You play the one song that people want to hear the most every night, and for every audience that's a special thing. And usually that translates back to you.
Ted LeoI gotta make a living somehow, and make ends meet. I accept the idea of having a retirement.
Ted LeoWhen you make a record and have to go out on tour for it, you have to go out on tour for it. Whether it's going to be joyful or not, you have to do it.
Ted LeoAs I've grown older I've been more influenced by more meandering styles of guitar playing, whether it's Celtic or Ethiopian folk music or some kind of noisier jazz like Sonny Sharrock. In terms of songwriting, I don't know that I could even pin it down.
Ted LeoThe early 2000s for me were a very emotional time, politically. I'd been through Reagan and been through first Bush and Clinton, and it's not like I had an easy time through those years. But I just thought it was particularly rough. I have to say the World Trade Center attack was very weird for me. The events that followed were worse. It was a really long swath of time.
Ted Leo