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Former Toad The Wet Sprocket Frontman Glen Phillips Guests On B-Sides Concept Album Program Tonight

Written by Josh Hathaway
Published May 08, 2008
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While I was out there, I spent a lot of time by myself listening to "Crowing."

  • Summer of 1997: Listening to "Dam Would Break" from Coil on repeat for a two hour round trip on a humid, rainy afternoon. I was fresh off another disastrous attempt to chase down a girl and move out on my own. This disaster was actually considerably worse than the 1994 incident. I was on my way to register for college at UNA in Florence. I literally listened to no other song that entire trip. For years, that song would have been my "most listened to" song. I can still listen to it obsessively like that.

  • June 1998: I met her at a party hosted by a mutual friend. A few days later we gather once again at said friend’s house, which was a little more than hour from the dorms. I traveled with an arm load of CDs to go to the ATM machine back then, so you can imagine how many I’d have been armed with for a drive of that distance. I clearly remember two of the CDs that made that journey: Garbage’s Version 2.0 and Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Coil.

    We sat around the living room, talking, and ordered some pizzas. While we waited for the food, I did my MusicNazi thing and commandeered the stereo. I put Coil in the stereo and within 45 seconds, they had a new fan. “Whatever I Fear” is still one of her favorite songs. For years, I teased her that Glen was singing “You eat my cat for breakfast” (he’s not). She was almost gullible enough to believe me but not quite. I did the same thing with Everclear’s “Santa Monica” (”I am still living with your… GOAT!”).

    We listened to other CDs and other songs that night, but she kept asking to hear “Whatever I Fear” again. She bought the CD the next day. We’ve both influenced each other a lot over the past — wow, we’re a few days short of 10 years – and this is just one of the first examples. I gladly take credit for improving her taste in music. She takes great pride in turning me into something almost resembling a human. To most of you, you’d have to say advantage:her. For me, humanity is highly overrated. Music is far more important.

  • Spring/Summer 2001: The newlyweds. We were in our first apartment together in Athens. I was noodling around on the internet, she was across the hall scooping the cats' litter box. I stumbled on to Glen's web site where he had a song from his debut solo record available for sale. That song was "Train Wreck." I sat staring at my computer's monitor, my mouth hung open. My body was buzzing. I didn't even get up from my chair. I called across the hall and asked if we had enough money for me to order a CD. I ordered Abulum that night. As a sidenote, I ordered Lapdog's Near Tonight that same night. Lapdog was formed by Todd Nichols, also of Toad the Wet Sprocket.

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  • Josh Hathaway is Assistant Music Editor for BC Magazine. He is formerly an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and publishes the BC Network site Confessions of a Fanboy .
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    Former Toad The Wet Sprocket Frontman Glen Phillips Guests On B-Sides Concept Album Program Tonight
    Published: May 08, 2008
    Type: News
    Section: Music
    Filed Under: Music: Acoustic, Music: Adult Alternative, Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Roots Rock
    Part of a feature: BC Magazine Feature: Glen Phillips
    Writer: Josh Hathaway
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    Comments

    #1 — May 8, 2008 @ 22:00PM — Brian aka Guppusmaximus

    Great Article...

    for me it goes further than that and when it gets inside you, songs, albums, and artists become a part of your life because they're a part of your memories.

    Being a MetalHead,for me, was more about finding music that had passion & musicianship and in the late 80's there were plenty of underground Metal bands producing far more passionate & meaningful albums than what was on the radio. Dream Theater Images & Words got me through some horrible times.

    That said, Toad.. was one of those bands that had a unique sound & passion for their brand of rock. Fear was also the beginning for me with the songs "Pray Your Gods" & "Stories I Tell" , the latter being just as heavy as alot of the "Hard Rock" of the late 80's. That album was a crutch for during my hardest break-up. When I found Bread & Circus, that's when I truly became a fan & Pale just made it that much easier to stay one.

    That is freakin awesome that you were able to interview Mr. Phillips!! I hope the guys get back together for a few more albums & tours. I would love to get the chance to catch'em live...

    #2 — May 9, 2008 @ 00:15AM — Phillip Winn [URL]

    That was a fantastic interview, Josh!

    #3 — May 9, 2008 @ 00:20AM — Phillip Winn [URL]

    I should add that the article is fine work, too.

    #4 — May 9, 2008 @ 10:00AM — Josh Hathaway [URL]

    Brian, my thanks for the kind words, sir. You know, I never thought of how heavy "Stories I Tell" is, but you're not wrong there. There is a heaviness to the sound of that. It's not metal in the classic sense, yet there is a heaviness to it. I listened to that song twice yesterday. it's definitely a favorite.

    And as for passion and musicianship, as a "retired metalhead" I understand that as well. Toad was never a band of virtuosos, but those albums they did with Gavin MacKillop always had a very professional sound to them. The music stands up very, very well.

    Phillip, thanks for your kind words and for being there to listen. I hope I asked some questions that led to some interesting responses for everyone who tuned in. If you missed it, the show can be downloaded in the archives.

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