Puddle of Mudd to slay lake-front fans at The Toad

Rock fans to pack entertainment complex Sunday night
By Randall Yelverton/Special to LakeExpo.com

Published: Friday, August 14, 2009 4:21 PM CDT

Modern rock hits maker Puddle of Mudd will throw down its brand of hook-filled metal at The Horny Toad Entertainment Complex. Rock fans are sure to recognize Mudd’s rock radio staples “She Hates Me,” “Control” and “Blurry.” Lead singer Wes Scantlin, notable for his Cobain-like vocals, brings earnestness to his songwriting and performances that have endeared him to fans. Plucked from obscurity after Limp Bizkit front man Fred Durst heard his demo tape, Kansas City, Missouri native and lake enthusiast Scantlin returns to his home state in the midst of a multi-city summer tour.

Puddle of Mudd’s unique name is the result of the Great Flood of 1993. Much of Missouri was impacted by water damage including the suddenly muddy practice space of Scantlin and his band mates. Wes Scantlin and the original members of Mudd struggled for several years, releasing two albums on independent labels, but never finding success. The original Puddle of Mudd later broke up and Scantlin’s chances at a life in rock were fading. Wes was about to give up his musical dreams and head to New Orleans to manage the career of his then-girlfriend, when he was discovered by Fred Durst. Scantlin, on the urging of a friend, attended the modern rock Family Values Tour and, with the aid of a fake backstage pass, got his last demo tape into the hands of Durst’s body guard.

Scantlin was stunned when Durst contacted him and later signed him to Flawless, his burgeoning record label. Scantlin traveled to Los Angeles and the two put together a new group, one which has evolved over the years to include rock veterans such as former Guns N’Roses and Devo drummer John Freese. Puddle of Mudd’s first album, 2001’s Come Clean, was a multi-platinum smash and to date has sold more than five million copies. The album brought the group worldwide success and contained “Control,” the official theme song for the 2001 WWE Survivor Series, and “Blurry,” the band’s biggest hit to date. Concerning the band’s “overnight” success, Scantlin shared in a 2002 Billboard interview that “[i]t’s harder to get struck by lightning or something like that, than to become successful in this business. We are very fortunate.”

Puddle of Mudd’s success led to tours with such heavy hitters as Nickelback, Korn, Linkin Park, and Stone Temple Pilots. In 2001, the group was also featured in the Family Values Tour, the very same show Scantlin had once snuck into backstage. Puddle of Mudd followed up Come Clean with the albums Life on Display and Famous which yielded the hits “Away From Me” and “Psycho.” They have reportedly finished their long awaited new album that will be released later this year. This will be the first album that reunites the band with long-time lead guitarist Paul Phillips who left the group in 2005. Puddle of Mudd also includes drummer Ryan Yerdon and longtime bassist/vocalist Doug Ardito who has been with the group since Scantlin reformed the band in 2000.

Saturday night’s Horny Toad concert will be the band’s second lakeside show in a row following their Friday night performance at Midwest Rockfest in Wellington, Kan. Lead singer Wes Scantlin shared in a 2002 interview with Rolling Stone about his love for spending time on the lake. When asked by the reporter about a perfect day in his hometown of Kansas City, he had this to say: “[I]t would be hanging out at my parents' house on the lake, getting on my pontoon boat and getting some fishing poles and some beer and sandwiches and just cruising around on the lake …Come back home, do some barbecuing. Just some serious peacefulness.”

Puddle of Mudd will perform at 9 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 16, at the Horny Toad as part of the resort’s ongoing Benefit Concert Series. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or at Tropical Sunsations on the 1st Floor of the Horny Toad. For more information, visit the Horny Toad website or contact 573-365-5620 to reserve a table for the show.

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