photos by Kyle Johnson
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists’ most recent album, The Brutalist Bricks, was a sure fan-pleaser, as great as any place to pick up on his combination of philosophical power pop and explosive all out rock (usually in the same song). (“One Polaroid A Day” is one the best bass-massaged new wave boogie songs since The Clash’s “Lost In The Supermarket”). The live experience is crucial to falling in love with Leo, though, as he is our generation’s 70s-Springsteen, being extremely generous with his energy and audience-play, but doing the work, too. Don’t know how many people may have understood his lyrical references to the accident as art-form, and inside-out architecture, but there really weren’t that many, in spite of the LP title. Bottom line: you don’t want to miss him live, and never expect him to be stupid, in spite of his music being so muscular. Live during our broadcast from Doug Fir during Musicfest NW, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists ripped up the stage with songs new and old. Check out the photos here:
