Indie Rock God Ted Leo

ONE of my favorite indie rockers is Ted Leo, a man of great integrity who channels The Jam, the Clash, King Tubby and Thin Lizzy. He usually records and tours with backup band the Pharmacists, but this weekend he makes a rare West Coast solo appearance

HERE is my interview with Leo; the piece runs in Friday's LA Times.

We talked about his interest in Celtic music, the way he approaches melodies, how we're still stuck in Reagan's America, and the transition he feels his career is in these days.

Two of my favorite songs of his are "Timorous Me" and "The High Party." Check em out here.

The thing that defines Ted Leo for me -- more than his songwriting, his propulsive melodies, his political commitment, etc -- is his gift with melodies that keep unspooling. There's nobody like him. He's at the Skybar Saturday and the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts Sunday.