June 19, 2019

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Two alternative rock bands from the 1990's put on an excellent show at MGM’s Center Stage this past Sunday.  The great double-bill of Toad The Wet Sprocket and Big Head Todd and the Monsters had the audience rockin’ in their seats and reflecting back to simpler times.

 

Toad vocalist Glen Phillips and the rest of the band opened the show with “The Moment” from 2013’s New Constellation lp.

 

The California outfit played songs from each of their six full length albums throughout their ninety-minute set.  Deep cuts like “Crazy Life,” “Golden Age” and “One Little Girl” made the long-time Toad fans extremely happy.

 

Of course, hits like “All I Want” and “Good Intentions” were sprinkled into the main set.

 

The end of the show featured a  rockin’ version of “Fall Down.”

 

When the band returned for the encore, Phillips told the crowd that “we live in messed up times” and in these times it’s best to be a mathematician or a rock climber.  Noting that when these two professions hear that there is a problem, they get “excited and want to look for a solution.” Stating that we should not be afraid when we have a problem, but be excited to find a solution.  With that, the band launched into “Something’s Always Wrong.”

 

They closed the show with a note perfect version of their biggest hit, “Walk On The Ocean.”

 

Todd Park Mohr, and the rest of The Monsters were the last act to take the stage.

 

I gotta say, I was completely blown away by this band.  I knew a couple of their songs from the ‘90s going into the show, but I had no idea of how great Mohr is on guitar!

 

From surf rock, to some rockin’ blues to their lighter melodic material, Big Head Todd and the Monsters can play it all.

 

The band played four of the band’s thirteen songs came from their 2017 release New World Arisin’ including the title track and the Van Morrison-esq “Wipeout Turn.”

 

A surprise came early in the set at Mohr invited members of Toad The Wet Sprocket out to jam on Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl.”

 

Two of the band’s biggest hits, “Broken Hearted Savior” and “Bittersweet” were played back to back toward the end of the set.

 

Two outstanding covers were played during the encore, John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom,” and Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water.”

 

It may have been my first time seeing both of these bands, but it will not be my last!

 

A new duo from Nashville called Freddie and Francine opened the show with a great five song set.  Armed with an acoustic guitar and their voices, Freddie and Francine easily won over the MGM crowd.  In a risk-taking move, the duo decided to close their set with Etta James’ “I Would Rather Go Blind” and they nailed it!   Be on the lookout for this duo.

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Photos and review by Greg Drugan

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