Ted Leo Releases New EP In Response to Police Brutality

By Shawn M. Smith - September 16, 2008 | Email the author

Outraged by the police activity in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area surrounding the recent RNC convention, Ted Leo and his band The Pharmacists were drawn to action. From Ted:

“Real people were hurt in St. Paul, and real people have bills to pay, and real people need funding to continue their good works. We (the band and I) were all feeling these events as deeply as we could from our 1200 mile remove, and so as not to feel entirely powerless, and in an attempt to contribute SOMETHING to that continuation of those good works, we wrote a song and recorded it”

Last week, Ted and the band went into his home studio and recorded two new songs, “Paranoia: Never Enough” and “Mourning In America”, plus two cover tunes, “I Got Your Number” (originally by Cock Sparrer) and “Nobody’s Driving” (Amebix). These four tracks comprise /Rapid Response/, an EP, recorded quickly, with the intent to bring awareness and financial aid to the people affected by the police brutality in Minnesota.

/Rapid Response/ is available now for an exclusive two-week window via Touch and Go Records [Buy Here] for $4.00, with other donation options available for those who would like to contribute an additional amount.

Learn more “after the jump”

After the two week period, /Rapid Response/ will be available for single track purchase at online retailers (iTunes, Amazon, et al), as well as the Touch and Go Records website.

All proceeds from this EP will go directly to Food Not Bombs Minneapolis and Democracy Now and the legal fees for those who have been arrested.

*“This isn’t meant to be some grand sweeping statement on our part – it’s just a way for us to contribute SOMETHING real to the lives of real human beings, and show our material support for those whose actions and thoughts we value in this ideological struggle.”*

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are about to embark on a 25 date tour supporting the like-minded, socially conscious punk band Against Me!. After that, TLRX headlines a string of dates, mainly in swing states across the US. Of special note, on the eve of election night 2008, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists will play a show at Buskirk Chumley Theater in Bloomington, Indiana. Here’s hoping we’ve got even more to celebrate that evening.

“Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone” [mp3]
“Since You’ve Been Gone” (Kelly Clarkson cover) [mp3]

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Tour Dates

09-30 Birmingham, AL – WorkPlay *
10-01 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade *
10-02 Hilton Head, SC – Stages Music and More *
10-03 St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Landing *
10-04 Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues *
10-05 Gainesville, FL – Common Grounds *
10-07 Greensboro, NC – Greene Street *
10-08 Washington, DC – Black Cat *
10-09 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory *
10-10 Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom *
10-11 New York, NY – Webster Hall *
10-12 Boston, MA – Wilbur Theatre *
10-14 Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s *
10-15 Des Moines, IA – People’s Court *
10-16 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue *
10-17 Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater *
10-18 Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre *
10-20 Omaha, NE – Slowdown *
10-21 Englewood, CO – Gothic Theater *
10-22 Salt Lake City, UT – In the Venue *