This post is from Out the Other's 2009 Bonnaroo Artist Previews, where I will be posting previews of all the musical acts playing the 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Please check out and subscribe to the full site to learn more about all of this year's performers.
Editor's Note: This is a guest preview by Matt Graupman, my cousin and the awesome dude behind Spinadoo Comics, a comic blog and home of the daily journal strip "Stay-At-Home Matt." He can be reached through his site or at spinadoocomics@gmail.com.
There are some questions that keep me up at night, such as: Why is it only recently that Doritos finally decided to make taco-flavored chips? What was that noise? How are John and Kate doing? and Did Megan Fox receive that bouquet of tulips I sent? Well, to be honest, some questions just can't be answered (mainly because Megan's lawyers were not very forthcoming in their letter). My biggest query, however, is "Where did all the punk rockers go?" and that, fortunately, does have an answer. In a genre that's seen (or is "scene" more appropriate in this case?) Green Day evolve into a rock-opera writing monster, young punkers increasingly embrace synthesizers (horror!), and Against Me! not only sign to a major label (-5 Scene Points) but release arguably their best album (goddammit), Ted Leo - with his trusty Pharmacists in tow - are still making a righteous noise.
Now, we could spend a whole lot of time trying to define exactly what "punk" is (The Clash? Fall Out Boy? The Buzzcocks? what?!) but, for our purposes, let's just agree that Ted and the boys are making some of the most passionate, political, and responsible music available today. Currently touring in support of 2007's expansive Living With The Living (on Chicago indie label Touch And Go Records), TL/Rx have dabbled with folk, indie rock, reggae, dub, and hardcore while still remaining true to the hordes of Converse-wearing, Black-Flag-logo-tattooed punk rockers in their audience. Just check out the air-raid blast of "Bomb. Repeat. Bomb." or the cool acoustic swagger of "A Bottle Of Buckie." Or, just go get 2004's Shake The Sheets because it's flawless. Really, there's not much else I can say; Ted Leo and the Pharmacists keep it simple, fast, and consistent, so I will, too.
So, where did all the punk rockers go? They're around. You just have to search a little harder for them through all the emo kids and faux-punk pop singers (I suggest you start with Quote Unquote Records because their punk bands are rad and their albums are all free). And, if you wanna see three of the best, the Ted Leo & The Pharmacists set details are below. To paraphrase the immortal words of true punk godfather Joe Strummer (R.I.P.): this has been a public service announcement... with geetars!!
"Bomb. Repeat. Bomb."
"A Bottle of Buckie"
Ted Leo will play twice on Sunday - in The Other Tent from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and on the Sonic Stage from 4:30-5 p.m. Check out the Full Bonnaroo schedule on the official Bonnaroo website.
