from St. Edward's University Hilltop Views on hilltopviewsonline.com

As natives of Fort Worth, the Toadies have survived as a durable testament to the Lone Star State's impassioned, yet small alternative underbelly-and not just on the vintage coattails of their critical and commercial magnum opus, 1994's "Rubberneck."

Sixteen years later, the band holds a shallow national recognition transcending time and geography that exists to the immortal credit of iconic hits "Possum Kingdom" and "Away." But Toadies fans in Texas unrelentingly exude a deeper feel and appreciation for the band that unapologetically flirts with maternalism. It's exactly for this reason that the Toadies feel perfectly situated playing at home, but most in their element performing to throngs of kindred misfits in Austin, Texas, as they did on Oct. 23.

Opening acts Devil in the Drink-from San Marcos-and Austin's Bright Light Social Hour admirably colored in Saturday night's all-Texas motif at Stubb's Waller Amphitheatre.

For fans who missed the Toadies' last Austin show at 2009's Austin City Limits, the dusting of grey hair on lead singer Todd Lewis's temples was a surreal reminder of the empty six years (2001-2007) following the band's dissolution after bassist Lisa Umbarger's departure.

Though older, the band's performance sounded seasoned instead of soft, demonstrating the alternately ferocious and melodious command that made their 2001 live album "Best of Toadies: Live from Paradise" such an irresistible listen. Saturday night's set list was brilliant, including diversified tracks from many of the Toadies's studio albums. "Rubberneck," "Hell Below/Stars Above" (2001), "No Deliverance" (2008) and 2010's "Feeler" were aptly represented.

The song "Heel" drew the cathartic ire of the crowd with its violent yell-a-along exhortations, while songs like "Dollskin," "Little Sin" and "Tyler" mellowed out without cooling off like a welcomed drugging.

"Dollskin is one of my absolute favorite songs. I've seen them five times and this was only the second show they've played it. That was definitely the highlight of my night," Austin native and Texas A&M graduate Erin Merkel said.

The packed crowd sang along with the band and pumped theirs fists to "Possum Kingdom" with the jubilant abandon of a hip suburban mom at a Springsteen concert. "Away" was given a similar treatment, along with the call-and-response mandate of the cult-favorite "I Come From the Water" from "Rubberneck," which sealed the evening on a spectacular note.

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