Toadies Drop “The Charmer,” Confirm New Album Recorded with Steve Albini + Fall Tour

Toadies are back with the first single, “The Charmer,” off their brand-new studio album, The Charmer, arriving May 1 via Spaceflight Records… And this one comes with serious weight behind it.

Recorded at Electrical Audio in Chicago with the late Steve Albini, The Charmer stands as one of the few Albini-engineered projects completed before his passing that has yet to see release. For a band that’s never chased trends, working with Albini wasn’t a casual decision…it was unfinished business.

“Working with Steve was, quite literally, a dream come true. It was everything I wanted and more. In my opinion it was the best recording session I’ve had in 35 years of making albums. The five of us were a team focused on making a great Toadies album, which we did,” says bassist Doni Blair.

Frontman Vaden Lewis adds: “This album has been a long time in the works, and it’s such a joy to see it come together, we went back to basics for this session: all analogue, live takes, high energy.”

Watch the video for Toadies “The Charmer” below:

Drummer Mark Reznicek didn’t hide the full-circle moment: “I’ve been a fan of Steve Albini’s since I first heard the albums he recorded with the Pixies and PJ Harvey, so being able to record with him is really a dream come true. In fact, when we first signed with a major label, they asked us who we would like to work with and we all said “Albini!” Well, for whatever reason, the label didn’t go for it. And now 30 years later, it finally happened!”

And yes – this is the real deal. No digital polish. No shortcuts.

As Lewis puts it: “No computers were used for tracking or mixing, just old school tape and razor blade.”

That stripped-down Albini method – live, loud, and unfiltered – locks directly into the band’s DNA. The result is being described as a classic Toadies sound with something new creeping in.

Guitarist Clark Vogeler explains their shift in tone: “Musically, there’s a kind of new classic rock flavor built into Toadies. There’s always been some ZZ Top, but now there’s some Boston, Bob Seger, and Rolling Stones … and Vaden is using a lot of 7th chords, which to me can sound panicked. It’s got this extra note in there that makes you feel like something’s not right.”

“The Charmer’s” accompanying video, directed and edited by Vogeler – who is also an Emmy-nominated filmmaker – captured the sessions with Albini. Vogeler continued: “I knew before we went in to record the new album with Steve Albini we’d be playing together live as much as possible, in contrast to most records which are pieced together layer by layer.  Of course we knew he was going to capture the sound of what was happening in the room so I took the opportunity to capture images as well.”

The Charmer also marks the band’s first release with Austin-based Spaceflight Records, a nonprofit label founded by long-time front of house engineer and producer Brett Orrison, documentary filmmaker Sam Douglas, and Interstellar Audio Machines founder Eric Bice. The roster behind the scenes includes Texas musician Bryan Richie of The Sword and Rick Pierik of Nine Mile Records, with an advisory board featuring Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers), Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Adrian Quesada (Black Pumas), and Matt Pinfield.

Orrison says of the partnership: “This felt like a natural fit. Working with Toadies reflects how we approach things at Spaceflight, supporting artists who value ownership, independence, and a sustainable way to make records.”

He continues: “The Toadies have never needed context or explanation. Their music holds up on its own, and the way they operate feels intentional rather than reactive. They’re engaged with their audience, still putting weight behind physical records and live shows, and approaching releases with care. It’s about presence and purpose…They are a band that knows what matters.”

Vogeler adds: “We appreciate that they’re musicians and crew workers themselves,” Vogeler continued. “They also have guys that have long histories in live music, so we just feel like it’s a great partnership for us. It’s different than the major label system, which has been super frustrating for us over the years.”

Made on their own terms, engineered by Albini, and released through a label built to support artist independence, The Charmer arrives as one of the most self-assured records of the band’s career.

The Charmer TrackList:
1. Ash’s Theme
2. Come To Life
3. The Charmer
4. I Wanted To Be Everywhere
5. Long Time
6. I Walk A Line
7. Get Out Of Your Head
8. Damage
9. Closer To You
10. Normal
11. I Call Your Name
12. Gasoline Jane
13. In Bandages

Toadies will take The Charmer nationwide through the fall, with tickets going on sale Friday, February 20. The run features rotating support from Local H, Vandoliers, and Sparta, with The Black Angels appearing on the Dallas date only.

From Buda to Boston, Chicago to San Diego, it’s a full-scale sweep – including stops at New Orleans’ Tipitina’s, New York’s Webster Hall, Chicago’s The Vic, Denver’s Ogden Theatre, and a hometown Dallas show at Longhorn Backyard.

With more than 30 years behind them, the Toadies have released seven studio albums, played major festivals including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, and even have an official “Toadies Day” declared in Fort Worth.

Their 1994 platinum debut Rubberneck – featuring “Tyler” and “Possum Kingdom” – hit #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart and spent 49 weeks on the Billboard 200. After reuniting in 2006, the band’s following has only expanded.

Now, three decades after first asking to work with Albini, they finally got their session. No gloss. No compromise. Just tape rolling and amps humming.

The Charmer lands May 1.

Toadies Tour Dates
Support from Local H+, Vandoliers* and Sparta^. The Black Angels will appear on the Dallas date only.

Apr. 16 – Buda, TX – The Backyard *
Apr. 17 – Cypress, TX – Fio Hill Country Grill *
Apr. 18 – Biloxi, MS – Crawfish Boil  – Miss. Coast Coliseum
Apr. 19 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitinas *
Apr. 30 – Abilene, TX – Potosi Live +*
May 1 – Christoval, TX – Cooper’s BBQ/LIVE!+*
May 2 – Dallas, TX – Longhorn Backyard =+*
May 3 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre +
May 5 – Fayetteville, AR – Ozark Music Hall *
May 7 – Memphis, TN – Graceland Soundstage
May 8 – Nashville, TN – Eastside Bowl +*
May 9 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City +*
May 12 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade – Heaven +*
May 13 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel +*
May 15 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground +*
May 16 – Raleigh, NC- The Ritz +*
May 17 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore +*
May 19 – Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall +*
May 20 – Boston, MA – House of Blues +*
May 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall +*
May 22 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer +*
May 23 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony +*
May 27 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre  +*
May 28 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues *
May 29 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s *
May 30 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection +*
May 31 – Chicago, IL – The Vic +*
Jun. 2 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue +*
Jun. 3 – Omaha, NE – The Astro +*
Jun. 5 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theater ^
Jun. 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand at The Complex +^
Jun. 7 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory +^
Jun. 9 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox +^
Jun. 10 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater +^
Jun. 12 – San Francisco, CA  – The Fillmore +^
Jun. 13 – Los Angeles, The Belasco +^
Jun. 14 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory +^
Jun. 16 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park +^
Jun. 17 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren +^
Sep. 20 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival

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