pushed the fanfare louder. “I COME FROM THE WATER!” the fans collectively shouted on what’s made into a fervent sing-along in the live environment, many even jumping around wildly, capitalizing off the euphoric rush that hit brought with it. “Thank you,” Lewis remarked during a brief pause, which was soon broken by the hard-hitting “Push the Hand”; the singer holding up his hands during that dreamy, even eerie bridge, “Feel that weight, feel that weight pushing down. I thought I knew you, I thought I knew myself…” drawing his fingers towards him as he crooned. It was that song that began a trend for the night. The instrumental segment sounded a little more fiery than normal, and it was the first of many to come. The quartet next dusted off an old gem, “Song I Hate” being a mainstay for quite some time after their revival with the release of No Deliverance, though it had been a few years since I had last heard what stands as one of my absolute favorite Toadies songs. “I’m giving up on you. How could I ever call you mine? …And I won’t miss you when you’re gone. You never moved me anyway…” There’s so much emotion in it as it captures how grueling a relationship was, with letting go and moving on being more of a task than expected. It was great hearing what anymore would be classified as a deep cut. The tried and true formula works for The Toadies, playing everything people want to hear, though they have a slew of other great songs at their disposal. Songs that were staples when the respective albums were new (speaking of the three completely original ones they’ve released since reforming) many of which aren’t played often enough, and for the sake of keeping things slightly unpredictable, it would be nice to hear them peppered in more often. (“Waterfall”, “Suck Magic”, “Nothing to Cry About” and “Animals” are just a few examples.) “So, this band has been working on a new record that this band will have out next year…” Lewis informed the onlookers, inexplicably referring to he and his band mates in the third person. “And this band would like to play a new song…” he finished, as if seeking the approval of the fans before carrying on. They were all right with that, curious as to what “this band” had been cooking up; Blair kicking off “Polly Jean” with some slick and pronounced bass riffs. It has a great ebb and flow, shifting from a moody rhythm driven number to a blistering rocker, often combining the two moods for something grand. It sounded even better the second time around and created some genuine excitement for what the next release will offer. “Away” came in quick succession, inducing some more raucous singing; and upon finishing it, Lewis gave a shout-out to Los Skarnales, noting how “cool” they were, the kind of cool he strived for. “Y’all have a good holiday?” he then asked, several people shouting things at him once he said, “Tell me about it.” What one person said was a mystery to those standing further back from the front, though it earned a “that’s weird” from Lewis. “I’m not saying it’s wrong, just saying it’s weird you would blurt that out,” he chuckled. The bullet mic was really put through its paces for “No Deliverance”; the most aggressive instrumental segment of that track sounding magnificent, the drums and guitars being quite raw, the playing adorned with passion as they cut loose and injected even more life in to it, to the point they made it one of the best songs of the night. “You guys having fun? I’m having fun! Seems like we’re all having fun!” commented Lewis over the cheers. A lot remained for this 73-minute long set, the intoxicating “Little Sin” being a great follow up; while “I Am a Man of Stone” boasted one of the most primal soundscapes of the night, the growly vocal performance only aiding that quality. There were still several classics to get to, and one person had waited long enough, loudly shouting their request of “BACKSLIDER!” They called it, the musicians sharing a quick glance of amusement before busting out what Lewis later said was a song that got him in a bit of trouble with “the folks” back in the day. Fittingly, much of “Backslider” was delivered like a preacher giving a fiery sermon, making this stand out as the best rendition I’ve personally heard of the song; Vogeler helping close it down with some wicked licks that expanded on things just ever so slightly. That brought them to the acoustic portion of the night… sort of. Lewis swapped out to an acoustic guitar for one of the two new originals found on 2015’s Heretics, an album that otherwise featured some reworked versions of other hits, done in more of a stripped down manner. “In the Belly of a Whale” drew a surprisingly strong reaction from the several hundred people in attendance, few going as far as to sing along with it, though they clearly enjoyed the spellbinding number. The statement that a lot of people interpret the next song as being about smoking pot was enough to give it away, Lewis noting he wasn’t going to tell anyone what to think. However, after being reminded his daughter was there, he quickly added he couldn’t talk about things like that. “Let’s go with self-mutilation…” he said in regards to the topic, cracking, “That’s much more uplifting.” While the song he was referring to was obvious, “I Burn” still earned some hefty screams from the spectators, grateful to hear another favorite; the use of the acoustic ensuring it sounded identical to the recorded version. The vocals sounded a bit gruff, which was a good thing and quite behooving of the song; and as usual, a couple of their stagehands brought some additional toms to add to the percussion. However, Reznicek stepped down from his kit to instead use one of those toms, their roadie—Duane—taking over for him. “I think we’re about set to start the whole show…” Lewis quipped during the downtime as they cleared the excess gear off stage, the singer going back to their new album, saying it was going to be “a lot of fucking rock ‘n’ roll”. Backing that up was “Take Me Alive”, a song patrons seemed to be enthralled by. I believe I said this before when they debuted it at this year’s Dia de los Toadies, though I’ll say it again, that song is a cross between their two best albums. It takes components from the writing styles of both Rubberneck and Play.Rock.Music., the result being something powerful. It’s an intense cut; the verses being more refrains, though they’re done in a way only The Toadies could pull off, sounding almost haunting. The first verse for example, “…Squeeze me just a little bit tighter…” feeling more like a command then a desire. No sooner had they finished it and Vogeler took control, the feedback from his axe increasing in volume, Lewis soon following suit as they held it momentarily before ripping into “Quitter”. The show may have been winding down, though everyone appeared as though they were still just warming up. Several people in the crowd continued to bounce around, while Blair, Vogeler, and Lewis all huddled together during the ferocious instrumental part, each sharing a grin as they tore it up. The steamy “Sweetness” was as great as always; while “Happyface” kicked things up even further as they closed the show down with a string of oldies. That included “the good one”. “You came for the ‘good one’, here’s the ‘good one’,” Lewis said before they launched into “Possum Kingdom”, which, to no surprise, earned the most sonorous fanfare of anything this night. As it drew to a close, he approached the edge of the stage, picking at his guitar as he made the transition into their oldest song of the night. “Got a Heart” appeased the true die-hard Toadies fans, feeling like an added bonus to what had already been an incredible set; Reznicek’s drumming sounding impeccable as they capped it off in style. There was no way they were done just yet though, fans still expecting a few songs from them, and in the process, they would be treated to a few surprises as well. That included the first song of their encore, one that found Lewis acting purely as a frontman, unraveling the microphone cord from the stand as he informed everyone it was a song they had stolen from someone else, a cover that would quite possibly be on their forthcoming release. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” has been covered by many, though The Toadies would have been one of the last bands anyone would have expected to do it. More stunning was how great it sounded, the music bed being kept more or less the same, rather minimal, allowing Lewis’ pipes to shine. Fans were elated to hear the ravishing “Doll Skin”; while Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” was another song they’ve “stolen” and made their own, their cover of it coming as a genuine and delightful surprise. They put their own mark on it, transforming it more into a rock song, and it’s still a good one to hear them do. Before carrying on, they explained why Duane possibly played the drums for a portion of “I Burn”, Lewis noting it was his last show working for them after ten years or so. Shortly after he began chuckling to himself, explaining that he thought about adding, “Because he has cancer”, “But I decided that was a bad idea,” Lewis finished. Their roadies aided them one last time, chipping in on the rip-roaring “Rattler's Revival”, the song standing as one of the best songs The Toadies have written, as it’s just a high-energy, adrenaline pumping tune. Lewis even had a good thought afterwards, not merely challenging, but double dog daring Los Skarnales to cover that song, just knowing they could do an awesome rendition of it. The 22-minute encore concluded with “Tyler”, which was pure ecstasy to everyone’s ears as they sang along to the almost soothing number. “You guys have been fantastic!” Lewis remarked, waving as he headed for the wings of the stage, Vogeler, Reznicek, and Blair following suit. This performance was truly one for the books. The Toadies always deliver a solid rock ‘n’ roll experience, but this night it was something different. Somehow or another they tapped into an even deeper well of energy, a primal force being something to marvel at as they continuously pushed themselves and ultimately left everyone in absolute awe. Perhaps they were excited to be back in their hometown, finishing one year and turning their attention to what’s bound to be a busy 2017. Maybe it was the fact they’ve spent some of this past year in the studio, working on new music rejuvenating them to an extent, helping to rekindle the fire. Even those favorites that have been played hundreds and hundreds of times over the years had more of a flare to them this night. Whatever it was, it was dazzling. Hopefully, they’ll retain that spirit, bringing more vim into their performances, because this was one that reminded everyone just why they love The Toadies so much to begin with. Their calendar is bare at the moment, though that will surely change relatively soon. And as you wait for them to drop a new album, check out Heretics or any of their past releases in iTUNES or GOOGLE PLAY.