“There are way too many people here for our first show,” a doe-eyed guitar player softly said as he peered out beyond the lights and into the crowd.

He was right. This was an unusually large crowd for the Replay… not just for a Wednesday night, but for a band no one had heard before. This was, in fact, the very first show for a new Lawrence band called Toughies. You could see it on their faces. They were a little spooked, but they really had no reason to be.
 

The frontman’s vocals alone packed a punch (when he chose to unleash it). They played pretty perfectly, but cautiously. Toughies are going to be known as the band that churns out one cool, casual indie tune after another. A fuzzy bass normally doesn’t pair well with an easygoing strumming guitar, but they make it work. Their styles meshed well and ended up producing a fairly good variety of tunes. Every person there could get down with at least one song they pulled out.

The band boasts a bit of an all star cast, featuring guitarists from Haunt Ananta and a drummer from Panda Circus. While a Kansas storm brewed across the state, we got to experience a different sort of electricity in the air at the Replay. The excitement over this group was legitimate.

It’s not too often the buzz surrounding a band turns out to be true, but we have a feeling this won’t be an ordinary band. They’re already in the studio about to release an LP. Get ready, Lawrence. Toughies are about to take this town by storm.

Words and photos by Fally Afani