Toad the Wet Sprocket heads to Monterey’s Golden State Theatre.

Dean Dinning likes that Toad the Wet Sprocket was dubbed an “alternative rock survivor” in a recent piece he read about the band. “It’s always been my intention to be the last band standing,” Dinning says.

A lot has happened since 1986, when a raggamuffin foursome of Santa Barbara high schoolers decided to use a Monty Python skit as the inspiration for its name. Through a career that spans more than 30 years, the name stuck, as did the original lineup: Dinning (bass), Glen Phillips (lead vocals and guitar), Todd Nichols (lead guitar and vocals) and Randy Guss (drums).

Toad the Wet Sprocket broke big in August 1991 with fear, featuring mega hits “Walk on the Ocean” and “All I Want,” peaking at No. 10 and No. 4, respectively. “All I Want” exemplified ’90s commercial pop with its easy-to-digest acoustic melodic harmony that seems like it’s in your head before you hear the tune.

Following the multi-platinum selling fear (whose 25th anniversary tour happened last summer), TTWS renegotiated their contract with Columbia resulting in more money to record 1997’s Coil. They scored Van Dyke Parks to put together a string arrangement on one of their songs and hired the renowned Tom Lord-Alge to mix the album. TTWS also launched the “Fan Appreciation Tour.” The week Coil was released – featuring “Come Down” and “Crazy Life” – anyone who purchased it received a ticket to a show.

“All of the albums sold out at stores and tickets sold out on the tour at the same time,” Dinning says. “It was like taking a victory lap around the country.”

TTWS officially broke up after Coil, from 1998 until 2006. “People were settling into their lives, but honestly, we got some bad advice,” Dinning explains. “We didn’t need to break up, we needed a break to do new things and side projects. We walked away from a great record deal.”

2013’s New Constellation marked the band’s first new full-length record in 16 years. The album was completely funded through Kickstarter, raising over $250,000. In 2015, TTWS followed up with an EP, Architect of the Ruin.

TTWS concerts have become pilgrimages. “The shows are doing well and fans seem to be loving what we’re doing,” Dinning says. “[Fans] are coming to see us over and over again, so there’s some kind of magic going. We were always too close to it to see that [the magic] had been going on since the beginning.”

Up-and-coming Santa Barbara indie rockers Beta Play open.

TOAD THE WET SPROCKET with opener Beta Play 8pm Friday, Aug, 4. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $33-$148. 649-1070, goldenstatetheatre.com