Ted Leo and the Pharmacists hit New Haven on Sunday, March 5, with a return to Toad’s Place. Fairfielders may remember the indie-rockers from an appearance at the Levee in spring 2004. Since then TL ‘ Rx have steadily increased in popularity and critical acclaim. Those who were able to see them on-campus were truly lucky.
The band manifests itself as a power trio, with Leo handling the singing, songwriting and guitar, while Dave Lerner and Chris Wilson provide bass and percussion. The sum total of their onslaught is a spitfire sound in the mold of The Clash and Elvis Costello, with all the nuances, intrigue and relevance expected from such a comparison present. The clanging guitar rides on the bass and drums rumble as Leo wails and waxes politically over the cacophony.
Leo and his Pharmacists took the stage around 11:30 p.m. after two underwhelming opening acts, including the British band The Duke Spirit.
With the banalities out of the way, Ted Leo and crew quickly set up their own equipment, lingered on stage until they were ready. Being out pre-show and subject to the occasional scattered hoots and hollers, killed the jolt of a dramatic entrance, but this didn’t matter since they came out swinging anyway.
The performance was comprised heavily of songs from the band’s past two full length releases, such as 2003’s “Hearts of Oak” and 2004’s “Shake the Sheets.” However, Leo did find time to mix in three unnamed new tunes, all of which were solid and remained in the band’s typical mold. It would be safe to assume that they will make it onto their forthcoming release, tentatively scheduled for a fall release.
Highlights included a charged version of “Where Have all the Rude Boys Gone?” and the dynamic, “Me and Mia.” Throughout the show, Leo periodically stopped and bantered while tuning his guitar, and it became evident that regardless of the rest of the band’s skill, this was a one-man show.
Leo performed shtick, dabbling in current pop culture with Kelly Clarkson jokes, also conjuring up obscure ones from the past. He mused that he felt like Yakov Smirnov saying in a pseudo-Russian accent: “In Russia, you play for the crowd. In America, the crowd plays for you.”
And what a dynamic crowd it was. Even though the under-21 section was more rambunctious than their legal counterparts (it seems alcohol really is a depressant), Leo enraptured everyone in a fist-pumping, head-bopping frenzy.
Leo’s falsetto ripped through favorite after favorite, rattling off most of the band’s hits including, “I’m a Ghost” and “High Party.” However, Leo would not let anyone forget that at heart the power-punkers are a political band.
At the show’s high point, they played “The Ballad of the Sin Eater,” a song that touches on recent atrocities including the Rwanda Crisis: “I spent a night in Kigali in a five diamond hotel / Where maybe someday, they’ll do the wa-Tutsi down in Hutu hell.” However, do not be fooled by the title and seemingly somber subject matter; the song is a rocker in the mold of The Clash’s “Know Your Rights.” The scathing lyrics resonated with the crowd and Leo’s penchant for a contemplative, yet raucous environment was evident.
Throughout the night, Leo repeatedly offered heartfelt thanks to the crowd for its energy and enthusiasm, but really there was no other possible reaction for the Pharmacist faithful; the performance was impeccable and astounding. The band was tight and the sound was impressive, not to mention louder than bombs. The songs themselves outdid their studio counterparts and Leo’s wailing seemed to reach new heights.
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists offer one of the most unique and rewarding live shows around. They are the kind of band that gives you a profound, yet fleeting hope that rock ‘n’ roll can be saved, but while that may not be possible, it feels like it while they’re up on stage.
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