EVERCLEAR / LOCAL H / SPONGE LIVE AT TOAD’S PLACE
By Mia Palazzo
Everclear Brings ’90s Nostalgia to Life at Toad’s Place with Local H and Sponge
Walking into Toad’s Place on Thursday night felt like stepping straight into a time capsule. The venue was packed shoulder to shoulder, buzzing with excitement long before the first guitar chord hit. Everclear’s Sparkle and Fade 30th Anniversary Tour brought fans of all ages together under one roof, joined by fellow alt-rock legends Local H and Sponge.
Sponge opened the night with pure energy. Guitarist Andy Patalan hit the stage with a red solo cup raised high, toasting the crowd before ripping into “Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina).” Frontman Vinnie Dombroski looked thrilled to be back at Toad’s, smiling ear to ear as he reminded everyone it had been nearly thirty years since their last time there. Bassist Jeff Hayes and drummer Dave Coughlin locked into deep grooves that had the crowd swaying. By the time Sponge closed with “Plowed,” the entire room was shouting every word, voices echoing off the walls like it was 1995 all over again.
Then came Local H, a duo that proved two people can make more noise than some full bands. Scott Lucas, armed with his guitar and signature growl, wasted no time launching into “All-Right (Oh Yeah),” while touring drummer Pete Beeman drove the beat so hard the floor practically shook. The crowd roared through favorites like “Cha! Said the Kitty” and “Fritz’s Corner,”. Lucas’s energy was infectious. He cracked jokes between songs and hyped up the crowd like an old friend. They ended their set with “High-Fiving MF,” a chaotic and hilarious closer that left everyone sweaty and grinning.
When Everclear finally hit the stage, Toad’s completely erupted. Art Alexakis came out swinging with “Electra Made Me Blind,” his voice still carrying that familiar rasp that defined an era. Between songs, he told stories about the band’s early days, how they were broke, how they first opened for Sponge right there at Toad’s decades ago.
The crowd sang every line back to him like a choir. The band kept the energy high through “Heartspark Dollarsign” and “Everything to Everyone,” then surprised everyone with an impromptu Zeppelin riff.
For longtime fans, the deep cuts were gold “The Twistinside,” “Her Brand New Skin,” and “Nehalem” all made the setlist. “Wonderful” was dedicated to the younger fans, while “Pale Green Stars” and “Chemical Smile” brought a nostalgic calm before the encore. Alexakis thanked the crowd for selling out Toad’s and then broke into “My Sexual Life,” a rare live gem that longtime fans couldn’t stop cheering for.
The encore hit like a wave of memories “So Much for the Afterglow,” “I Will Buy You a New Life,” and, to close it all out, “Santa Monica”. The whole room sang like the song was freshly released, completely lost in the music.
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