Concert Review: Dia De Los Toadies at Possum Kingdom (August 31)

by Brenna Rushing

From the beginning of the day at Possum Kingdom it seemed like the Texas sun would never let up. It was the first annual Dia de los Toadies show right off of the lake’s shores. Yep, I said annual. They’re going to make this a regular fiesta.

The “venue” (if you want to call it that) was anything but prepared for the sold-out show. Possum Hollow consisted of a small grassy area that could hold maybe two houses, a muddy beach/docking area, and the never tired porta-potties. The ray of sunshine in this dismal scene was that the food and beer were inexpensive. The lineup was impressiv,e as well. Altogether there were five Texas bands playing throughout the day, starting at around 3:30 p.m.

The first group to go on was the Tejas Brothers. Even though their style didn’t exactly mesh with the other groups, their Tejano sounds really perked the crowds’ ears. Supposedly they go way back with The Toadies, so I’m sure that had something to do with the variety of styles. The highlights include their renditions of “La Bamba” and the Beatles' “Twist and Shout.” Those in attendance appreciated the Mexican spice they added to the Americanized Beatles hit.

The always-enthusiastic Backsliders were up next. No one seemed to recognize their music, but front woman Kim Pendleton really got the crowd involved. She made jokes between sets and played the tambourine as if it was her favorite thing to do. The group as a whole brought the idea of powerpop alive with their onstage energy and fast paced songs. They sang a majority from their newest album, You’re Welcome, since it just was released on June 3rd. “Typically I Don’t Mind” and “Wedding Day” were a couple of the songs performed.

There were times between sets that I considered jumping into the murky water at the “beach,” but thankfully decided against it. That isn’t to say that everyone else chose the same path. Many women in bathing suit tops and short denim skirts had their way with the lake throughout the day.

A small crowd approached the stage as Dove Hunter began to play. DH has a greater variety of sound than I expected. They spotlighted the guitar at times, and whipped out the harmonica, as well. It added flavor to the more typical rock music. (The harmonica made me feel like I was at Razzoo’s about to eat some crawfish. It’s my guess that that was a familiar feeling with the majority of people in attendance.) Maybe it’s because they went on closer to the evening, but Dove Hunter definitely jump-started the crowd.

Lions burst onto the stage next, instantly showing their charisma and never-ending energy. Lead vocalist Matt D and guitarist Austin K appeared to be impersonating lions with their long unkempt hair. Their heavy-hitting guitar chords, mixed with Matt’s low and subtle voice, channel Rage Against the Machine (if not totally in sound, then in message). With political lyrics and unwavering emotion, Matt's role as lead vocalist is very much in line with Zach De La Rocha. Matt also has the tendency to make amusing facial expressions as if he was playing by himself in front of a mirror. As with the previous act, even more fans began crowding the stage, either in preparation for the Toadies or because they liked what the Lions were selling.

By the time the Toadies came on, everyone was either drunk or high from the all-day event. It didn’t help that concessions ran out of water an hour earlier. But the Toadies answered the demands by giving a great show to make up for it.

They opened with “Happy Face,” foreshadowing their Rubberneck-influenced set. Unfortunately, they played “Possum Kingdom” right in the middle, reducing the excitement and eagerness that would’ve come out if they played it last. “I Burn” was a hit not only for them but also for the crowd. Lighters flared against the Texas sky, providing a Southern, hometown ambiance that complemented the rock permeating from the stage.

Todd Lewis didn’t speak to the crowd much; he let the music do the talking. Of course they sang “No Deliverance,” allowing all the minors who know it from the radio to join in. It comical that half of the crowd were minors who would’ve been 10 or younger when the Toadies hit it big. But fans of any age are still fans.

After an hour and a half set the Toadies left and made the crowd wait for an encore, in which they would play the epitomic "Tyler." It was the last song of the night.

As everyone piled in their cars to wait for what seemed like an eternity to get out of the dusty field functioning as a parking lot, I watched a good ’ol Southern man eat a busted up watermelon with his bare hands. I guess while he was waiting for the traffic to die down he realized how hungry he was. To each his own.

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