Yes, this one is also of a vintage nature. But also important for people to know. Ted Leo (and his Pharmacists) has eluded the major public consciousness for some time now. That has to stop. Even I discovered them by... seeing them on a major late night talk show. I guess that's what they're good for. It's not the way I'd prefer to find out about a band though. Either way, I then tried to see them, and failed twice before they finally made it to Vancouver on a day when I could actually go see the gig. It was the day after the David Bowie show, and I was still impressed. That says a lot.

I got to the room right as Vancouver's own Notes From The Underground were finishing up their groovy, chiming, key-laden set. After that, the Fiery Furnaces were on. The band features a choppily speak-singing female vocalist. She sort of lurches around the stage with the mic when she's not playing guitar. Not a bad band. I'd definitely go see them again.

Ted Leo was something else though. I can't believe how many people the venue managed to pack in, or that all of them seemed to try to fit in the space between the mid-room tables and the stage. Between sets, the venue staff actually loaded out a couple of couches to make more space. I don't believe I have ever been forced (by a heaving crowd) to be so extraordinarily close to my live subjects while shooting, that it rendered even my wide angle lens just about useless. I think perhaps I had been expecting a four-person stage setup, or at least not such an extreme left-and-right three-person set-up. Various people started placing the mics for the headliners, but the original tripod-style mic stand left in front of me from the Fiery Furnaces' set was literally off the edge of the stage, the weight of the microphone itself frequently causing the top half to swivel around and hit me in the midsection. Shortly, this was replaced by a round-base stand, which was moved even more directly in front of me, and placed so close to the aforementioned stage edge, that there was a good chance that any errant bass-addled thud from the monitors surrounding it, could send the entire contraption toppling off the stage directly onto me.

I did my best to squeeze an inch or two to my left, but this was mostly fruitless, as the gentleman to my rather-packed side had his foot solidly planted on the stage, and his knee flat alongside the monitor to wedge him firmly into his chosen spot like a mountain of granite. A man-shaped mountain of granite. So there I was, a mere inch away from the butt end of a microphone, on the other side of which was the Ted Leo, dodging flying spittle and rapturously-freed beads of sweat that were sent on their valiant way by the musical exuberance of the performer they'd once been a part of. I'm certain I would have broken a camera lens or poked an eye out had I the gall to lean straight forward at all. Indeed, I was nearly decked and/or batted about a few times by Leo's emotive hand gestures as he entertained the jovial crowd between songs with his witty banter. It is, however, a good thing that the man himself is so rambunctious on stage, not only for its engaging showmanship properties, but for the sake of having a proper photograph or two of his fully-involved energy. If it were not for his frequent guitar-flinging, amp-assaulting trips to the back end of the stage during solos, we would have naught but a collection of pictures of Leo's nostrils on this page. A fine set of nostrils, to be sure, but hardly a full two films' worth of photo fodder.

But the guy is so.. so... normal. His performance is off the scale, and his voice is just so powerful. His facial expressions are also a gem. He himself though, such a regular dude. No makeup, no fancy duds, no carefully-planned non-fancy duds, no pretenses... just a love of good music and performing his songs for people. He genuinely interacted with the people around him, responded to them, and looked to be having a great, sweaty time. The audience continued to surge around and dance as best as it could considering the limited space to do so in. Great fun! He's becoming a household name in his own right, gaining mass popularity under the radar. Be advised now. Who knows how long it will stay this 'secret.'

Elsewhere

By Andy Scheffler
Photos : Andy Scheffler
Published : April 22, 2004.