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Saturday, Sept. 28 8:00PM
Doors at 7:30PM
Arguably the most experimental of the Hippie-Era psychedelic bands, “Toad Halvah,” were purists who refused to write any of their songs, insisting instead on improvising everything. Some say it’s because they were too lazy to rehearse, but lead singer, Toady Mac says, “We wanted to find each song in the moment. Like Michelangelo said, “the statue is already there in the marble,” we’re just chipping away at it.”
Dipping into the Victorian fantasy bag that sent other rock bands of the era to Hobbits and King Arthur for their inspiration (the most notable being “White Rabbit,” by the Jefferson Airplane) Toad Halvah, took their name and game from “The Wind in the Willows.” But their riverbank reality is on the stream of consciousness; spontaneously discovering each lyric, melody and chord change – based on YOUR suggestions.
Toady Mac, Moley Ballinger and Badger Peter Lohmann spent the late 60s as rock and roll nomads touring SoCal coastal campgrounds in their VW bus: day trippin’ with wheels and waves and night trippin’ with jam sessions and window pane. Their pop-up gigs at happenings and clubs are legendary, but as the saying goes, “If you don’t remember them, you were
probably there.”
Toad Halvah is the creation of Mike McShane, Brian Lohmann and John Ballinger. This trio of musical improvisers have appeared at the Laguna Cultural Arts Center as “The Broadway YOUR way, Soiree,” an improvised tribute to a made-up American Musical composer.
Brian Lohmann has performed at the Laguna Playhouse in “Tickled Pink,” “Twos a Crowd,” and with Mike McShane in “Staged,” all by Rita Rudner and Martin Bergman. Mike’s numerous TV and film credits include Doctor Who, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Office Space. He is also an original cast member of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” on the BBC. John
Ballinger is a music producer and award-winning musical director for theaters throughout Southern California. He toured with Rufus Wainwright and “Dancing with the Stars.” Brian and John recorded the album, “The One and Lonely, Johnny Lonely,” which is available on Bandcamp.
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