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Review #1 Could Ted Leo be the Most Entertaining Guy Out there?…. It's the end of the summer yo! And my arctic ass couldn't be happier. Summer in the city, to put it nicely, sucks, and this monsoon shit that's going down lately is taking its toll on the pimp3 compound-- forcing Richie to go into hiding for fear his fro might flop, and turning Dick into Thumb Tack's round the clock taskmaster. (He's trying to spare that damn old skool ride of his from the floods.) So this was my first assignment, as handed down by Richie…last time I saw that ganster mug of his… "Take your ho self down to Brownies on Aug 22nd and scope out the Geoff Farina / Ted Leo and the Pharmacists show" I was down with it. Brownies on a Sunday nite is often one of the best places to catch a show in New York City. You just can't beat the free water and peanuts. After what seemed like a damn long delay, Geoff Farina (from Karate) took the stage, joined by what must have been his sidekick, another grad-rocker only identified as "Josh," and gave the crowd a couple numbers from his "Usonian Dream Sequence" record (Southern). The set was shorter than Thumb Tack but well worth the wait! The boy's got soul! All the ladies eyes were on Geoff, but I gotta say, the boys in the crowd were diggin his sentimental folk-pop too. Geoff was to be followed by Ted Leo, to which all I can add is… NEW JERSEY REPRESENT! Alight, I know whatcha thinkin. Could it be true? Could Dick and Richie really have done this? Could I really be a Jersey Bitch? Well, Hell yeah! I'm proud to say that I'm from the land of the hair and blue eyeliner! And so's Ted Leo. Well, he aint no Jersey Bitch, but he sure is a Jersey Boy. So now that I was feelin all old skool and sentimental bout the days of my youth. I was ready for Mr. Leo to take the stage. Since Chisel broke up, I've caught Ted working rooms around the city with Miss Rebecca Gates and the Spinanes as well as kickin it solo. Now that he'd made Boston his 'hood, he's pulled together this band of Pharmacists. Ted on lead guitar joined by a guy who he only referred to as James on second guitar, Jodi Buonanno, of the Secret Stars (her other project with Geoff Farina) on bass, and Geoff's sister Amy, formerly of the Warmers (outta DC) on the skins and keys. Oh yeah, and more samples and recorded beats than ho'bot ever managed to turn out. Now, I know what you're thinking. Why can't these people just have one band and stick with it? Right? But I have to argue, what fun would that be, and isn't it more challenging to try to figure out how everyone in the room has, in some bizarre once or twice removed way played in some sort of band (theoretical or actual) with one another. Sometimes, incest is best, and in the indie rock world, I am beginning to wonder, is procreation possible without it? Well, Ted had the room hooked, or they came as close to it as these kids can get. There was heckling in the crowd (courtesy of Ted's little bro Chris of The Lapse (formerly of the Van Pelt, and Native Nod, if anyone remembers WAY back) when the chief Pharmacist got to talking. All in all, a fine show that left me thinking, "Could Ted Leo be the most entertaining guy out there?" He's a thin guy, but his voice is huge, he gestures like he cares about what he's doing, and when it comes down to expression and intelligent songwriting…well, lets just say, I wouldn't front. Check out his new stuff which is scheduled to come out sometime later this year from Gern Blandsten Records. In other events this week... The Fabulous Glampire made his return to Don Hill's, and hasn't he been missed? Everyone was relieved to see that he hasn't cheered up. Its still all melodrama and lipgloss as far as he's concerned. Don't believe me? Check out glampire.com! Superchunk, Versus and the Rock-A-Teens played for a 10 year anniversary party for Merge records at the Bowery ballroom on Tuesday (they played with Ganger and The Ladybug Transistor on Monday). Missed the Rock-a-teens, but caught Versus, who threw the crowd a bit when little brother Jimmy Balayut was exiled to the keys. Huh? They tried out some new stuff and then put Jimmy back at the guitar, where he should have been all along. Superchunk was up next and I took my spot amongst the pogo-ing elite for what was an incredible performance. A stellar mix of old favorites got the room hopping while they still showcased some of the highlights from the new cd "Come Pick Me Up" (Merge). They ended with an encore that left the whole room asking, "could Jon Wurster have a career as a front man, or was that just another drummer longing to get up front?" US Maple hit the Knitting factory on Thursday, which I am sure, although I spared myself the agony, was a rousing evening of out of tune noise and spastic wailing (or are those vocals?) Now, as Dick can attest to, as he's often yelling at me to "shut that out of tune shit off" around the compound, I have a, well, an affinity for what some might call "bad music." I prefer to think of it as an acquired taste. Well, I caught these guys with Pavement in June, and well, if you want to be sure you look good as the headlining band, all I'm gonna say is hire US Maple to open up. Not that SM needs the help. Thurston Moore opened up for them, and he's just all over the place lately. Does a week pass without Thurston playing a show? More importantly though, should one? Catch you on the rebound --Mistress Indie.