Toad's keeps hopping

Yale University is not the only legendary institution in New Haven. Toad's Place, opened in 1972, brings concert-goers from across the Northeast to the Elm City. Luminaries such as Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Guided by Voices have headlined there; last semester Live gave an impromptu show.

Toad's may lure big-name stars, but the club has a comfortable, almost cozy atmosphere. It fits 750 people, a modest space compared to other concert establishments. At a Morphine concert last October, I sat on a corner of the stage, just feet from the bass player, without any problems.

The club's size makes it seem unlikely that groups like Morphine and Porno for Pyros would choose to play Toad's. According to Stephanie Panico, director of booking and promotions at Toad's, though, a club's reputation means more to bands than its size relative to other venues.

"The image of a club is usually based on how many years you've been in the business and how bands are treated," she explained. Lach Buchanan of the Premier Talent booking agency has worked with Toad's for over ten years. "Toad's is good to deal with. As an agent, you want to get offers in a timely fashion and you want deals to be honest. They live up to that expectation." As Brian Phelps, vice president and owner of Toad's Place, commented, "We want all the groups that play at Toad's to be as comfortable as possible. We also want the groups to feel special." He remarked that "the strutting toad logo adds to the friendly image of Toad's".

That tuxedo-clad amphibian enhances Toad's image. But does it make you think of French food? Believe it or not, Toad's Place began in 1972 as a French restaurant, occupying only one third of the space it has now. "As the restaurant lost money and was spiraling downward, live entertainment was brought in. Soon there were 25 cent drafts and bluegrass music every Tuesday night. It was a big hit. The drinking age was 18 then, and Toad's was a place that few Yalies hesitated to frequent. More live entertainment was brought in and the restaurant idea was dropped," Phelps said.

With Sterling Memorial Library across the street and Morse College behind the club, Toad's cannot ignore Yale. As the years have passed, the two institutions have worked together many times. University President Richard Levin has held honors and awards ceremonies at Toad's Place. A definite friendship also exits between Yale students and Toad's.

The Yale football team's offensive line is actually known as "The Toads." For the last seven years, a traditional shot of the players wearing their Toad's Place t-shirts has been taken. These pictures can be seen at Toad's on the wall near the front bar. The biannual Harvard weekend at Toad's can easily be called `the weekend' of the year.

But frosh shouldn't wait until November to check out the famed club. Whether you drop in on a whim to see a local ska band or wait until the big names grace the marquee, Toad's deserves a visit.

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