Page 8 -The Michigan Daily --Tuesday, September 11, 1990
Toadstool
by Ronald Scott
"A toadstool is a type of non-edi-
ble, poisonous fungus... mushrooms
are completely different." Or so
Toadstool guitarist and vocalist Brad
White defends the band's name. "It
really hasn't anything to do with
drugs," Brad continues. "It began as
a joke within the band and so we
kept it." And since 1988, the Min-
neapolis-based trio has delivered their
highly unique and often disarmingly
toxic sound under that name.
Currently on tour promoting
their debut album, The Sun High-
way, Toadstool graces Club Heidel-
berg this evening with fellow Twin/
Tone recording artist The Magnolias.
Destruction Ride will headline the
gig. John Joyce, bass guitarist for
Toadstool and former member of The
Magnolias, writes songs with Brad,
sings and is responsible for the al-
bum's art work. Brad says the band's
s live up t
expressive and individual sound lies
with the interplay of John's and his
own artistic influences. "Both of us
are interested in many types of mu-
sic, that's why you hear both folk
and jazz on the album," he says.
These musical influences are
vivid in the.group's work. The 12
songs on The Sun Highway are all
catchy and share the common indul-
gences of a forcefully rhythmic gui-
tar. In "The Last Utopian," the
jagged and slightly coarse guitar
sounds like Josef K on speed. Other
songs like the brilliant "Burnt Offer-
ing" and the moody "Labella Con-
tessa" sound not unlike The Go-Be-
tweens.
But these bands are not an influ-
ence, claims Brad who says he shares
"a close affinity with many Min-
neapolis-rooted bands" - bands that
represent some of the best post-punk
music this country offers: The Re-
.placements, Soul Asylum and
o legacy
Husker Du. Toadstool seems a likely
candidate for the next appointment
into that select stratum of talent. In
the same way ex-Husker Du(de) Bob
Mould produced Soul Asylum's de-
but album Say What You Will...,
Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner con-
tributes his. hoarse vocals, piano,
horn and production on The Sun
Highway.
On what might be the best track
of the album, "The Cage," horns
sounding like the old theme for The
Bob Newhart Show inch slowly into
a melodically soulful tune that is
reminiscent of Everything But The
Girl forced to play in a locked
garage. But Toadstool has busted out
and anticipates-a good show tonight.
"We plan to do our best," Brad
quips. If that really happens, Toad-
stool may very well steal Magnolias
show out from under them.,
Ir
Gig's at"9:30, Heidelberg, $4.
LIKe hiS Tlannel-Tiounting contemporaries, uave rirner nas put nis nand in
Toadstool, a Twin/Tone band with a fungus fetish.
,.
RECORDS
Continued from page 5
A century
of editorial
freedom...
I.
r
I I
chorus in rock history.
Nabeel Mustafa: Of course,
they've thieved the whole song from
some early 70s disco artiste. Those
purple flares were marvelous.
Annette: Bellbottoms.
Nabeel Mustafa: Whatever.
Annette: At least they admit to
borrowing from that song unlike
others who don't give credit to the,.
original artists.
Nabeel Mustafa: The beat is.
pleasantly insistent, I must confess.
Annette: You British, you are
always so restrained. Don't you like
anything a lot?
Nabeel Mustafa: Critical distance,
darling. A certain detachment is nec-,
essary. Besides, you're letting your.
Anglophilia run away with itself.
Annette: Am not. The song is
just remarkable, fucking A. At least
I feel passion for music and can ex-
press it, you cold British prig.
Nabeel Mustafa: Will no one rid
e of this meddlesome scrivener?! .
-Annette Petrusso &
Nabeel Mustafa Zuberi
Quotes of the Day
"My shit is better than other
people's diamonds." - Lou Reed
"The only reason Michael
Jackson's record was called Bad is'*
that there wasn't .enough room for
Pathetic." - Prince
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