Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

History

1999–2001: Formation and first releases

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.

2001–2005: Lookout! Records, ''Hearts of Oak'', and ''Shake the Sheets''

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. A video documentary of the band performing at the 2003 Siren Music Festival in Coney Island, 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.

2006-present: Touch and Go Records, ''Living with the Living'', and ''The Brutalist Bricks''

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.{{cite web | access-date =August 13, 2007}}{{cite web |access-date = August 13, 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080102034937/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/44818-ted-leo-bassist-dave-lerner-leaves-band |archive-date = January 2, 2008 | access-date =September 6, 2007}} In April 2008, the band recorded a performance for the Beautiful Noise concert series in Toronto.{{cite web | access-date =July 15, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080403042610/http://www.themusebox.net/beautifulnoise/beautiful_noise.html |archive-date = April 3, 2008}} They then performed as openers for six dates of Pearl Jam's 2008 U.S. tour in June.{{cite web | access-date =March 21, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080223224959/http://www.pearljam.com/news/index.php?what=News#247 |archive-date = February 23, 2008}}

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 after funding it through a Kickstarter campaign.

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. He sporadically put out more EPs throughout the rest of the year, all credited under the Pharmacists name.

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.

Band members

Current members

• Ted Leo – vocals, guitar, piano (1999–present)
• James Canty – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2000–present)
• Chris Wilson – drums (2002–present)
• Marty Key – bass, backing vocals (2007–present)
• Adrian CN Berry – saxophone, percussion, keyboards, backing vocals (2017–2019, Hearts of Oak 15 and The Hanged Man tours)
• Ralph Darden – guitar, backing vocals

Past members

• Jodi V.B. – bass (1999–2001)
• Amy Farina – drums (2000–2001)
• Pete Kerlin – bass (2001)
• Alex Minoff – bass (2002)
• Dorien Garry – keyboards (2002–2004)
• Dave Lerner – bass, backing vocals (2002–2007)

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Non-album tracks

Videography

Music videos

Video releases

References

References

1. (September 29, 2005). "Thursday, September 29". Now Toronto.
2. Jes Skolnik, ''A Handheld Prism: Revisiting Chisel's Set You Free,'' 2023, pg.5: "Leo found himself sitting on the front steps of the house. His depression was all-encompassing, like a fog that rises up through the throat to choke. What was the point? Where was there to go from here?"
3. Sean Greene. (2022-01-09). "Ted Leo / The Sin Eaters".
4. "In Music We Trust - Tej Leo: Rx/Pharmacists".
5. Mitchum, Rob. "Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Hearts of Oak".
6. Punknews.org. (2004-02-27). "Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Dirty Old Town DVD".
7. (February 6, 2006). "News {{!}} Touch and Go / Quarterstick Records".
8. "News {{!}} Touch and Go / Quarterstick Records".
9. Leo, Ted. (February 13, 2024). "tweet".
10. broderick, blue. (February 13, 2024). "opening up for tedleo later this year".