The Brutalist Bricks—the band has managed to garner a large following that stands as enthusiastic as the veteran indie-punk leader Ted Leo himself. Amidst a month-long tour in support of their latest release, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists showcased their eclectically catchy punk rock throughout their Easter night performance at Atlanta’s Masquerade.
|
| |
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
|
The Masquerade
Atlanta, GA
April 4, 2010
|
| |
|
|
As the fierce opening guitar riff of “The Mighty Sparrow” kicked off the show in swift fashion, the punk outfit exhibited their endless energy and bravado over the course their show. The band efficiently made their way through a many of the tracks songs off The Brutalist Bricks, including the driving attack of “Where Was My Brain?” and the harmonious chorus on “Even Heroes Have to Die.” Juxtaposed with older anthemic favorites like “Me and Mia” and “Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone?,” the brand new tracks impressed in their own right.
While the Pharmacists served as the formidable backbone driving the show, Leo was in the spotlight throughout the night, emanating a persistent combination of his dexterous guitar work, authentic punk ethos, and genuine passion. His witty banter with the crowd pierced through between songs, as he commented about his Catholic upbringing and apparent disillusion with it, as he jokingly wished the crowd a “Happy Day” (as opposed to “Happy Easter”). Upon a member of the crowd asking him if he had called his mom yet to wish her a Happy Easter, he poignantly snapped back, “you’re not one of the Pitchfork people, are you now?”
As their set neared its end, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists sustained their intensity, playing a variety of tracks such as the punk-ska hybrid “Counting Down the Hours” and the jaunty “Colleen,” before closing their set with “Gimme the Wire”—an unheralded gem of a track hidden with the latter portions of their latest record. As impressive and underrated as this song is on record, “Gimme the Wire” quickly cemented its place among the best of the band’s work within the live arena.
Ted Leo returned to the stage for two encore songs, featuring a solo rendition of “Bleeding Powers”, before being joined by his cohorts to conclude with “Last Days”—the final song off The Brutalist Bricks—concluding the group’s impressive return to Atlanta. And if their cohesive demonstration on both their latest recording and performance is an indication of anything, it’s that Ted Leo and the Pharmacists seem determined not to fade away, as they continue to bring their undying fervor and grit at each and every moment of their work.
Powered by AkoComment 2.0!
