Pitchfork

The Tyranny of Distance was a terrific record, but 2001 was such a long time ago. No need to be sad, though, if you didn't pick up Ted's last album or if you missed him on tour with Pharmacists or with Sin Eaters before that or with Chisel even before that (don't even get me started on Citizens Arrest or Animal Crackers)-- as Pitchfork reported in December, Lookout! Records has scheduled the release of Tyranny's smartass baby brother, Hearts of Oak, for February 11th. And best of all, Ted's hitting the road for a massive tour that will bring his Crass/Curtis Mayfield/Billy Bragg hybrid to a town near you, including a stop at Emo's in Austin, TX for a Lookout! Showcase at the South by Southwest Music Festival this March. Be sure to keep an eye out for a star-studded pharmaceuticals staff that usually includes James Canty (The Make-Up, Nation of Ulysses), Dave Lerner (Native Nod, The Van Pelt), and Chris Wilson (Aspera, Sean Na Na). Tourdates:

n 02-07 Hamilton, NY - Donovan's Pub (w/Bats and Mice)
02-14 New York, NY - Village Underground (w/The Holy Childhood, Eamonn Vitt)
02-15 Clinton, NY - Hamilton College (w/Dismemberment Plan, Mooney Suzuki)
02-19 Pittsburgh, PA - University of Pittsburgh *
02-20 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *
02-21 Hamtramck, MI - Small's *
02-22 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle *
02-23 Milwaukee, WI - The Globe *
02-24 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
02-27 Seattle, WA - Graceland
02-28 Vancouver, BC - Pat's Pub
03-01 Victoria, BC - Thursday's Pub
03-02 Portland, OR - The Blackbird
03-05 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
03-07 Berkley, CA - 924 Gilman St. (w/The Pattern)
03-10 San Diego, CA - Casbah (w/Simian)
03-11 Phoenix, AZ - Modified (w/John Vanderslice, Hella)
03-13 Austin, TX - Emo's (SXSW Showcase)
03-17 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder +
03-18 Gainesville, FL - Common Grounds +
03-19 Orlando, FL - The Social +
03-20 Atlanta, GA - The Earl +
03-22 Carrboro, NC - Go Rehearsal Rm 4 +
03-23 Richmod, VA - 929 +
03-24 Washington, DC - Black Cat (w/Joan of Arc)
03-25 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar +
03-26 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church (w/Joan of Arc)
03-27 Providence, RI - Met Café =
03-28 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Restaurant =
03-29 Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw =
03-31 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place =
04-04 Montreal, QC - Case Del Popolo

n * with openers Saturday Looks Good to Me
+ with openers The Oranges Band
= with openers 33 Slade

n And now for something I've been meaning to write for a while:

n Dear Kristin Sage,
Thanks for your letter suggesting I buy the last Ted Leo/Pharmacists album, The Tyranny of Distance, a couple years ago. Everyone in D.C. is better off for your recommendation. Where you been lately?

n Sincerely,
A bosom friend

"