Vaden Todd Lewis
Birthdate: Sept. 3, 1965
Band: Toadies
Instrument: Singer / Guitarist
Age in 2026: 61
Vaden Todd Lewis aka Danger Lewis, has been around. Born in Fort Worth, TX in 1965, he grew up listening to bluegrass and “old school country” at home. Other early musical influences were ZZ Top, Talking Heads and Pixies. When he began working at a record store, he met Lisa Umbarger; she and he became Toadies in 1989, when Vaden was 24 years old. Toadies had an EP but it was their first album, Rubberneck, that put them on the map in 1994, with “Possum Kingdom,” which some say is about a death cult that existed in TX at the time.
The line-up for Rubberneck was:
Vaden Todd Lewis ā vocals, rhythm guitar
Darrel Herbert ā lead guitar
Lisa Umbarger ā bass, baritone guitar
Mark Reznicek ā drums, percussion
Although Toadies had six more albums between Rubberneck and 2017’s The Lower Side of Uptown, they couldn’t recapture anything near the platinum status of their debut. The band broke up in 2001. Between 2006 and 2024, the band also stayed active touring and creating compilation albums, but their standing in the shadows of headlining acts continued. It wasn’t until 2024 that Toadies announced they were working on a new album, The Charmer, which was released on May 1 of this year.
Toadies are touring for the new album through mid-October.
Current lineup on The Charmer:
Vaden Todd Lewis ā lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Mark Reznicek ā drums
Clark Vogeler ā lead guitar, backing vocals
Doni Blair ā bass, backing vocals
Other bands Vaden played with:
The Reverend Horton Heat
Burden Brothers
Ginger
LiONS
The Phuss
Having bought The Charmer and listened to it many times and reading interviews where Vaden discusses where the tracks came from, what might be considered a concept album is all about struggling with pain, loss, and mental health. I could pick any song from it to highlight as they are all excellent. One that resonates well with me is, “Get Out of Your Head.”
To hear the whole album as a playlist on YouTube, start here:
information gleaned from wikipedia
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim wants us to share musicians and songwriters born in September.
UPDATE: I found this live performance of songs from the new album and older stuff at KEXP, where I’ve found a treasure trove of live performances over time.
Tao-Talk 
He’s an artist I never heard of until tonight! I did like this song you chose!
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Thanks, CA!
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A new one for me. I think itās the kind of sound that grows on you after a few listens, so Iāll try that š
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Thanks, Clive. I think you’re right. Same with the whole album.
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Hi Lisa – Iād not heard of Lewis or the band before but I really enjoyed this – It turns bottled-up frustration into a satisfying rock-and-roll catharsis which works so well. His voice reminds a bit of Talking Heads David Byrne only a more raspy delivery – thanks for the introduction š
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Ange, I love your assessment of the song. I can see a similarity between their voices. Both of them are so talented with their singing and songwriting.
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š
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Nice music, Lisa and I do like Danger Lewis’s voice. It was good to hear some new music from a band that I never hear of before.
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Glad you enjoyed the music, Jim, and yes, Danger has a hella good voice. I am addicted to Possum Kingdom, which they have also recorded as an acoustic. The Charmer album is one I keep returning to.
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Great Choice Lisa and very interesting too. šš
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Thanks Willow! <3
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I was glad when you first introduced me to them Li.
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:) <3
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All new to me, Lisa. I agree with Ange; I was immediately reminded of David Byrne in “Get Out Of Your Head”, which is cool because I’m a big DB/TH fan. This was fun.
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So glad you enjoyed the music and Vaden’s voice. It’s a winner.
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New to me but I do rather like it Lisa
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Glyn, it grows on you.
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I š the Toadies. Wonderful share today, Li . I want so badly to get out of my head. And I do but I donāt stay there. Baby steps ā¦. Music sure helps.
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<3 your comment, J. It is the best medicine of all.
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I really like the Ash’s Dream song…I like how they separated it in headphones and the surf style guitar…that won me over.
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The Ash song is how Vaden wanted to write a theme song for the Ash of the horror movies. He did a great job with it!
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Yes he did…that surf style guitar is so cool in that. Thats pitching in a different style…that really worked!
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I appreciate your music knowledge in noticing it and being able to name it.
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I think this has a very old-timey country blues vibe. I like it.
It’s hard to get out of our head, but we could all do it more often. (K)
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K, I like how you are hearing this.
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New to me too, but āPossum Kingdomā has such a great, eerie hook. Love these Sunday music discoveries!
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“eerie hook” is a perfect term to describe it
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Anyone playing a Gibson SG (electric guitar) gets my undivided attention! And, hey, the dude at 61 is one year older than me and I’m way more handsome, so perhaps there’s still some hope for me to quit my day job become a rock star! š¤£
On a more serious note, the name The Toadies does ring a distant bell, though I don’t recall the context, in which I previously heard of them. That said, I like what I’m hearing.
Hope you’re spending a lovely Labor Day weekend! :-)
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Christian, I know that people chide The Rolling Stones and other octagenarian acts, but to me they are (rock &) roll (sic) models to musicians everywhere. Of course you can become a rock star! I was watching Ricky Gervais the other night and someone had asked him when he decided he wanted to make a career of comedy. He had always been a comedian at heart, but it was when he was around 35 years old and saw a beloved comedy team on tv that it struck him, if they can do it, I can do it. He never looked back and has been making people laugh ever since.
Toadies are at the top of my listening charts right now. Glad you like what you are hearing. The KEXP live had me enthralled this afternoon.
Yes, I am enjoying the long weekend. Went to beach with fam yesterday and catching up on writing and yard work today. Hope you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend as well, my friend.
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Thanks, Lisa. I do. On Saturday evening, I saw a fun Bruce Sprinngsteen tribute band in Asbury Park. They’re called The E Street Shuffle. “Their Bruce” sounds incredibly close to the real Boss! š
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Dang they sound grrrrrrrreat! And you got to see them live. Thanks for the link!
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