Alternative/indie rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket is currently on their Good Intentions tour, named after their 1995 hit single from the album In Light Syrup. The tour kicked off this past July, and only has a few more dates left. On Sunday, September 28, they began the tail end of this tour at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, IA. I will never grow weary of photographing shows at this venue! It’s a beautiful establishment, and as always, every staff member I encounter there is beyond hospitable.
Opening for Toad the Wet Sprocket was Vertical Horizon (“Everything You Want”) and KT Tunstall (“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”). It was truly a nostalgic experience being able to see both of them live, and they still perform as if they are fresh, new artists.
With only the glow from the lights on the backdrop meant to represent stars, Toad the Wet Sprocket began their set with “Windmills” and then “Something’s Always Wrong,” both from their 1994 album, Dulcinea. Still early in their set, they performed “Transient Whales,” a single from their most recent album released in 2021, Starting Now, a love song written by lead singer, Glen Phillips, during the time after his divorce. He even made reference prior to singing, calling it a song for the divorcees out there. Immediately following, they performed “Nanci,” another single off their album, Dulcinea. It had, to my ears, sort of a sound you’d hear from a band in the 1950s. I absolutely loved it!
About halfway through their set, their major 1991 hit “All I Want” got the crowd feeling nostalgic for the 90s. This popular song peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Immediately following this was “Good Intentions,” the song for which their 2025 tour is named. This tune was also on the Friends Original TV Soundtrack album, used in the 1996 episode titled “The One With the Two Parties.” Glen stated that this song is dedicated to when you’re doing something you love, but deeply regret. Matt Pynn made his way from the lap steel with his mandolin towards the front of the stage. Percussionist Carl Thomson left his caged drum set to make his way to the front of the stage as well, with his percussion box. Now everyone, including lead guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and of course Glen, were all highly visible, lined up across the stage performing this hit song.
The stage was now lit with blues and greens, as well as a disco ball, which turned out to be a focal piece for much of the lighting effects, emitting light beams during the song “Rings” from their 1997 album Coil. Such a moving song! Following this, the tempo changed a bit, and the disco ball shone even brighter to the point where it seemed to be lighting the entire stage. A song sung from the perspective of James, the brother of Jesus, “Fly From Heaven” was next on their set.
Shortly before getting ready to perform “Nightingale Song,” off their 1991 album, Fear, they had the crowd get up on their feet to start some of the off-beat clapping for this tune. Matt Pynn’s mandolin mastery was highlighted during this song. I was floored by this solo! Soon after, bassist Dean Dinning made his way up to the drums for an epic drum duet with Carl Thomson, spotlighted the entire time. Something like this does not occur often on stage, so it was truly a sight to see!
After slowing it down a bit to perform “Crazy Life,” a 1995 single from their Coil album, and also used in the Empire Records soundtrack, Glen gave all of the thank-yous to the crew, the venue, etc. before ending their set with “Fall Down,” another one off of their Dulcinea album. However, no show is complete without an encore! The band made their way back on stage to perform “Walk On the Ocean” from their third studio album, Fear. Gone are the days of lighters in the crowd swaying to a song, so the phone flashlights served their purpose. Those only enhanced the mood, as the starry backdrop was once again lit up to resemble the night sky, and the disco ball illuminated the stage in blues and yellows, of which I would presume to represent the moonlight.
With only nine shows left on this tour, I highly encourage anyone, especially fans of 90s music, to catch at least one of their remaining performances. Their final show on this tour will be held on October 11 in Trenton, NJ at the Cure Insurance Arena.
GALLERY: Toad The Wet Sprocket at Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, Iowa (September 28, 2025)
