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,[1] traditional rock, and occasionally folk music and dub reggae. Their most recent album, The Brutalist Bricks, was released on March 9, 2010.
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 EPTreble 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. 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.
2006-present: Touch and Go Records, Living with the Living, and The Brutalist Bricks
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists performing at the Bumbershoot festival in Seattle in 2007.
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.[2][3] Marty "Violence" Key of the (Young) Pioneers replaced him on tour,.[4] In April 2008, the band recorded a performance for the Beautiful Noise concert series in Toronto.[5] They then performed as openers for six dates of Pearl Jam's 2008 U.S. tour in June.[6]
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.[7][8]
Band members
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists lineups (only official members listed)
