The Toad Tavern was a charming nightclub just a stone’s throw from Brian’s home in Littleton, Colorado, featuring a mix of local talent and national acts, creating an electric atmosphere for music lovers. Tavern owner Brice Hancock and keyboardist Marty Wallace were old college buddies, so when Brice wanted a house band to support national solo acts he was eager to showcase, he asked Marty to put the band together. That’s when Marty stumbled upon Brian’s ad in the newspaper; intrigued by Brian’s impressive background, he reached out to invite him to audition.
When Marty called, he said he was only looking for a lead guitarist, so when Brian arrived for the audition, he brought only his guitar and amp. Brian figured that if there was any interest in his other musical abilities, it would come up during the audition and could just sweeten the deal. He needn’t have worried; Marty was blown away by Brian’s guitar prowess and his ability to learn songs so quickly, so he hired him on the spot.
After the audition, Marty and I sat at the bar and began putting together a setlist for the upcoming gig that weekend. Marty grew concerned about some of my song choices, saying, "I can't really sing that." Then I said, "Wait a sec," ran up to Marty's keyboard on stage, and started playing and singing Billy Joel's "Piano Man." When I sat back down at the bar, Marty feigned disgust and laughed ironically, "And the fucker sings."
Marty’s daytime job was as an educator at the University of Colorado, where he taught music theory, putting him in a prime position to headhunt aspiring talent. After bringing Brian aboard, he often invited students to sit in on rehearsals, during which he and Brian would take turns teaching. The most talented students joined the band, including Ron Ohren on drums, Percival Johnston on bass. But when needed Marty, who also played saxophone, wanted to have a full brass section, so he brought Hiram Bartel on trumpet, and Sinead Marks on trombone to complete the line-up.
Brice’s vision for the Toad Tavern was to make it the premier venue for Rhythm & Blues in the Denver area, and now, with his own house band, he could make that vision a reality. The group’s name, ‘Toad House Band,’ also helped convey that vision. When Marty said he was ready, Brice invested in upgrading the stage and house sound system. In no time, the band was booked solid, backing such legendary artists as Jared Leto, Bobby Rush, Koko Taylor, Bettye LaVette, and Charlie Musselwhite.
Brian remembers working with the Toad House band as one of the most rewarding experiences he'd ever had. Not only did he have the opportunity to teach, but he also met a steady stream of talented, exciting musicians with whom he could jam. Many of them he collaborated with on other projects outside the band. Every gig felt like Christmas, and Brian, rightly, began to think that the Blues was the next chapter in his career.
In 2009, Brian released his first blues-rock song, “What the Hell,” which quickly became a huge hit, scaling the Billboard charts and earning him one of his many Billboard Top Independent Artists awards. Due to the song’s immense popularity, the Creative Artists Agency took notice and signed him to a tour opening for artists such as the Black Crowes, Robert Randolph, B.B. King, and Robert Cray during the summer of 2010.
The album “Brian Walton & the Toad House Band Live!” compiles the most popular recordings from the summer 2010 tour, showcasing Brian’s impressive vocal versatility and lead guitar work. It also emphasizes the distinctive Toad House Band sound that Marty Wallace crafted so carefully. Marty is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on with this album.
Brian Walton & the Toad House Band Live! Featuring Brian Walton on Vocals and Lead Guitar, Marty Wallace on Keyboards, Guitars & Saxophone, Ron Ohren on Bass & Vocals, Percival Johnston on Drums & Vocals, Hiram Bartel on Trumpet, and Sinead Marks on Trombone. Live Sound Engineer Marty Johnston. Brian Walton appears courtesy of K&P Enterprises and Sony Entertainment. Produced and directed by Brian Walton A.E.S at the Musty Dungeon Studios in Challis, Idaho. ℗ 1981-2026 WIBG LLC dba Musty Dungeon Studios.
Vocals and Lead Guitar: Brian Walton
Keyboards, Guitars & Saxophone: Marty Wallace
Bass & Vocals: Ron Ohren
Drums & Vocals: Percival Johnston
Trumpet: Hiram Bartel
Trombone: Sinead Marks
Created for the documentary “Boobs: An American Obsession,” the song “What the Hell” was released as a single shortly after its film debut, which marked Brian’s first venture into the blues-rock genre. The catchy tune quickly gained popularity and critical acclaim, winning several awards for its lyrics and composition. It has since been featured in numerous TV shows and movies worldwide.
Written by Brian Walton. Recorded at the Oskar Blues Festival in Longmont, Colorado, in 2010.
After the resounding success of “A Good Fool is Hard to Find,” Brian thought he should follow it up with another Albert King song to keep the energy moving. And so, he chose “Born Under a Bad Sign.” He was drawn to its distinctive rhythm and relaxed feel, which perfectly suited his style and deep appreciation for blues. It seemed like an ideal pick to continue winning over his audience!
Written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones. Recorded at the Toad Tavern in Littleton, Colorado, in 2010.
Brian first recorded “A Good Fool is Hard to Find” on a dare during a radio interview. While discussing the ups and downs of collaborating with Phil Ramone in the ’80s, Brian shared a story about the frantic pace of mixing an album in just a few days. Toward the end of the interview, callers were invited to ask questions, and one dared Brian to record a song in a single day. Accepting the challenge, Brian raced home, recorded and mixed the song in just six hours. He then returned to the radio studio and premiered the track on the air that same evening to huge fanfare!
Written by Gloria Houston and Nina Shackelford. Recorded at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Telluride, Colorado, in 2010.
During a memorable Christmas performance at Toad Tavern, Marty Wallace surprised Brian by launching into “Christmas Comes But Once a Year.” Although Brian had never played this song before and initially stumbled through it, he was delighted to see the crowd really loved it and kept asking for more. The song’s cheerful, family-friendly vibe and relaxed style captured everyone’s hearts, inspiring Brian to make it a regular part of his setlist.
Written by Sammy Timberg and Bob Rothberg. Recorded at the Fiddler's Green Amphitheater in Denver, Colorado, in 2010.
When Brian was going through an identity crisis, torn between country music and the blues, the Black Crowes’ cover of “Hard to Handle” felt like the ideal song to help him blend the two genres. It gave him an exciting chance to try out a rougher guitar tone and a gritty vocal style while performing live.
Written by Otis Redding, Al Bell, and Allen Jones. Recorded at the Oskar Blues Festival in Longmont, Colorado, in 2010.
Brian has always admired Billy Gibbons’ straightforward guitar style, which he feels comes from the special challenges of playing in a trio. He thinks Billy’s riffs are absolutely brilliant, which often inspires his own playing. One song that really captures what Brian loves about Billy’s music is “La Grange.” It was a natural choice for his own power trio back in the day, perfectly expressing the energy he wanted to share.
Written by Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. Recorded at Oskar Blues in Longmont, Colorado, in 2010.
Brian pulled a fast one on Marty Wallace during his audition for the Toad House Band by launching into Billy Joel’s classic “Piano Man.” It was a great showcase of Brian’s impressive piano and vocal skills, honed in the ’80s and ’90s. However, Marty knew that “Piano Man” wouldn’t cut it in the blues scene. Marty wanted audiences to experience Brian’s versatility, particularly his ability to switch effortlessly between piano and guitar while singing. To that end, Marty asked Brian to learn “Unchain My Heart” as a more fitting alternative.
Written by Bobby Sharp. Recorded at the Toad Tavern in Littleton, Colorado, in 2010.
Like Brian, Marty Wallace was a talented multi-instrumentalist and a remarkable lead guitarist to boot! He had been searching for someone who could match his skills and share the spotlight during solos, and that’s exactly what he discovered in Brian. When they joined forces, Foghat’s rendition of Willie Dixon’s classic “I Just Want to Make Love to You” served as the perfect platform to showcase their musical chemistry.
Written by Willie Dixon. Recorded at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Telluride, Colorado, in 2010.
Brian first encountered Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1984 while working at Capitol Records in Austin, Texas. As a reward for completing a project early, he received VIP tickets with backstage access to the Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble concert at the Austin Opry House, which allowed him to meet the band. The band had been hearing rumors about this talented new Nashville keyboardist making waves in Austin. When Brian introduced himself, they connected the dots, sparking a lively conversation and initiating a long-term relationship. Stevie’s death in 1990 deeply impacted Brian. The previous year, his song “Crossfire” had premiered, and in honor of the talented guitarist who left us far too early, Brian included it in his program as a heartfelt tribute.
Written by Bill Carter, Ruth Ellsworth Carter, Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton, and Reese Wynans. Recorded at the Oskar Blues Festival in Longmont, Colorado, in 2010.
Brian first discovered Delbert McClinton’s version of “Shaky Ground” while playing music in Nashville in the 1980s, and he has loved it ever since. One memorable night at the Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater in Denver, Brian and his band, the Toad House Band, were opening for Robert Randolph & The Family Band, and their closing song was “Shaky Ground.” To the utter delight of the audience and total surprise of the Toad House Band, Robert and his band hopped on stage and joined in on the energy. It was an unforgettable moment that truly electrified the audience!
Written by Jeffrey Bowen, Al Boyd, and Eddie Hazel. Recorded, featuring Robert Randolph & The Family Band, at the Fiddler's Green Amphitheater in Denver, Colorado, in 2010.
Whenever Marty would put on one of his ‘training’ rehearsals for his students, one of the songs he liked them to work on was “Wrap it Up.” He preferred this song because it was simple and easy to play. However, Brian hated it, feeling it was too basic. But Marty persisted and encouraged Brian to create his own version, which turned out to be a big hit with the audience.
Written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. Recorded at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Telluride, Colorado, in 2010.