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Vaden "Danger" Todd Lewis
Vaden Todd Lewis performing with Toadies at the 2015 Dia de los Toadies in Fort Worth, Texas.
Vaden Todd Lewis performing with Toadies at the 2015 Dia de los Toadies in Fort Worth, Texas.
Background information
Birth nameVaden Danger Todd Lewis
Also known asDanger Lewis
Born (1965-09-03) September 3, 1965 (age 59)
OriginFort Worth, Texas
Genres
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Guitar, vocals
Years active1980s–present
LabelsKirtland Records
WebsiteToadies official website

Vaden Danger Todd Lewis (born September 3, 1965) is an American musician best known as the vocalist and guitarist for Toadies, an alternative rock band from Fort Worth, Texas. Lewis was also the lead vocalist and guitarist for the Dallas-based Burden Brothers. In July 2017, Lewis opened The Loop Artist Rehearsal Studios in Fort Worth.

Early life

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Vaden Todd Lewis was born in Fort Worth, Texas in 1965. At an early age, his parents introduced him to bluegrass and "old school country," which together with locally popular Texas band ZZ Top became his initial musical influences.[1] Around age 15, Lewis began seeking out different non-commercial sounds, which introduced him to Talking Heads and Pixies.[1] Working in a record store in Fort Worth in the late 1980s, Lewis met Lisa Umbarger, who shared Lewis's musical interests.[2][3]

Career

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Toadies

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Main article: Toadies

In 1989, Lewis formed the band Toadies with his record store co-workers, including bassist Lisa Umbarger.[2][3] During the early 1990s, the band played shows around the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and recorded several demos in Lewis's bedroom.[3] After hearing the Toadies' EP Pleather, major label Interscope Records signed the Toadies in 1993 and released the band's debut album Rubberneck in 1994.[2]

After years of touring, Toadies recorded new tracks for a second album, Feeler, but Interscope rejected the album.[4][5][6] In 2000, the band went back to the studio, salvaged some songs from the Feeler sessions, and released their second full-length album Hell Below/Stars Above in the spring of 2001.[5][6] Hell Below/Stars Above was not promoted by Interscope, and saw poor sales.[7]

Interscope Records did little to promote the band's latest album, and as a result, Umbarger resigned from the band in July 2001.[2][7] Lewis considered Umbarger "the core of the band" and decided to break up the band rather than continue without her.[7] The band played a few farewell shows later that summer, with Mark Hughes filling in for Umbarger, before parting ways.[7]

Burden Brothers

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Main article: Burden Brothers

After the Toadies breakup, Lewis joined up with Taz Bentley of Texas band The Reverend Horton Heat to "record a few tracks, do some shows and put the songs out on the Internet."[8] Lewis and Bentley's new band, Burden Brothers, soon began enjoying local success, with the band's song "Beautiful Night" seeing significant radio airplay in Austin, Texas.[8] Having felt "the itch" to "dive back in", Lewis and Bentley decided to pursue a record deal, and Burden Brothers signed with Kirtland Records, a Dallas, Texas-based label founded by John Kirtland of Deep Blue Something and Jenny Kirtland of The Polyphonic Spree.[8] With Kirtland Records' support, Burden Brothers released Buried in Your Black Heart in 2003, followed by Mercy in 2006.

Toadies reunion and other work

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Lewis joined with former Toadies bandmembers Clark Vogeler and Mark Reznicek to play a Toadies reunion in March 2006. Although this was intended to be a one-time show, the Toadies continued playing shows together, and then Lewis left Burden Brothers to rejoin the Toadies full-time in 2007.[3] According to Vogeler, Lewis made the decision to reunite the Toadies after Lewis began writing new material that "sounded like the Toadies."[3] Toadies signed with Kirtland Records and released a new album, No Deliverance, in 2008.[3] Lewis has since continued performing and releasing albums with Toadies; the band also started an annual Texas music festival, Dia De Los Toadies.[9]

While continuing to perform with the Toadies, Lewis began exploring work as a producer, and produced an album for Fort Worth-based band The Phuss.[9][10] Lewis also collaborated with Austin-based band LiONS on their track "Poster Child."[11] In September 2015, Lewis also reunited with Burden Brothers for a one-night performance at Dia De Los Toadies, while also performing with the Toadies later that evening.[12]

Discography

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With Burden Brothers

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With Ginger

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With Toadies

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See Toadies discography

Other credits

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Year Artist(s) Work Role Ref.
2009 LiONS "Poster Child" (from Let No One Fall EP) Co-writer [11]
2012 The Phuss The Phuss (album) Producer [10]

References

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  1. ^ a b Steffen, Chris (September 15, 2015). "The Toadies' Vaden Todd Lewis Recalls Being An "Angry, Short-Sighted Music Snob," Plus a Premiere". allmusic.com. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d Gray, Chris (May 8, 2014). "Rubbernecking at the Toadies' Bug-Eyed Masterpiece". Houston Press. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Interview: The Toadies". 88 Miles West (blog). December 2008. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  4. ^ Goodman, William (July 8, 2010). "EXCLUSIVE: New Toadies Tune". Spin.com. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Sculley, Alan (August 19, 2010). "Toadies fished out unreleased recordings for fresh 'Feeler' release". The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "At long last, Toadies' 'Feelers' sees the light of day". The Austin American-Statesman. August 17, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d Crain, Zac; Wilonsky, Robert (August 30, 2001). "Dig a Hole". Dallas Observer. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Rashbaum, Alyssa (June 22, 2004). "The Burden Brothers' Key To Success: Stop Trying". MTV. Archived from the original on January 29, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  9. ^ a b Childers, Chad (July 26, 2012). "TOADIES FRONTMAN VADEN TODD LEWIS DISCUSSES NEW ALBUM 'PLAY.ROCK.MUSIC' + MORE". Loudwire. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  10. ^ a b Tarradell, Mark (July 16, 2012). "Local Music Connection: A conversation with Joshua Fleming of Fort Worth's the Phuss". Pop Culture Blog (blog). The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Goldin, Dan (January 3, 2010). "Speaking LIONS and Battleme with Matt Drenik: An Exploding In Sound Exclusive". Exploding In Sound. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  12. ^ Mikeal, Brandon (September 14, 2015). "Dia De Los Toadies Brought Together Generations of Dallas–Fort Worth Rock". Dallas Observer. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
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