Toadies Sign with Spaceflight Records, Announce New Album The Charmer
Toadies have signed with Austin’s Spaceflight Records for the release of their highly anticipated new album, The Charmer.
Recorded with legendary producer Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, The Charmer was born out of the isolation and self-reflection of the 2020 pandemic. When the band finally entered the studio, they embraced a completely live approach, recording together in one room, facing each other, the way records were made before computers transformed the recording process. The result captures the raw energy, chemistry, and intensity that have defined Toadies for more than three decades.
The partnership marks an exciting new chapter for the band and aligns them with one of independent music's most forward thinking labels. Home to artists including Die Spitz, and Heartless Bastards, Spaceflight Records has earned a reputation for championing artist development while reimagining how independent labels can operate. Spaceflight’s pioneering nonprofit, artist-first model challenges traditional industry norms by prioritizing artist empowerment, equity, diversity, and representation, creating a sustainable ecosystem where musicians can build lasting careers while retaining greater control over their work.
With The Charmer, Toadies return to their rawest, most immediate form, delivering a record that honors their past while pushing boldly into the future alongside a label committed to putting artists first.
Toadies Announce The Charmer Tour with special guests Sparta, Emily Wolfe, Vandoliers, Olive Vox and Local H
The Charmer tour includes big rock festivals like Louder Than Life and Aftershock Festival, along with iconic rooms like First Avenue & 7th St Entry and The Fillmore in SF, and Pappy and Harriets in Pioneertown.
Toadies KEXP Session
Toadies About the Record Series
About the Record is a multi-part video series that takes fans inside the making of The Charmer. Recorded with legendary producer Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago, the series explores everything from tracking the record live in the room together to the stories, emotions, and creative choices behind each song.
The Charmer
“The Charmer is a massive extension and elevation of the band’s catalog” – Spin Magazine
“The songs created by Toadies always carry a serious bite, but The Charmer, bristles with an edge that borders on terrifying.” – KXT
“The Charmer isn’t about reinvention; it’s about clarity. He ( Steve Albini ) captures the band as they are, not as they were or as they could be marketed today. It doubles as both the band’s most adventurous work, and a fitting sonic epitaph to an iconic producer. For a band more than 30 years in, that kind of honesty is rare. The Charmer doesn’t just revisit the Toadies’ sound, it sharpens it raw, immediate, and very much alive.” -Smells Like Infinite Sadness
“If there has ever been an anomaly, it’s the Toadies. Surviving the rattling frenzy of major label signings in the 90s, turning into the fervent independent rock band it is today. That’s not an easy task to achieve because, first and foremost, you need talent, which the band has in spades. With The Charmer, the band is back! But then again, the band never really left. Let’s just pray it never does. “ – Ghettoblaster
Toadies “Possum Kingdom” is featured in Marvel Studios’ new Thunderbolt trailer.
Vaden Lewis (Vocals, Guitar), Mark Reznicek (Drums), Clark Vogeler (Guitar), Doni Blair (Bass)
“Who wants Toadies to change? Communists–that’s who.” -ALTERNATIVE PRESS
Born out of the 90s alternative rock scene, Toadies of Fort Worth, Texas burst into the music scene with their debut album, Rubberneck, which went platinum on the strength of two smash singles “Possum Kingdom” and “Tyler.” The album hit #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and went on to spend 49 weeks on the Billboard 200. The songs on Rubberneck are fearless, literate and visceral. Certainly, they’re not your average, accessible radio fodder “We didn’t even have singles in mind,” drummer Mark Reznicek says. “Or the idea of even possibly getting on the radio. We didn’t think that would ever happen.” But “Possum Kingdom” remains a radio staple even today – and it’s because raw expression makes for the most powerful art.
“When it comes to twitchy, psychotic rock, Toadies remain the band to beat.” -BOSTON GLOBE
Rubberneck’s staying power breeds new fans to go along with the Toadies’ cult like early adopters, whose faith never flagged even as the band struggled to release new music. When their would-be second album languished on the label shelf, they circulated demos and bought tickets. Even when a different second album, 2001’s Hell Below/Stars Above, fared poorly and the Toadies broke up, the fans’ steadfast evangelism continued. A one-off show in 2006 became a full-fledged reunion. The Toadies have since steadily built momentum. A third album, No Deliverance, came in 2008 and saw the band playing Lollapalooza and ACL. Toadies have been active ever since, continually releasing records and touring since 2008.
“Vaden Todd Lewis simply scorches.” -SPIN
Toadies most recent release is an unlikely cover of Kelly Clarkson’s smash hit “Since U Been Gone.” The track is part of the compilation, Texas Wild, celebrating 100 years of Texas State Parks. It features Texas musicians covering other Texas musicians, including Ryan Bingham’s version of the Toadies “Possum Kingdom.”
“The Toadies – my favorite band of all time. Anything about rock swagger I learned from them.”-KELLY CLARKSON
What’s next? Toadies have just recorded their next record, The Charmer, with Steve Albini in Chicago. Bassist Doni Blair refers to Albini as a “bucket list producer. Guitarist Clark Vogeler adds “There are records in each of our collections that were recorded by him which mean the world to us. The sound he brought to records like The Pixies Surfer Rosa, and PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me, capture the feeling of being in a room with a band while they play, (quite loudly, it would appear). His recordings of bands are honest; there’s not much in the way of Pro Toos fixing or studio trickery. We’ve always felt like we deliver live so why not record the band live?” Blair says if the process “Steve was very helpful and us sound like…the Toadies. He just set up mics and let ‘er rip.”
Thirty years and still going strong, so much so so that Toadies hometown of Fort Worth, Texas has even declared an annual “Toadies Day.” What’s next? Stay tuned and find out. There are surprises in store.
TEXAS WILD
Toadies release their cover of Kelly Clarkson’s smash hit ‘Since U Been Gone’ today. The track is part of the compilation Texas Wild celebrating 100 years of state parks and features lone star state musicians covering fellow Texan’s songs. The compilation also features Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada, Sarah Jaffe, Shane Smith and The Saints ft. Hayes Carll, Shakey Graves, Paul Wall, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Ryan Bingham covers Toadies active rock radio mainstay ‘Possum Kingdom.’ “When the discussion started about covering a fellow Texas artist for this compilation I was a bit overwhelmed.” says Toadies frontman Vaden Todd Lewis, “There are just so many great ones to choose from! In my frustration, I mentioned it to my wife, who yelled ‘KELLY CLARKSON’S SINCE U BEEN GONE!’ It seemed like the perfect fit, in that it’s very out of character for The Toadies. We’re always looking to push our limits. This song particularly pushed my personal limits as a vocalist. Plus it’s hella fun to play! Clark Vogeler says “The state parks in Texas are some of the state’s greatest assets and people’s lives would be better if they spent more time visiting them” and, bassist Doni Blair adds “We chose it because it’s a great song, AND our singer can do it. Not everyone has the Texas Bon Scott.”
“Possum Kingdom” is the second single for the highly anticipated Texas Wild album performed by Ryan Bingham and The Texas Gentlemen.
DID YOU KNOW?
- 25 years after Rubberneck reached platinum status, “Possum Kingdom” remains a staple at rock, alternative, hit and now classic rock radio with over 600 spins a week.
- Fan favorites “I Come From The Water”, “Tyler” and “Away” are recurrents at rock and alternative.
- “Possum Kingdom” is featured on Guitar Hero 2.
- England’s highly respected NME included “Possum Kingdom” in their A History Of Rock’N’Roll In 100 Riffs right along with Johnny Cash, Beatles, Stones, The Who, Fleetwood Mac, Queen Ramones, The Smiths, Metallica, Rage, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Muse, and White Stripes.
- This season of the VOICE featured a segment with Kelly Clarkson singing along to “Possum Kingdom.”
- St Vincent covered a song for a Sirius XMU acoustic session.
- Ultimate Guitar named Rubberneck one of the Top 10 Grunge albums that survived the ’00’s.
- Rubberneck also made Rolling Stone’s ’50 Greatest Grunge Albums’ as well as their list for 1994: The 40 Best Records From Mainstream Alternative’s Greatest Year.
- TV shows from The Midnight Club, This is Us to For All Mankind on Apple + have included Rubberneck tracks.
- Robotman in Season 2 of Doom Patrol wears a vintage Toadies shirt.
- Girl Talk’s ‘This is the Remix’ sampled ‘Possum Kingdom’
- Marvel Comics features the band in two X-Men comics Add pick of Marvel cover with toadies
- NY Times and USA Today best selling author Xio Axelrod’s latest novel The Girl With the Stars in Her Eyes has the main Character’s band cover Toadies ‘I Burn’ off Rubberneck.
- Vaden Lewis has also done his own series of lyric comics including ‘Tyler’ and ‘I Burn’ (due out this August.)
- Toadies have released 5 craft beer collaborations with Martin House Brewing including Rubberneck Red, Hell Below, Stars Above, PK Pilsner and Bockslider.
- Toadies have released two signature coffees with Full City Rooster; Texas Pecan and Dark Secret.
- Toadies have collaborated with Texas High Country on a THC edible, “I Come From The Watermelon.”
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