As Promised
1:59 p.m.
It seems that fate would have it I write a post about this person/band/inspiration as it was nary five days ago that I had the thought. Shortly there after, I found the album that had been lost for at least two years (still in good condition), Sam had brought it up to me in the interim, and I discovered some more greatness of the particular man with the plan, mo’ bettah buttah.
Ted Leo. Yes, I know that I rant and rave to all of you about how amazing the man is, but I’ve never actually disclosed to you readers/friends the reason why that is. As you’ve all surely noticed, I’ve been posting tons of Billy Bragg videos. And while he’s great on his own, I never would have discovered Mr. Bragg if it weren’t for Mr. Leo. Over the last few months I haven’t given Ted the recognition that he truly deserves. For without Ted Leo you wouldn’t have the elitist music lover that types to you on an almost daily basis.
I remember late in the year 2004 was my first introduction to Ted’s music. Earlier that year his album Shake the Sheets had come out and me still being the kid trying to somewhat fit in (but realizing that most music on the corporate radio sucked and was looking for something different) was completely oblivious to it. Clod and I were in that “Let’s go to Tower Records at least once a week” phase and it was there that the album was purchased. It was sitting on one of those shelves made to highlight new music that wasn’t necessarily known, but I picked up a copy and after the playing of the first track I was in heaven. Granted at the time I had no idea what Ted was talking about, but that didn’t matter, good was good and I had what was good. At first I was skeptical about his falsetto, but two days after the album was in my hand, it was on constant repeat in my car.
February of 2005 marked the first time to see an unknown in concert. And Ted was that Unknown. Tickets were $15 and he played with The Joggers (who are good and need to release a new album because they haven’t done anything since I saw them in ‘05) and some crappy Seattle band called U.S.E. And while U.S.E. may have been lacking in the talent department, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists made up for everything. It was my first introduction to the wall that was bassist Dave Lerner (who now fronts his own band Spectacular Bird, which is worth checking out) and the guy with the coolest beard in the world, Chris Wilson. I’ve seen them six other times since then.
Ted Leo opened doors for me. Not the type of doors that make contacts or anything like that, but he opened my eyes to the vast amounts of good music going unheard and unseen. He also awakened my sense in political, social and personal awareness. He made me a socialist (which I then gave up for Libertarianism). Using a blend of Punk, Mod, Pub Rock and often times dub, Mr. Leo laces his songs with political activism and a call to consciousness. With influences such as Billy Bragg, the Clash, the Jam, Stiff Little Fingers, the Pogues, the Specials and a number of others, Ted took the best from each style and improved upon it, creating his own melodic yet rough twang. Either in his more obvious forms with songs such as “Loyal to my Sorrowful Country” or in more subtle contexts as “Biomusicology” Ted delivers his intellectual prowess and his constant struggle for change, but he never takes away from the music. From interviews and his personal blog he has often stated that it is not what he wants out of the music, but what the listener gets from it. His albums have the tendency to read like novels and reading the lyrics sheets you gain a much deeper appreciation for the music. He’s the type of musician that makes you go and look up what the hell he’s talking about. Not in the bad way, but when you hear a name or an event that you don’t know, you immediately go to your computer and type it in a google search, providing more insight to what happened and what’s going on.
Ted’s concerts provide a high energy atmosphere, a comical host and the satisfying feeling of helping to make that show turn out the way it does. Ted feeds on his audience, when they’re not into it, he’s not into it. You’ll often see him, James (The new backup guitarist who kicks major ass) and formerly Dave scan the audience and if they see people singing along, dancing, jumping up and down, what have you, you’ll notice a smile, a nod of approval and an extra boost of energy. You always leave a show elated and wanting more.
Ted also has a tendency to cover a lot of songs. Typically I frown on cover songs, but he seems to make them good. Often times better than the originals, and they always play out amazingly in a live setting.
Yes, Ted changed my life. He actually did. I look upon him as a hero, a legend, a God among men. As I’ve stated before, I met him once and was only able to spew nonsensical jargon as I shook his sweaty hand and smiled like a goon. If anyone can save music from the clutches of damnation, it’s Ted. A man who’ll never sell his soul for profit. A man who sticks to his guns. A man who will never back down. Ted Leo, I salute you.
Below is posted the song “Biomusicology,” one of my favorites and I’ll post lyrics for it as well. Below that will be posted his cover of “Since U Been Gone” with the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Maps” intertwined.
Biomusicology
Had we never come across the vastness of pavement,
The barrenness of waves and the grayness of the sea;
Never lost, or ne’er been misguided,
We’d have ne’er reached seas so shining —
Or come from out of a hansom in Camden to a bar in the basement,
While all the while it rained;
Or come around to the friendliest of faces,
Handsomest in ugly places —
Or come from out of the tunnels we dig in
To see that tunneling’s not living
And working doesn’t work;
Or come to find that loving is labor,
Labor’s life and life’s forever —
Or come to see that keeping’s not giving,
You get what you’ve given,
You get what you deserve;
And in the midst of all of the action,
Maybe only there found satisfaction…
Chasing sea-foam dreams around another dirty old town;
Parallel run streams toward the gray ocean from the green ground;
“Oed’ und leer, das meer,” but look beneath the glassy surface —
All the songs you hear: down there they have a purpose.
All in all, we cannot stop singing,
We cannot start sinking —
We swim until it ends.
They may kill, and we may we parted
But we will ne’er be broken-hearted.