>>MODERN ROCK LIVE >>INTERVIEW TOAD THE WET SPROCKET >>MAY 17, 1994 >> >> >>HOST: Live from New York City this is Modern Rock Live, the nation's only >>alternative music call-in show that gives you the chance to interview modern >>rock's biggest stars. Tonight I'm pleased to present Toad the Wet Sprocket. >>They'll be previewing some of the tunes from their brand new Columbia >>release. If you have any questions for these guys call us toll-free at >>1-800-223-ROCK. >> >> Here is a little information for all you struggling musicians regarding >>Toad the Wet Sprocket. Their first album was recorded in the living room >>for a mere $650. They are named, of course, after a Monty Python sketch. >>They were signed to Columbia Records while they were still teenagers. And >>after nine years they have developed an accomplished voice in modern rock. >>Welcome guys to the show. >> >> We welcome Dean, Randy, Todd and Glen of Toad the Wet Sprocket. >>Congratulations on the new record. It sounds great. >> >>GUEST: Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. >> >>HOST: How long did it take you to put the record together? >> >>GUEST: It was about 3 months total. Just recording and mixing. It had a >>long gestation period. We'd been on the road for about 2 years. We decided >>we needed to get home and learn to cook food and that kind of thing, again. >>It took a while to get to write again. >> >>HOST: You're in the studio for 3 months recording. You rehearse. Next >>thing you know you're at the 'HFS Festival in front of 60,000 people >>performing all this new music live. >> >>GUEST: Completely unrehearsed! >> >>HOST: Tell us about that. What kind of vibe was in the stadium? >> >>GUEST: It was a little scary. We played 3 times in the last year. We took >>a lot of time off. We hadn't played in a while, our crew didn't know what >>was going on, no sound check. It was wonderfully nervous. And we were also >>sandwiched between Violent Femmes and Rollins, so there was a festival vibe. >>But it was okay. It was fun. >> >>HOST: Going into the studio with this new record. Was there a lot of >>pressure in trying to make a top 40 hit? >> >>GUEST: They left us alone. "All I Want" was recognized across the board as >>kind of a weird fluke. The album had been out for 9 months before it came >>out. The A&R involvement on the last album was basically they came in, said >>it sounded great and left. I think they somehow figure that things work out >>if we're left to our own devices. That's just how we did it from the >>beginning. >> >>HOST: Left to your own devices we're going to listen to the first track off >>your brand new CD. This is called "Fall Down" on Modern Rock Live. >> >>PLAY SONG >> >>HOST: Toad the Wet Sprocket on Modern Rock Live. And they brought their >>instruments in as well. We'll be listening to them play live. >> >> We're going to go the phones now and talk to Karen from The Point in St. >>Louis. Hi, Karen. >> >>CALLER: Hello, Toad. I just wanted to say that I've been a big fan of yours >>since "All I Want" and "Walk on the Ocean." And the videos to those are >>really good. I wanted to say thank you for being such a great inspiration to >>me, you've really turned me around in a lot of things. I wanted to know how >>you guys first met? >> >>GUEST: Todd and Randy were school buddies from the first grade. They met >>Dean in Junior High and I met up with them in High School when I was a >>freshman. We did theatre and choir together. That's how we all hooked up. >> >>HOST: Let's go to Cicero, Illinois and speak to Kelly. >> >>CALLER: Hi. I just wanted to know if there are any stylistic changes in the >>new release? Are you going for a new sound? >> >>GUEST: It's all going to be Polka music. We're going to be adding the >>accordion at my father's request. No, honestly. It's more of the same, but >>it's not more of the same. Hopefully it sounds a bit more live and less then >>a studio job. >> >>HOST: Let's go to Zanesville, Ohio and speak to Todd. Hi, Todd. You're on >>Modern Rock Live. >> >>GUEST: Hi, guys. When you're out on tour what's your favorite band to tour >>with? >> >>GUEST: It's fun to bring out bands that people don't really know very well, >>yet. The B-52's did that for us on our very first album. It was great to >>get a break like that. >> >>HOST: Hey, since you guys brought your instruments in, would you do a couple >>of songs for us? >> >>GUEST: Hey, nobody told us we'd have to play! >> >>HOST: It's Toad the Wet Sprocket live on Modern Rock Live. >> >>PLAY SONGS LIVE IN STUDIO >> >>HOST: Live on Modern Rock Live that's Toad the Wet Sprocket. What was the >>name of that song? >> >>GUEST: "Wood Burning." >> >>HOST: And you want to do another one for us? How about "Crowing." >> >>GUEST: Okay. We'll play "Crowing" at your request. >> >>PLAY SONG LIVE >> >>HOST: That's Toad the Wet Sprocket playing live in our studios on Modern >>Rock Live. >> >> Next week we'll visit with Sonic Youth and hear all about their brand new >>CD, "Experimental Jet Set Trash." Wait, there's more folks. "Lush" will >>grace our presence and they'll preview tracks from "Split" which will not be >>released until the end of June. That will be a great show. >> >> Let's take some phone calls. And we talk to Erica listening to us on The >>Edge in Minneapolis. Hello, Erica. >> >>CALLER: I was wondering how you derived the lyrics to your songs? >> >>GUEST: Monty Python! I don't know. They're things I just work out. >>Whenever I read my lyrics without music I tend to have problems with them. >>Music comes up and then the lyrics. A couple of words appear and I write >>around those. >> >>HOST: Do you all have different opinions about what a song is about? >> >>GUEST: Sometimes. I like to deal less with a situation and more with a >>mood. The emotions last. >> >>HOST: Let's talk to Clay in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Hi, Clay. >> >>CALLER: I really like you guys a lot. You came down here to Virginia Beach >>and put on one helluva show. How do you think you're new album is going to >>do? I think it's going to do real good! >> >>GUEST: One never knows. I figured that out after I heard Sam Phillips' >>"Cruel Invention," one of the best albums ever made and no one heard it. Who >>knows? It's kind of a big crap shoot. We'll just have to wait and see. >> >> >>HOST: We go to Easton, Maryland and Scott. Scott, you're on the air. >> >>CALLER: I saw you guys at the festival. You were fantastic. >> >>GUEST: You went to the show. >> >>CALLER: Yeah. Don't worry about the Rollins Band. Do you guys prefer >>playing the smaller venues compared to the larger shows? And how do you >>adapt your music for the different audiences? >> >>GUEST: It doesn't change that much. As long as people are standing I think >>we're very comfortable. It's when when you get into a theatre and there's no >>standing room. You're 20 or 30 feet away from the nearest person and that >>can be a little odd. As long as we're being ourselves on stage things tend >>to work. It's best when it's our crowd. It's weird going to a festival >>cause we're more of a sit down and listen band then kind of a jumping around >>band. >> >>HOST: Well, everyone at home sit down and listen. Toad the Wet Sprocket is >>going to perform another song for us. Live, exclusively here on Modern Rock >>Live. >> >>PLAY SONG LIVE >> >>HOST: Toad the Wet Sprocket performing live in our studios exclusively on >>Modern Rock Live. We got some busy phones. Let's talk to Karen in Medford, >>New Jersey. Hi, Karen. >> >>CALLER: Hello. What is your personal favorite song out of all your songs? >> >>GUEST: I would say the "Reincarnation" song or "Inside." But I don't think >>you've heard either of them. >> >>HOST: What's your favorite song, Karen? >> >>CALLER: My favorite song is "Covered in Roses." >> >>HOST: Thanks, Karen. Thanks guys for coming in. You hit the road on the >>14th of June. >> >>GUEST: Yeah. We start in New Orleans. >> >>HOST: So, we'll see you all summer long. >> >>GUEST: I guess so. >> >>HOST: Well, good luck with everything. And again, congratulations on the >>new record.