The Toll
I came across The Toll back in ’88 when I was digging through used record bins at Nuggets Record Shop in Boston. I picked up their debut album “The Price of Progression”. I had no idea why I bought this lp
I read no reviews or heard any songs or no word of mouth. I was just drawn to it for some reason. One thing is for sure I am glad I purchased this album.
I don’t know much about the band other than the one article I have from a RAW magazine and found a website dedicated to them.

So let me give you a little of what I know of The Toll.
The Toll is from Columbus, Ohio made up of four members who are Brad Circone – vocalist, guitar, piano, Rick Silk - guitarist, Greg Bartram - bassist, and Brett Mayo – drummer.
They remind me a little of The Doors, U2 and The Who w/ influences of writer Joyce Carol Oates. As Oates, The Toll share the same thoughts on conflicts in families, religion and morals.
The Toll were known for having narratives in some of the songs. they could moving and thought provoking you can’t help but be drawn to them. From what I read they are a very powerful band live and believe in improvising from Circone’s narratives to his antics on stage. Which could be anything such as hanging upside down over the crowd or doing a balancing walk along a narrow balcony railing in which at one club the owner attempts to pull Circone safely onto the balcony. Circone smiles and says: "Come closer and I'll jump and all the guilt will be on your head."

If you like to read more on them I suggest the website http://home.austin.rr.com/gregandi/toll/
Some of The Toll members drop by & leave messages on the guestbook pages.

A question I ask is how can bands like this no longer be around while the radio is full of crap. One thing I can say is I am grateful I got a chance to experience The Toll. Their 2 albums that are still as powerful today as they were when first released.

Any corrections or responses on The Toll send to evenspot@yahoo.com title subject “The Toll”.

The Price of Progression 1988 - Geffen Label
1. Jazz Clone Clown
2. Jonathan Toledo
3. Smoke Another Cigarette
4. Soldier's Room
5. Word Of Honor
6. Anna-41-Box
7. Tamara Told Me
8. Living In The Valley Of Pain
9. Stand In Winter

Produced by Steven Thompson and Michael Barbiero, Geffen Label
“Price of Progression” holds nine tracks. Three of the tracks that are over ten minutes “Jonathan Toledo” , Anna-41-Box” and “Living In The Valley of Pain”. What I love about The Toll was that their lyrics are very intellectual and poetic. You can actually see these words turn to images in your head. One of the most moving tracks is “Jonathan Toledo” which talks about the Native Americans.

How far has the white man gone
to drive the stake into the ground?
Soldiers stoned in monuments
while chiefs of wood, hold cheap cigars…

As Circone leads into his narrative during the song you can actually see what is going on

...the elderly Indian women they all lined up against the wall
I’m sure their backs felt warm
I thought to myself as I approached them
Isn’t it funny how their faces shine differently in the sun
I bet the reason that they have their back up against the wall
is because they’re afraid we’re going to stick another knife in them
and then they’ll really have to fall…

I can pretty much say that The Toll is under the same category of iconoclastic, to criticized establishment institution.

As in “Living In The Valley of Pain” which is another remarkable number they take on religion. The character Jamison Rain a 4th grader who expresses his own creative thought…

…Jamison Rain was no longer drawing the turkey with his hand.
The nuns found him in the clothes rack.
Apparently he was drawing all kinds of animals,
and he was using much more than his hand to draw such
animals, and when they found him, they clutched his knuckles
on the end of the desk. and they said: Hold on tight Jamison,
you shall be punished for the freedom of creative thought.
What are you trying to be, an artist?'…

As well as his religious beliefs.

…Catholicism pushes guilt impresses guilt
and it leaves me with insanity and rage…

…Reverend Valley was clothed in black & white, he was a penguin…

…mother, you remember that manila paper I use to draw on in crayon?
You took it to the shrink and she said it was all phallic imagery
well you were wrong. I was trying to draw a penguin that might bring you
and father together so the church wouldn’t be embarrassed…

The shorter songs are just as good such as “Smoke Another Cigarette”

I have seen idols tumble and fall
In these times, paladins, are nothing but frauds
Who can hear one hand clapping in the murderous storm?
Sycophants beware of those you adore…

Or

“Word of Honor”

I don’t want your handshake…I just want your word…of honor

The whole album is an amazing piece of work. Maybe it was too much for the public to comprehend.

When I first purchase this album it was on vinyl. Then I found the cassette tape for my car and later
picked up the CD.
Just a note here on the artwork. The vinyl sleeve includes one whole side w/ about 10 pics of the band.

Promo The Toll (VHS)
I happen to find this VHS at Nuggets, the same place I bought the album. The VHS tape is a promo that is noted as The Toll, An Introduction in 2 Parts: A Conversation With The Band and The Music Video “Jonathan Toledo”.
Part 1 is an interview w/ the band. Each member gets a chance to talk as they show live footage clips of 'Jazz Clone Clown' and quite a bit of 'Jonathan Toledo'. They talk about the start of the band as well as their stage antics and songs.
Part 2 is a full length promo of “Jonathan Toledo” shot in color and black & white. This also shows live footage clips as well as some footage of Circone sitting under a towering monument as he delivers his narrative. There is also a live clip of Circone doing a flip as he slams himself onto the stage floor. An excellent find and very informative of The Toll.
This whole VHS is approximately 30 minutes.

Sticks & Stones and Broken Bones 1991 - Geffen Label
1. Tongue-Tied River
2. Boys Are Bustin' Bricks
3. One Last Wish
4. Something 'Bout The Struggle
5. Hear Your Brother Calling
6. War Is Release
7. Standing On The Ledge
8. American Mess
9. Happy
10. Never Enough
11. Colorblind
12. Sweet Misery

Produced by Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Replacements), Co-Produced by The Toll, Geffen Label
Unfortunately this was the last release by The Toll. Only 2 albums under their belt but they gave us a lot to think about. The Toll seemed very prolific in their songs from this album. If it came out now it would be very political from their comments on war in “War Is Release” and “American Mess” to our freedom of speech on “Tongue-Tied River.” As well as race in “Colorblind” and “Hear Your Brother Calling” asking us to not turn a blind eye.

The opening track has very clever lyrics on “Tongue-Tied River” as they list some famous authors

I put Keats in a bottle
And Twain on a raft
Sent Swift down a river
But someone blocked the craft

On this album The Toll work more on the music and decide to let up on the narratives. They mention their last tour after three months everybody wanted to hear the narratives. This doesn’t mean they dropped the narratives during their live shows.
Also The Toll has guest Rapper Brett B who gave some new sounds to “War Is Release” and ”American Mess”.

…can’t see no stars
stripes look like bars…
- American Mess

“Hear Your Brother Calling” was based on a psychology behavior study. Circone writes about 3 scenarios where people are in trouble were ignored or aided by others.

…in New York City Kitty Genovese was murdered in the street
for forty-five minutes thirty-eight people just stood and watched her bleed…

This also came from an experience Circone who told in a RAW magazine that in the early days he was walking out of a club late at night when someone sucker punched him in the nose which came very close to penetrating his brain. Circone includes a narrative for this song.

One of my favorite tracks are “Standing On The Ledge” and “Sweet Misery” the latter is The Toll at their finest.
If “Sweet Misery” was intended as their swan song they went out w/ a bang not a whimper. It includes great musicianship, lyrics and a cadence that is from The Toll Armed Forces. To The Toll I salute you.

Email Response by Brett Mayo drummer of The Toll...

I saw your posting and checked out your site.  I really liked what you put together, thanks.
I was the drummer for The Toll and relish the experience we had together.  All four of us are currently living in Columbus and see each other occasionally; only Greg the bassist is currently in a band--the rest of us never pursued anything beyond The Toll (personally I never thought I could match what we did so why try).
I don't know if you saw on the other site or not but we are currently represented at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland as part of a group of "the best bands and musicians to ever come out of Ohio"--I'll attach a picture (they have my drumhead in the display as our part).
Thanks again for taking the time to write about our band--I agree that it would be very interesting to release a few of the songs from "Sticks & Stone" today--they seem almost as if we had written them to describe many of our current global and social situations.

Take Care,
Brett Mayo

the inscription under the drum display in The Rock Roll Hall of Fame reads:
#55, The Toll Drumhead, 1991
Collection of Brett Mayo
A powerful live band that centered on the intense stage dramatics of singer Brad Circone, the Columbus-based Toll found a devoted audience throughout the Midwest. Formed by Circone and his cousin, guitarist Rick Silk,
the group included bassist Greg Bartram and drummer Brett Mayo. Drawing equal inspiration from Areosmith
and the Clash, the Toll attracted the attention of Geffen Records. The band has released two albums,
The Price of Progression and Sticks & Stones & Broken Bones.