Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Timorous Me

A problem with the whole indie scene is that you find some really great bands that just fall through the cracks and never seem to get the acclaim or popularity that they deserve. Sometimes this happens because the band takes the indie tag too seriously and purposefully avoids the mainstream, but more often it's just because they never get the exposure they're worthy of. I first saw Ted Leo & The Pharmacists in 2006, when they opened for Death Cab for Cutie at Madison Square in New York, and left after a stellar performance by both bands, wondering why I'd never heard of them before. I vividly remember Ted Leo, standing on the edge of the stage wearing a bright orange jumpsuit, striking driving guitar chords and belting out a powerful rock falsetto, flanked by a bassist who reminded me of a teenage Jimmy Page and a drummer who looked for all the world like a lumberjack (see pic above). Definitely one of the best live shows I've ever been to.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Timorous Me


This song was one of the highlights of their set that night, and still remains my favorite. It's uplifting and nostalgic at the same time, especially when you pay attention to the lyrics, which speak of relationships lost and found. Musically, it's Ted Leo's distinctive guitar playing that gets me from the start, channeling a little of Jimi Hendrix's technique of playing lead and rhythm parts simultaneously into his own indie-punk roots. The song kicks off with a rhythmic bluesy riff that is pretty awesome on its own, and then Leo's fiery voice drops in from above, setting the momentum. Lest we forget, he does all of this at the same time (live), which any singer-guitarist will tell you takes no small amount of skill. I dig the way he drags this part out quite a bit before a handclap-worthy beat drops in from the rhythm section, turning the song into a proper indie jam. Try to sit still while you listen to it. You will not succeed.

Slightly overboard?

Anyway, do yourself a favor and get hold of either The Tyranny Of Distance or Shake The Sheets (both on Lookout! Records), both of which are great albums. Or you can do what I did, and get their whole discography. It's all good.