Ted Leo & the Pharmacists Shake the Sheets 20th Anniversary

Beloved indie-punk songsmith Ted Leo and the Pharmacists return to Portland for the 20th anniversary of their landmark album, playing Shake The Sheets in its entirety and more!

As his discography illustrates, Ted Leo is a major player in the history and evolution of American punk. From his time growing up in and fronting ferocious bands in the underbelly of the New York hardcore scene, to his days as a mod-punk troubadour with the band Chisel, to recent pairings with Aimee Mann as songwriting duo The Both, Ted Leo’s songwriting has featured a signature blend of sharp political commentary, affective storytelling, and a broad range of influences spanning art punk, power pop, reggae, hardcore, British Invasion rock, Irish folk, and more.

Best known of all is Ted Leo’s stellar work with longtime backing band the Pharmacists. Burning into focus in the late 1990s with the cult classic indie power pop albums The Tyranny of Distance and Hearts of Oak, Ted Leo broke into uncharted territory with the release of his fourth album, Shake the Sheets, in the fall of 2004. For many critics and new and old listeners alike, it is the best album Leo has ever done, with fan favorites “Me and Mia,” “Little Dawn,” and “Heart Problems.”

Praise for Shake the Sheets

“Practically every song is a near-perfect amalgam of straight-up melodies and pogoing beats.” – Entertainment Weekly

“Fiercely political without being too specific, filled with moments that will have you jumping out of your seat with excitement, Shake the Sheets is more proof that Ted Leo & the Pharmacists are the only band that matters, punk or otherwise.” – AllMusic

“…a pop-punk update on Springsteen” – Blender

Original 2004-era bio for Shake the Sheets
Ted Leo is a unique artist for these times. He provides a near perfect combination of politics, art, punk values and humor in his songwriting and the combination is resonating with people all over the world. Having toiled for years in the punk underground with both his former band Chisel and his solo effort Ted Leo/Pharmacists, 2004 is definitely the year Ted Leo is primed to break out into the mainstream.

In February 2003, Lookout Records released the critically acclaimed Hearts Of Oak, a gem of a record that received accolades from Spin, Rolling Stone, Magnet, the New York Times, and MTV. Touring and promotion in support of “Hearts” was massive and included five U.S. tours, a run in Japan and the UK and an appearance on “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.” A brief respite from touring was required mid-way through his second US run, when his vocal cords became enflamed due to the rigorous schedule of radio station visits, in store performances and nightly gigs. Ted began a new regimen of vocal warm ups, fewer shows in a row and a dram less Irish Whisky and found his voice to be stronger than ever. In early 2004, in between some short tours, Ted began to write his fourth solo album. Motivated to keep pushing himself as a songwriter, performer and cultural critic, he shut himself in the basement of his childhood home in New Jersey and began to write. The songs that resulted in Shake The Sheets are fresh, smart, and passionate.

Producer Chris Shaw proved to be the perfect partner for Ted and his sonic vision for the album. Well known for his work in producing the last two Bob Dylan albums, Shaw has also worked on many other diverse projects, from Dashboard Confessional, to Bell Biv De Voe to the classic Public Enemy album, It Takes a Nation Of Millions to Hold Us Back.

Ted Leo is an artist who is well poised for a career with no limits. He will continue to write pop rock gems and work hard on the road to connect with his fans who continue to grow with him as he connects with more and more people. Do not be surprised if in 25 years you are dusting off your album jackets and along with Joe Jackson, Nick Lowe, Paul Weller you throw on Ted Leo to change your mood for the day.

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