A Handful of Dust: Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Live at the Middle East (2006)

It was only a matter of time before I post something by my good ole' pal Ted Leo. And what better chance to post some of his material right after a post about Billy Bragg. Ted Leo is one of my favorite artists, ever, in the whole world. He is everything I have ever wanted out of a musician. Dynamic, soulful, angry when needed, full of passion, introspective, and downright funny when he gets the chance. Did you ever see that Human Giant skit, the one where Aziz pretends to be a music mogul? It only shows Leo can act just like the rest of 'em. Anyway, Leo is the hardest working man in independent music, the superman of indie rock. Who else would whip up an EP in response to the horribly managed Minnesota Republican National Convention back in 2008, aptly titled Rapid Response? Ted did, because he is superman, with a guitar.

Now this is a bootleg recording of a live show he did back in 2006, a year after Shake the Streets came out. I don't know many other details about the show than what's given to me. Therefore, I don't know if an amazing setlist was done for any specific, special reason, or just for the hell of it. Either way, if you are a fan of his work, then this is for you. Songs from all of his earlier albums are included here, along with the first couple of the songs being done in solo fashion. That is one of my favorite aspects of Ted Leo, his songs are just as moving with him and his electric guitar than when they are done full band. And he includes his cover of "Dirty Old Town" by the Pogues. The set is also concluded with the fuzzed out jam of "Stove By a Whale", dragging the ending on in true superman fashion.

But is the bootleg astounding due to his Pogues cover? Or playing an early rendition of "Sons of Cain"? Or even fan favorites, such as "Me and Mia" and "Timorous Me"? No. The secret to this bootleg is a cover he does in the beginning of his set/closing of Drew O'Doherety's set (the opening act/off and on Leo co-conspirator). O'Doherety starts playing the opening riffs, and immediately, the crowd is heard giggling. And when the first lines are belted out, "I get up in the evening, and I ain't got nothing to say", in which Drew laughs right after, the crowd starts to understand what they are witnessing. The Boss' most beautifully crafted song, "Dancing in the Dark". And it's after the first chorus that Leo joins Drew, bursting in to the second verse, as though he were The Boss himself. Hell, they even end the song with the trademark "Hey baby" yells. Incredible. I honestly listen to this song once a day, and just goes to show that The Boss penned the greatest song ever made. Ever.

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