Тед Лео и Фармацевты: История Американской Рок-Группы

American rock band

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists (sometimes written Ted Leo/Pharmacists, Ted Leo + Pharmacists, or shortened to TL/Rx) are an American rock band formed in 1999 in Washington, D. C. They have released six full length studio albums and have toured internationally. Though the group's lineup has fluctuated throughout their career, singer/guitarist Ted Leo has remained the band's main songwriter, creative force, and only constant member. The group's music combines elements of punk rock, indie rock, art punk, traditional rock, and occasionally folk music and dub reggae. Their most recent album, The Brutalist Bricks, was released on March 9, 2010.

Ted Leo's previous band, Chisel, had broken up in 1997 after internal struggles with both a direction to go and Leo's bounding depression. After the breakup, Ted spent time producing and working on albums for The Spinanes, The Secret Stars, and Jejune. He also fronted the Sin Eaters, a short lived band featuring members of The Van Pelt and Native Nod. After these projects either finished or fizzled out, Leo started playing solo. In 1999, he recorded and released tej leo(? ), Rx / pharmacists, a solo effort which was highly experimental and mixed elements of punk rock, reggae, dub and audio experimentation. In 2000, Leo expanded the project to a full band including James Canty on guitar, Jodi Buonanno on bass and Amy Farina on drums. He named the backing band the Pharmacists, and the group released the EP Treble in Trouble. The EP moved away from many of the experimental elements of tej leo by relying on more traditional rock structures and instrumentation, though it still explored some non traditional characteristics.

The band signed to Lookout! Records in 2001 and experienced more lineup changes as Buonanno and Farina left the group. For the album The Tyranny of Distance, Leo and Canty utilized a number of in studio backing musicians. The album incorporated multiple styles including Celtic rock, acoustic folk balladry and pop rock. During the supporting tours for the album, bassist Dave Lerner, drummer Chris Wilson, and keyboardist Dorien Garry became permanent members. The group's next album, 2003's Hearts of Oak, drew from punk rock and new wave influences. The EP Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is Dead soon followed and featured a number of Leo's solo songs and covers. The band's video documentary Dirty Old Town was released in early 2004 by Plexifilm. Prior to the recording of 2004's Shake the Sheets, Garry and Canty left the band, reducing the group to a trio. The album explored social and political topics and experienced some success with the single "Me and Mia". The iTunes exclusive EP Sharkbite Sessions followed in 2005.

In 2006, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists left Lookout! amidst financial crises within the label, and signed a new contract with Chicago based Touch and Go Records. The band's popularity continued to expand through constant touring and performances at large festivals such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the Pitchfork Music Festival. Their fourth full band album, Living with the Living, was released on March 20, 2007. First run copies of the album also included the Mo' Living EP. Canty rejoined them for touring in support of Living with the Living. Bassist Lerner played his last show with the band at McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn, NY on August 12, 2007. Marty "Violence" Key of the (Young) Pioneers replaced him on tour,. In April 2008, the band recorded a performance for the Beautiful Noise concert series in Toronto. They then performed as openers for six dates of Pearl Jam's 2008 U. S. tour in June. They toured with Against Me! and Future of the Left in September and October 2008. On September 15, 2008, the band released a surprise digital EP, Rapid Response, in response to the violence at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. The EP was made available on the Touch and Go website for a choice of prices with all proceeds going to Democracy Now! and Food Not Bombs of St. Paul. The Pharmacists' most recent album, The Brutalist Bricks, was released on March 9, 2010, followed by a tour of the United States and Europe. In September 2011, Key left the band to open a record store. The band continued as a trio with Canty taking over on bass. In a 2012 interview, Leo alluded to a new album to be released that summer, which has yet to be issued. In 2017, Leo released The Hanged Man under his own name. On March 4, 2022, Leo released an EP titled Andy, Come Out on his Bandcamp, featuring two new songs and a cover of the song "Ping Pong" by Stereolab that Leo had played live the night before. This was followed up by The Old 200 EP a month later. Ted would sporadically put out more EPs throughout the rest of the year. On February 13, 2024, Leo announced the Pharmacists would be going on a US tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Shake The Sheets with opening support from Ekko Astral and Diners.

YearTitleLabelFormatOther information1999tej leo(? ), Rx / pharmacistsGern Blandsten RecordsCDTechnically the first Ted Leo and the Pharmacists album, though it is a Ted Leo solo recording.2001The Tyranny of DistanceLookout! RecordsCD/LPFirst album as a full band.2003Hearts of OakLookout! RecordsCD/LP2004Shake the SheetsLookout! RecordsCD/LP2007Living with the LivingTouch and Go RecordsCD/LP2010The Brutalist BricksMatador RecordsCD/LP/digital2010The Brutalist BricksLa CastanyaLP/CD Licensed from Matador for Spain and Portugal. Colored vinyl and CD including the bonus track "One Polaroid a Day (Remix – Featuring Rebecca Gates)".2017The Hanged Manself releasedCD/LP/digitalCredited to Ted Leo

YearTitleLabelFormatOther information1999Guitar for JodiPersona Records7"Features demo version of "The Great Communicator".2000Treble in TroubleAce Fu RecordsCDFirst release as a full band.2003Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is DeadLookout! RecordsCDSingle from Hearts of Oak backed with nine Leo solo songs and covers.2005Split with Blueline MedicCasadeldisco RecordsEP2005Sharkbite SessionsiTunesdigitaliTunes exclusive downloadable EP.2007Mo' LivingTouch and Go RecordsCDBonus EP included with first run pressings of Living with the Living.2008Rapid ResponseTouch and Go RecordsdigitalDigital exclusive.2022Andy, Come OutSelf releaseddigitalReleased on Ted's Bandcamp page, attributed to Ted Leo & The Pharmacists.2022The Old 200Self releaseddigitalSame as above.2023Heaven's OffSelf releaseddigital2023August 2023 Bandcamp EPSelf releaseddigital

YearTitleLabelFormatOther information1999Split with One AM RadioGarbage Czar Records7"Two tracks: "The Latest Dart" and a cover of Lungfish's "To Whom You Were Born". Re released in 2003 on CD by Translucence Records.2002Split with Karla from Ida and BeekeeperTigerstyle Records7"One track: "Bridges, Squares (Bilbao to Glasgow)"2008Split with Zach GalifianakisChunklet Magazine7"One track: "Rock'n'Roll Dreams'll Come Through"2010"The Oldest House"Matador Records7"Two tracks: "The Oldest House" and "North Coast"; Record Store Day release2010"Bottled in Cork"Matador RecordsdigitalTwo tracks: "Bottled in Cork" and "Bottled in Cork (Demo Version)"

YearTitleAlbum2003"Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone? "Hearts of Oak2004"Me and Mia"Shake the Sheets2007"Bomb. Repeat. Bomb. "Living with the Living2007"Colleen"Living with the Living2010"The Mighty Sparrow"The Brutalist Bricks2010"Bottled in Cork"The Brutalist Bricks