Story and photos by Kyle Brown
TOLEDO – Speak to anyone who has lived in Toledo about the music scene, and most will say it wilted away drastically in the early 2000s. Bands that once traveled the country making stops in this city now detour around it and move into cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus and Pittsburgh. Sure, the Huntington Center brings in big acts from time to time, but it is a shadow of what it used to be.
Leadfoot Granny, one of Toledo’s youngest and hottest rock bands, is on a mission to change that.
The band, whose members include Hope Smith (vocals), Luke Ermie (lead guitar/vocals), Owen Krupp (bass guitar/vocals) and Odin Woodbury (drums), are all from different musical backgrounds. Hand-picked from Toledo legend Mark Mikel, Leadfoot Granny seamlessly brings the feeling of rock ‘n’ roll back from the dead.
Formed only a year ago, the band has made sizable shockwaves around the community. They were featured in a local newspaper after their first show. From there, they caught the attention of many during a music festival in Fostoria, Ohio, while also blowing everyone’s minds during Toledo’s Pride Fest.
The band earned a spot as Toledo’s most-likely-to-succeed category, and were on the final ballot for Best of Toledo 2024. These are only a small selection of accomplishments, not including TV interviews, radio show appearances and gigs outside of Ohio.
The biggest accomplishment came this past Saturday though, as Leadfoot Granny celebrated their first self-titled album on Jan. 19. To celebrate, Leadfoot Granny hosted their album release party and show at Toledo’s Valentine Theatre.
When the doors opened at 6 p.m. for their VIP ticket members, fans were treated to a mini meet-and-greet an 90 minutes before the show. They were able to grab a few drinks and popcorn, and sit at tables to mingle with other fans after lining up to get signatures on merch or a poster made for the event. The 45-minute meet-and-greet allowed fans to interact with all four members of the band, who sat near a huge neon sign featuring their logo.
At 7:30 p.m., the crowd, who nearly packed The Valentine, began chanting “LFG, LFG, LFG,” which is the abbreviated band name. Then the curtain lifted and the band that many call “the future of Toledo’s music scene” went on to give the crowd exactly what was expected of them.
This band doesn’t sound like any other band out there. They take their influences from many genres, and mix it all into one masterpiece after another. Eight songs on their album are originals. Two are covers, including a rock take on Britney Spears’ Toxic.
They also take the job seriously, and dress the part. Think suits with a jacket under it, nice dress shirts, dresses that flow and colors that pop. The band won’t be in a t-shirt and jeans come show time, and it has become part of the band’s identity. It is easy to see that they want to be taken seriously, and dressing for success is important to them.
After a powerful opening few songs, Leadfoot Granny took it down a few notches and came closer to the front of the stage for an acoustic set. This set was able to showcase the softer side of their music abilities, and show they don’t just play one instrument.
Smith was able to show her harmonica skills with Woodbury on guitar and bongos, and Krupp played the mandolin (and keyboard at the end of the concert).
The last part of the show didn’t let up on the energy, as strategically placed smoke added to the elements for the band; they conquered any pre-show jitters and gave attendees an unforgettable show.
Leadfoot Granny, the band’s self-titled album, was produced by Mikel, who described it as “the best album Toledo has ever made.”
Terry Brown, known for producing albums for bands like Rush and Klatuu, mixed this album. On a Facebook post, he stated when speaking of Leadfoot Granny, “Odin Woodbury owns the drums; Luke Ermie’s accomplished guitar chops cover a wide spectrum; and Owen Krupp locks onto what Odin with his wicked bass sound.
“In the meantime, Hope Smith is on fire, delivering emotional performances that will get your heart pounding! Leadfoot Granny is on the countdown!” he exclaimed
Rob Fraboni, who has worked with bands and artists like Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and The Beach Boys, mastered the album. On Facebook, he would write, “I was asked by a dear friend, Terry Brown, to master Leadfoot Granny’s debut album. I was really taken by the music, firstly. The songs, musicianship, all of it. Hope Smith is the real thing. I feel they have a bright future, if they have what it takes to follow it down the road! A brilliant start!”
When all is said and done, this Toledo-based band has produced an album that notable people in the industry find to be brilliant. Leadfoot Granny has found a way to bring Toledo out of the darkness and bring great music back into it. Their album is listed on all streaming platforms.
