Sunday, 29 Apr 2007
Having sorely missed Ted Leo & The Pharmacist recent stop in Madison that was supremely well received I was fortunate enough to be in Chicago when our paths crossed at the Metro.
Touring behind Living With The Living, Ted marched the near capacity crowd through an hour and a half’s worth of music. Being this was an early show (ending at 10PM) he joked near the end about how great that actually was for both audience and band, stating you have the best of both worlds of being able to go out or get some well deserved rest. I’m guessing I’m one of the few who went with the latter, as the performance itself was abounding with energy, sweat and moxie.
The last time I saw Ted was in this same city in a park for the Pitchfork Music Festival. It was outdoors and hot as hell. Ted had a nice microphone induced blood spot on his head that day and it was about as perfect of a rock show you could ask for at a music festival. We got that same rock and roll performance (sans the blood spot) last night at the Metro and, if anything, witnessed a more established and well-defined group on stage.
Not feeling those Living With The Living tracks yet? I’ll admit I wasn’t too high on them myself, but revisiting the album right now, after last nights show there are definitely some new favorites, which is exactly one of the things I wanted to take away from the show.
Check out this video for “Who Do You Love” as recorded for the DL:
Myspace: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
MP3: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – The Sons Of Cain
MP3: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – Bomb.Repeat.Bomb
Video: Ted Leo & The Pharmacists – Bomb.Repeat.Bomb
April 29th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I wanted to check out his Madison show as well but had other plans. I don’t know Ted Leo’s music very well except for Living with the Living. I really enjoy the CD. Any recommendations on an album to check out next from his catalogue?
April 29th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I think living with the living is pretty excellent. You are right that it isn’t as instant as Shake the Sheets, but still excellent. Can’t believe you were in Chicago and didn’t let me know.
April 29th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
It was last min, sorry…I’m here all week.
April 30th, 2007 at 11:49 am
He ripped it here in Vancouver too. I took some hack footage of Bottle of Bucky:
http://www.herohill.com/2007/04/reviews-updated-ted-leo-in-vancouver.htm
or you can just youtube it:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4Mk5k5LyJ8s
April 30th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Hi, I’ve been looking for the song list from the chicago show…My friend and I arrived late (being Ted’s age, we didn’t quite get the early show concept) so missed the first 1/2 hour, and there were a few songs I didn’t recognize — covers, maybe?
I’m w/you on Living w/the living taking some to grow on me. Whereas ‘tyranny of distance’ was instant love. But then I’ve been a fan since his college days — that’s way back in ’92, kids!
Cheers,
Lisa
February 16th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
http://www.archive.org/details/tedleorx2008-10-18.aud.prisoncityarchive.flac16
My recording of Ted Leo + Pharmacists at the Majestic Theater (Detroit) is available at the URL above (download is free and CC-BY-NC-SA). Enjoy!