[ATTENDED: October 1, 2026] Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
I’ve seen Ted Leo four times before this. Twice with Pharmacists, once solo and once with Aimee Mann for a Christmas show.
I enjoyed his solo show–which was personal and fun and also informative–but when he has the whole band with him, the show explodes.
The band set up and Ted came to the mic and said they were early (it was 9) and they were going to take a few minutes and then come back. Why did they wait until 9:15 to start? I have no idea. The first thing he said was that the Phillies were losing (it was a win or they were out of the playoffs–they lost) and then he told people not to soot the messenger.
He started playing Timorous Me by himself. And, just like on the record, about half way through the song, the rest of the band came out and the room exploded with sound when they all joined in on time.
I noticed immediately how much bigger and better Ted and the band sounded than Labrador. And I don’t mean that as an insult to Labrador at all, because I enjoyed their set a lot. But TL/RX just filled the room in ways that Labrador didn’t. Is that because the headliners get more time to set up their gear and do soundchecks? Even in a small place like this? I have no idea. But man, TL/RX just filled the room with music.
Ted has been in punk bands, but he has also written slower songs. But holy cow, these songs were fast and fun and intense and loud and just screamed for everyone to dance.
We were right on the barricade (there was like no one there when we arrived, but it filled in), so we probably didn’t get the best sound–Ted’s vocals were always a little quiet which is shame because his words are so good. But the energy was undeniable.
I love the way that Ted doesn’t skimp on the sounds of his songs, like the little guitar scratches that start out The Sons of Cain. There’s few things as fun as the whole band screaming heeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyy (or Caaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiinnnnn or whatever they say) at the end.
We were right in front of Ralph Darden and he was so much fun to watch. He jumped around, played solos and sang backing vocals. Just a great performer. Marty Key on bass mostly stood by the big bass speaker but occasionally he came out front to contribute backing vocals. But his bass sounded amazing.
I love the different rhythms of Angel’s Share. It was during this song, I think, that Ted dropped his pick and James Canty lithely knelt down and grabbed it for him while Ted was trying to play and squat down at the same time. When I saw them at Union Transfer, they were playing the entire Shake the Sheets album. I missed the first 8 songs (I was at a show a block and a half away) so I missed that and Me and Mia so I was glad that he played both of those tonight.
It’s hard to pick a favorite Ted song because almost every song has at least one part that I think is great. But I really love Where Have All the Ride Boys Gone. Ted doesn’t play too many songs that are from his solo output, but he did play Too Bright Window, which I didn’t know–it was fast and intense.
I missed Counting Down the Hours last time, but I as right there for the quiet intro and the band kicking in. Back on drums was Chris Wilson “The mayor Fishtown.” Again, nothing against Labrador, but his drums sounded better–I’m sure this was a mixing thing, but it just fit in better. His drumming is simple but perfect.
A Bottle of Buckie is one of his classic songs but I’d only heard it at that solo show. It was fun to hear it hear with a full band and after the song he said he felt like a hypocrite discouraging people from getting familiar with [Buckfast–a British caffeinated fortified wine particularly popular in Glasgow].
Someone had shouted out “Dirty Old Town” and Ted immediately said “that is a song. By the Pogues.” He said. I know it, but I don’t know if the band knows it.” But here’s a song about infrastructure, which is what that song is about too. He played Bridges, Squares which was the third song I hadn’t heard him play live before–man he can write a catchy song.
When he started The High Party, something seemed off. He played his opening riff, the band joined in, he waved them off and then played it in the right key. I said earlier that Rude Boys is my favorite song, but it might be this one–that high note in the chorus is just too delicious.
Mid way through the show there was more talk about the Phillies and Ted said to be honest he really didn’t care–he didn’t follow sports. He also loved the city of Atlanta but hated the Braves (who the Phillies were playing). And he was a fan of Philly sports because of the mascots. Except for the 76ers (and as he said this, the lighting man started dimming the lights on him), because he is a Knicks fan. He was devastated when the Nets left. He was also once an Islanders fan because he had relatives in Brooklyn. He also said he had lived in Boston (boo) but he said he wasn’t representing their teams, just the great city. Jeez.
Earlier Ted said that the five words every audience hated to hear was “this is a new song.” We laughed, but he did play a few new songs (although all of them are available to stream already). He called them a double B side but January Song and How Can I Tell You It’s Not Fair (which I’d hear at the solo show) were the 2 new songs released in February on a Double A side. I liked Not Fair last time but it was even better this time.
At the solo show, Ted sang The Clearing of the Land, an a capella song that was powerful. It’s a rebellious protest song and I couldn’t decide if the guy whooping at the end of each verse was out of touch or spot on.
I did see Walking to Do at the Union Transfer song, but it’s always fun to hear the Shake the Sheets songs again. And he ended the set with Biomusicology.
After an encore break, Ted came out and grabbed his guitar. Someone had shouted another song and he said “that is a song. A great song by Jimmy Cliff.” Then he went on about how he had planned his songs out and thought about them a lot and wasn’t asking for input–not to sound like jerk. He then proceeded to play a fantastic Stiff Little Fingers song Silver Lining which immediately made me think I need to more of Stiff Little Fingers. And then he conceded to the earlier request and played Dirty Old Town (sounding much more sober than Shane MacGowan).
Then he started playing M¥ Vien iLin solo. I see that he often starts with this song, so I’m guessing he often starts this solo and then the band comes out on stage and the song explodes once again. I was a little concerned that the entire encore was going to be solo–which wouldn’t be terrible, but wouldn’t be as full sounding. So the band kicking in was great.
He played two more songs from the Tyranny of Distance, the poppier Under The Hedge (which was his bonus encore back at Union Transfer) that has some crazy guitar riffs. He had earlier said that as they get older and have more songs, they just love playing and want to keep playing and then their bodies remind them that they’re old (Ted is one year younger than me).
They ended the show was a song that I was immediately struck by because of it’s two-note melody that was as infectious as it was unsettling, Stove by a Whale. It was really heavy as it lurched around and the guys all stomped around the stage like the old punks that they are (Ted wearing Doc Martens). The song got really crazy at the end (it’s 8 minutes on record) and they jammed and jammed with Ted and Ralph each took solos and Ted played with feedback and noises and pedals and it was just a crazy punk ending to a really fun show.
And then we stopped for Insomnia Cookies down the street.
| 2026 Ardmore | 2025 Revilla Grooves (solo) | 2024 Union Transfer | 2019 White Eagle Hall |
| Timorous Me ™ (3) (Ted starts solo and band joins on-stage half way through) |
Moon Out of Phase ⊗ | The Crane Takes Flight ♥ | |
| The Sons of Cain Λ (3) | Walking Through ® | The Sons of Cain Λ | |
| Angel’s Share § (2) | Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone ♥ (3) | Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone? ♥ | |
| Me and Mia § (3) | The High Party ♥ (3) | The High Party ♥ | |
| Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone ♥ (4) | Me and Mia § (2) | Can’t Go Back ⊗ | |
| Even Heroes Have to Die β | One Polaroid a Day β | Angel’s Share § | |
| Too Bright Window ¢ | How Can I Tell You It’s Not Fair ≅∞ | Hearts of Oak ♥ | |
| Counting Down the Hours § | Heaven’s Off Ø | Heart Problems § | |
| A Bottle of Buckie Λ (2) | What Else Would We Do Æ | Shake the Sheets § | Dial Up ™ |
| Bridges, Squares ♥ (restarted 2 times due to issues with Ted’s guitar sound) |
Stay (Lisa Loeb cover–bvox only) | Bleeding Powers § | William Weld in the 21st Century ⊗ |
| The High Party ♥ (4) | Bleeding Powers § | Walking to Do § (2) | Bottled in Cork β |
| January Song ∞ | Power (Agnostic Front cover) | and more | Little Dawn § |
| 2nd Ave, 11AM ♥ | The Clearing of the Land ∇ | Rock the Machine (Lisa O’Neill cover) [Ted solo] | You’re Like Me ⊗ |
| How Can I Tell You It’s Not Fair ≅ ∞ (2) | A Bottle of Buckie Λ | Timorous Me ™ (2) | Let’s Stay on the Moon ⊗ |
| The Clearing of the Land ∇ (2) (Ted sung a cappella) |
Under the Hedge ™ (2) | The Sons of Cain Λ (2) | Biomusicology ™ |
| Walking to Do § (3) | Something on Your Mind (Karen Dalton cover) | Can’t Go Back ⊗ [Ted Leo song] | encore |
| Biomusicology ™ (3) | Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone? ♥ (2) | Me and Mia § | |
| encore | The High Party ♥ (2) | Timorous Me ™ | |
|
Silver Lining
(Stiff Little Fingers cover) (Ted Solo)
|
Bottled in Cork β | Walking to Do § | |
|
Dirty Old Town
(Ewan MacColl cover) (Ted Solo)
|
Biomusicology ™ (2) | ||
|
M¥ Vien iLin ™
(Ted starts solo then band joins)
|
Dog Eat Dog (Adam and the Ants cover) [with Ekko Astral] | ||
| Under the Hedge ™ (3) | encore | ||
| Stove By a Whale ™ | Under the Hedge ™ |
solo
∞ February 2026 Double A Side (2026)
≅ Musicians for a Free Palestine compilation (2024)
¢ For Coit and Killie EP (2022)
Æ patreon request (2018)
⊗ The Hanged Man (2017)
+ Pharmacists
∇ August 2023 Bandcamp EP (2023)
Ø Heaven’s Off EP (2023)
β Brutalist Bricks (2010)
Λ Living with the Living (2007)
§ Shake the Sheets (2004)
♥ Hearts of Oak (2003)
™ Tyranny of Distance (2001)
® tej leo(?), Rx / pharmacists (1999)
When I missed him Garwood they played this setlist (five songs that they didn’t play for us–including my favorite Ted song–but we got the better show!)
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M¥ Vien iLin
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The Sons of Cain
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Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?
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The Angels’ Share
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Even Heroes Have to Die
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Can’t Go Back
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Too Bright Window
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La Costa Brava
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Me and Mia
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Heart Problems
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The Clearing of the Land
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How Can I Tell You It’s Not Fair
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Counting Down the Hours
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A Bottle of Buckie
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January Song
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Little Dawn
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The Gold Finch and the Red Oak Tree
-
Walking to Do
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Stove by a Whale
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