After making my way to Numbers for what seemed like the hundredth time this year, my girlfriend and I were once again simply let in by the always friendly Numbers staff. Yet again I wasn’t given any sort of photo pass, we were just simply allowed to walk around on stage, back stage, and come and go from the venue as we pleased.

Unfortunately, the evening’s opener wasn’t so great, so we waited around outside for Ted Leo and his band to take the stage. Once the Love Diagrams had cleared the stage, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists took over.

The group played several songs off of their latest release, including “Sons of Cain”, which is my favorite track of the less than stellar new album.

Luckily for me they played several songs off of the Tyranny of Distance and Hearts of Oak. Even with the group playing with all their heart and soul, the audience didn’t seem to be enjoying themselves that much. Leo himself even told the audience that they were “being to quiet” and told them to “talk to one another, make some friends”. I am not sure how anyone could have been unhappy, even with playing the newer songs the group sounded as good as always.

After finishing up the group’s set which included songs such as “Me and Mia”, “Where have all the Rude Boys Gone?”, and “The High Party”, the group returned to play the encore, which included a solo version of the classic “Dirty Old Town”, as well as my favorite song of theirs, “Timorous Me”.

Though the highlight of the evening was definitely when, during the last song, Ted invited the audience up on to the stage to sing and dance along.

Unfortunately I don’t have any photos of this, for I decided since my camera was already put up, that I would join in on the onstage dancing.

Leaving the venue I was definitely pleased with the group’s performance. Even though the newer songs aren’t as good as the older ones, the group still puts on a great sounding and very entertaining show.