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April 29, 2023

Day 214 - Active Hope with Glen Phillips

Day 214 - Active Hope with Glen Phillips

On today’s episode of Dystopia Tonight we welcome the triumphant return of Glen Phillips!


With a career spanning over three decades as the lead singer and songwriter of the legendary alt rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen has solidified his sta...

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On today’s episode of Dystopia Tonight we welcome the triumphant return of Glen Phillips! With a career spanning over three decades as the lead singer and songwriter of the legendary alt rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen has solidified his status as an icon to generations of fans both old and new.   Coming off his newest solo album “There Is So Much Here” Glen effortlessly breaks down the walls we’ve put up by mining our hearts and minds for the love and gratitude we lost these past few years.   It's clear that for Phillips, music isn't just a profession - it's a way of life. With humor, honesty, and a deep love for his craft, Glen shares his insights on the importance of staying connected with fans, the challenges of making a living as an artist, and the power of music to bring people together in times of hardship.   Website: https://glenphillips.com/   After two appearances on Dystopia Tonight and my annual benefit for the National MS society’s fight to end MS I’ve had the pleasure of being a first hand witness to the deep and abiding connection Glen has to his fans and they to him. Affectionately referred to as his Squirrel Family, I couldn't help but feel the palpable love and gratitude in the air. And that's what makes him a true icon - his ability to unite people through the power of music.   So if you haven't yet experienced the magic of Glen Phillips, now's the time to do so. With Toad The Wet Sprocket back on tour, there's no better opportunity to catch him live and join the Squirrel Family. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.

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Glen PhillipsProfile Photo

Glen Phillips

Singer / Songwriter / Musician

Glen Phillips is an American songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of the alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Phillips was born to a Reform Jewish family in Santa Barbara, California, United States. Although his family was Jewish, with Glen having a Bar Mitzvah, his family was secular and Buddhism was studied, with this spiritual curiosity being present in his work.

He began to make music at 14 years old. Phillips and his ex-wife, Laurel, have three daughters, Sophia, Freya, and Zola. The couple was married from 1989 to 2014.

On October 8, 2008, Phillips injured his arm while at a friend's house when a glass coffee table collapsed while he was sitting on it. Phillips had surgery to repair a damaged ulnar nerve and muscle in his left arm. His ability to play guitar was hampered during his recovery, but he had been actively touring in spite of his injury. Sean Watkins and Jonathan Kingham recently joined Phillips on the road to provide accompaniment.

Phillips is frequently barefoot when performing with the band.

Phillips began Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986, at the age of 15. By 1988, they had signed with Columbia Records. They recorded five albums and many major tours until their 1998 breakup.

During his time in Toad the Wet Sprocket, Phillips was involved in a pop rock project called Flapping, Flapping.

Three years after Toad the Wet Sprocket's initial breakup, Phillips released his first solo album, Abulum, which was a change from the sound tha… Read More