Happy Birthday, Teddy Rockstar!

[A.M. Thomas]

Not a fan, but happy birthday.


















Kidding of course.  Happy birthday TL!

[Josh]

ILUTLHAPPYBIRTHDAYSEEYOUSOONIHOPE

[jbissell]

What a guy!

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/145582-ted-leo-and-the-pharmacists-issue-surprise-charity-ep

To say that Ted Leo was dismayed by the violence at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, would be an understatement. So he decided to take his anger and do something about it. As he writes, "The surveillance, pre-emptive detention, arrest, and beating of journalists, protesters, and watchdogs by the St. Paul police department, the Ramsey County sheriff's department, and the FBI was so egregious that it couldn't be allowed to pass without comment."

The ever-outspoken punk rocker gathered his Pharmacists and hit the studio to lay down the two original songs and two covers that comprise the Rapid Response EP, available right this very instant for digital download from Touch and Go.

In the liner notes for the EP, Leo explains, "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, along with another new one we'd already been working on that's pertinent to election time politics, and two covers we enjoy and that also have timely sentiments." Those covers are of crust punk bands Amebix and Cock Sparrer."

All proceeds from the EP will go to Democracy Now! and the Minneapolis chapter of Food Not Bombs. It's available exclusively through Touch and Go at the moment, but will make its way to other online retailers after two weeks. Touch and Go is offering a sliding scale of payment for the EP, based on how much you'd like to donate to the cause.

[John Junk 2.0]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

[Steeley Chris]

TL - you did it again.

"I Got Your Number" is one of my favorite Cock Sparrer songs.

Happy belated birthday, btw.

[TL]

DANG!  I been away from the board for a while!  Thanks so much for the well wishes, everyone - you rule!
xo - T

[A.M. Thomas]

I just downloaded the Rapid Response E.P.

Amazing stuff.  "Paranoia Never Enough" is a great song and I haven't listened to Cock Sparrer in far too long.

Oi!

[<<<<<]

Hats off TL/Rx, that's fantastic!

[Jillian Barberie]

Teddy!!!
Happy Birthday! I guess we'll have to scarf down all these veegs cupcakes  in honor of yr birthday!
 We miss u!!

[dave from knoxville]

Hey TL,

One of the guys from the Hold Steady called you out as an "excellent guitarist" and an exception to the rule that punk doesn't feature shredding guitar leads. I heard that on a recent Sound of Young America.

So congrats for the well-deserved attention! And happy birthday.

dfk

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

You mean I get to listen to these awesome songs AND help Amy Goodman and the gang?  What a guy.  Thanks for bringing attention to this.

[Forrest]

I could not be more late to this party. I have purchased the 7" in every color to atone. Hope it was a good one, TL.

[Matt]

Happy Birthday, TL! Hope it was a good one!