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18.04.2008

damn you! presents

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

posted on Apr 7, 2008

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Maybe the dilapidated garages and all-ages clubs of the East Coast post-hardcore scene of the late 80s is a fitting place to begin our story. That’s where the chronicle of our era’s ever-humble valedictorian, Ted Leo, really gets interesting, anyway. It was here in bands Citizen’s Arrest and Animal Crackers (and later as the main song writer in Chisel) that Ted developed a sharpened political prowess, an assiduous commitment to his Gibson ES-335, an ear for melody, and charisma contagious enough to be considered chemical weaponry. A mod-punk savant in an age where punk (like practically everything intangible we’ve ever expressed interest in) has been replaced by product. With his latest, Living with the Living, Ted Leo delivers that existentialist ethos to a new crop of rude boys.For their fifth full-length release (and first with Touch and Go Records), Ted Leo and the Pharmacists met up with Brendan Canty (Fugazi) at Long View Farms to iron out a new set of anthems that arrive with a confident and outspoken immediacy. With Living with the Living, Ted & Co. wipe clean the slate that once held names like Weller, Strummer and Bragg and indulge some of their farthest-reaching musical ambitions.

Large Mound

Large Mound is a well-known rock group based in Dublin, Ireland. In the beginning things were scrappy: with 4-track tape experiments and a "here's a riff, here's a song" approach to writing. Since then the Mound have evolved into one of Ireland's most prolific rock bands, with two full length albums, extensive gigging experience, and mounting critical acclaim under their belts. The musical goal of combining downstroke rock, metal riffs and smart songwriting has remained constant though. Reviewers have drawn comparisons with bands like Sebadoh, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr, and Teenage Fanclub, and the band wouldn't have too much of a problem with any of that.

Soeza

Soeza are from Bristol and have been doing this a long time. Male and Female vocals and French Horn over two drummers and jazzy bass and guitar. Fun and beautiful amazingness that wouldn't go amiss on Dischord, but they call Gringo their home and will have a new album called “7 Obstacles” out very soon.

9p.m. - £6 adv / £7 door

The Maze (Forest Tavern), 257 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FT