[ATTENDED: August 24, 2019] Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
I recall being puzzled by the name of this band back ages ago when they were sometimes known as Ted Leo + Pharmacists. It seemed like a cataloging nightmare. But I can get over that and simply enjoy that Ted has fun with his band name (sometimes written as (TL/Rx)). But this night they were billed as Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. The Pharmacists have, as of late been a six piece: Chris Wilson on drums, James Canty on guitar and keyboards, Marty Key on bass, Ralph Darden on guitar, and Adrienne Berry on saxophone and vocals and percussion.
After the bristling punk of Control Top, I wasn’t sure what Ted Leo would bring. I know he has roots in punk, but surely not that much punk. And, thankfully, he didn’t try to match Control Top, because that’s not his thing. It is awesome that he brought them along, though.
Ted’s older songs were punky in the way that Billy Bragg’s early songs were punky–literate, angry and thoughtful–all to a catchy melody. His newer songs are a bit more reflective (doom folk he called it).
He and the band came out and set things up and when he picked up his guitar people clapped and shouted. He put a finger up–patience–and then they all left again for a couple of minutes. My only gripe about the show was that they made Control Top cut their set one song short because of time, and then Ted and Co. waited about ten minutes after their gear was set up to come out on stage–they could have played that one last song. But that’s okay, Ted made up for it. (more…)
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