While seeing the phrase, “playing The Tyranny of Distance in its entirety” on the Black Cat website under a very active artist like Ted Leo initially felt jarring, the show's energy was purely celebratory. more ›

This was the show Positive Force has wanted to put on for years: Ted Leo's return to his once-home further solidified how important he remains to the landscape of current punk rock. more ›

We've got a thing for Ted Leo, it's true. (Really, how can you not love a guy who can so adroitly perform "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"?) more ›

By DCist contributor Sarah Sherman more ›

In a year that saw its fair share of Springsteen-inspired punk, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists might be one of the few bands that can hold their own in such weighty lineage. If Springsteen mesmerizes tens of thousands as a workhorse of the arena, Leo's gregarious charisma and sweat-drenched performances are entrenched in the glory of packed, low-lit clubs. Over the course of a marathon 20+ songs at the Black Cat on Thursday, Leo even put on his best Bruce affectation to rally the troops, encouraging them to hold on just a little longer -- though the receptive crowd didn't need any prodding. With his anarcho-inspired t-shirt and faux–faux hawk (words cannot aptly describe his current do), he led the Pharmacists through a career-spanning set that included the standards (“Timorous Me,” “Me and Mia,” “Little Dawn”) but emphasized the forthcoming album, The Brutalist Bricks, to be released on Matador in March. more ›

Windy City pride was on full display pretty much everywhere this weekend, but it was perhaps no more rampant than at the Big Shoulders Ball, hosted jointly by the Hideout nightclub in Chicago and the Black Cat, benefitting the Future of Music Coalition. At the top of the bill were some big names like Andrew Bird and Ted Leo, and some legendary Chi-town music scene vets, like Eleventh Dream Day and the Waco Brothers. more ›

In the song "Elderly Women Behind The Counter In A Small Town", Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder sings, "I changed by not changing at all," a statement that also holds true for his band. Pearl Jam has made a career out of non-conformity, innovation and being one of the best live bands on the planet, and last night's show at the Verizon Center offered further proof that the band's endless summer shows no signs of slowing down. more ›

There's always something special about last shows. Whether the final episode of a beloved television series, or the farewell tour of a band, or even just the closing show of a tour, the artists involved always seem to throw a little something extra into the mix. So what does that mean for someone like Ted Leo, who closed out his tour Saturday night at the 9:30 Club, for whom giving roughly 210% at any given show is pretty much the routine? more ›

FRIDAY: >> Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are at the 9:30 Club with Kristeen Young and Partyline, $15, 9 p.m. Also Saturday with Kristeen Young and Ris Paul Ric. >> DC9's Liberation Dance Party hosts Brooklyn's Jaguar Club. $6, 9 p.m. SATURDAY: >> The Historic Sixth and I Synagogue hosts The Eight, D.C.'s part of a "worldwide Hannukah party" featuring the LeeVees, DeLeon and D.C.'s own Black and White JohnsonsJacksons. $12/$18, all ages, 9 p.m.... more ›

>> Open City, the coffeehouse, diner and bar in Woodley Park, is celebrating its 2nd birthday tonight by offering diners their choice of a free cup of Tryst blend coffee, a glass of champagne, or a piece of chocolate birthday cake. >> Homegrown online fashion purveyors Unsung Designers are heading to New York, but tonight they'll be hosting a final D.C. trunk sale from 6 to 9 p.m. at 2412 18th Street NW in... more ›

Amy Domingues is busy. Aside from being a full time cello teacher, and aside from being the go-to cellist for local musicians (having played on records by Fugazi, Bob Mould, Ted Leo, Jenny Toomey, and Benjy Ferree, among many others), Amy also has her own band, Garland of Hours. The band is a shifting cast of characters; past players include Brendan Canty, Devin Ocampo, Jerry Busher and Mary Timony, and pretty much any of... more ›

Fort Reno, the long-running summer concert series that dates back to the days when Marion Barry wasn't dodging indictments, gives D.C.'s indie and punk faithful welcome respite from dark, dimly lit clubs, and everyone a chance to enjoy some great local bands during the long summer evenings. The stage has witnessed many amazing performances by a who's who of local luminaries including Fugazi, Q and not U, Ted Leo and Mary Timony, and was to... more ›

Hosting live webcasts of some of the most critically acclaimed artists that come through D.C. — that's something DCist can get behind. We've been fans of NPR's Live Concert Series for a while now. Their home base is the 9:30 Club and they make partaking in sold out shows without selling your soul to a scalper an actual possibility. Recently they've covered Ted Leo, Nellie McKay, The Good The Bad and The Queen, and tonight... more ›

Our good friends at Pitchfork, who we all know you love to hate and hate to love, have a new weekly feature running in which they ask artists what music/movies/books/flavor of ice cream they’re really digging lately. Yesterday’s subject? D.C.’s favorite son (even if he did abandon us for Jersey), Ted Leo. It’s no secret Leo loves D.C. as much as we love him. Many of his early days were spent here, first with Chisel... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Friends 'o DCist Middle Distance Runner have had quite a ride since playing our special Unbuckled/Anniversary concert last September. Despite a few bumps on the road, they've gone from little band that could to having their first headlining slot at 9:30 club tonight. We'll say we knew them when. With The Dance Party. 10 p.m., $10. >> Akron/Family impressed the pants off of critics in 2005 with their self-titled neo-folk stylings. They'll be... more ›

Despite the multiple accolades some of us have given Death Cab for Cutie's live shows in the past, sometimes, the band's lo-fi stylings and muted yet upbeat melodies just don't quite do it for all of us. A lot of times, their albums -- though plenty and successful -- always seem to leave us wanting a little something more. Last night however, not only did we get that little bit more, we were converted into... more ›

Monday >> The hordes will flock to DAR Constitution Hall this Monday night to mark the return of Death Cab to D.C. with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. They recently added a second, Tuesday night show, but feel free to take your pick, as tickets are still available for both days. $34, 8 p.m. >> It’s black Monday in the district, as the nominal antithesis of the White Stripes, The Black Keys, complete another 2-day... more ›

Along with lilac and hyacinth, the sweet sweet smell of summer concerts is in the air. Here's a breakdown of some exciting dates so far. >> Belle & Sebastian, Broken Social Scene & Ted Leo + Pharmacists, Merriweather, July 8. If you're interested, the belle tix presale started today. Tickets go on sale en masse this Saturday at 10 a.m., via Ticketmaster or the Merriweather or 9:30 Club box offices. >> Wolfmother's been doing their... more ›

more ›

FRIDAY: >> We're definitely planning on checking out a new performance series called Take That Hill that's looking to turn in to a semi-regular evening of short films and short story readings presented by local lit mag Barrelhouse. Sounds promising, and we'll have the rundown on how it went down for you come Monday. At Warehouse Theater's screening room, $5, 8 p.m. >> Dude, free Yeah Yeah Yeah's listening party at Cue Bar, plus the... more ›

Anybody living in the city with a couple of kids knows how hard it is to maintain any sort of indie cred. You can hardly be showing up at the Black Cat every night when little Sam or Sue needs a bottle and a viewing of Sesame Street. more ›

Thievery Corporation, one of the District's most eclectic musical outfits, takes to the stage this weekend as part of Operation Ceasefire, an anti-war musical event featuring the likes of the Bouncing Souls, Joan Baez, Le Tigre, The Coup, Head Roc, Ted Leo + The Pharmacists, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and others. In anticipation of the show, which may well match the last time we ran into Thievery Corporation, DCist was able to exchange... more ›

For those out there who hate Thievery Corporation and Ted Leo but love freedom, the Pentagon is offering an alternative to Operation Ceasefire. None other than country music legend Clint Black will headline a concert in support of the military and Sept. 11 victims on the four-year anniversary of the attacks. The concert, named "America Supports You," will follow up the Department of Defense’s two-mile Freedom Walk from the Pentagon to Arlington National Cemetery to... more ›

There have been quite a few interesting photos on DCist Photos in the past few days. People have posted a photo of the dugout after the congressional softball game, a scene from last night's show at the Hirshhorn, a couple photos from Sleater-Kinney at the 9:30 Club, this photo of the opening of a show organized by the D.C. user group on Flickr, and even this snap from the Ted Leo concert. Ok, enough about... more ›

>> Hit up Fort Reno to catch performances by Partyline, teenage popsters Lemonface (at right), and Five Four. Things get started at 7:15 p.m. more ›

For 38 summers, the Northwest Youth Alliance has been rocking D.C. residents with free all-ages outdoor shows at the District's highest point, Fort Reno Park. Performers have ranged from local high school bands to up-and-coming local acts to nationally known bands like Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, who played last year. And as usual, DCist has been waiting anxiously for the release of the Fort Reno's 2005 schedule so we could plan our summer. Would... more ›

>> Everybody knows that the only true thing going on tonight is the DCist happy hour! From 5-8 p.m., DCist editors and contributors will be at Biddy Mulligans on Dupont Circle, starting our weekend off with a Guinness or four. Definitely drop on by with some friends for a chat, a rant, or to confirm that we are indeed real, live people as opposed to automated Gothamist bots. more ›

We hope you had a good weekend. Sunday's weather couldn't have been better, with temps in the 50s and clear skies. This photo was taken Sunday at sunset at the corner of Q and 33rd streets in Georgetown. >> Has the mini burger fad run its course, or does it still have some staying power? >> The franchise-infused Ellington, now with rotating spotlights, continues to shine light on whether the Duke is "rolling in... more ›