i am oh so very ill (*cough* *delicate cough*), but i still managed to write a review of the ted leo show last night. go read it. bitches.

Catherine's going to write up last night's show for DCist later today -- but right now she's still in bed after calling in sick, and I'm free to steal her thunder. So here's a quick review:

Last night offered a good amount of rock for my dollar, although all of the bands seemed capable of better.

Mary Timony started things off. This is the first time I've seen Ms. Timony. I can't say that I walked away a fan. That's not to say the lady is without skill -- she just doesn't play the type of music I like. It's great to use the sorts of keys and scales that only theoretical physicists fully grasp, but I'm the kind of guy who's never understood how "power chord" can be pejorative. I suspect Charles would find a lot of things to like in her guitar work, but I'm too dumb for that; chalk it up to taste, or a lack thereof.

The one criticism I do feel comfortable levelling is that Timony primarily sings at the very bottom of her range. Having read this screed on her website, I suspect Mary feels that midrange singing in a major key is selling out -- and in fact, the only time I remember her doing so was in her closing number. Overall, her sound is somewhere between early Liz Phair, late Fugazi and PJ Harvey with a cold.

Washington Social Club played another great set. These guys are definitely on the rise, having just finished a stint as the house band on Carson Daly's late-night show. The middle of their set is still clogged with so-so songs, but I suspect that's mostly early material that will eventually be replaced. Martin is a talented frontman, and while not universally instrumental prodigies, every band member is a great performer, wringing every drop of rock & roll they can from their instruments. Their CD is worth a listen, too, although a band like this could use somewhat slicker production and a cleaner mix. They've got a few samples up on their website -- have a listen.

Finally, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists went on. Not the best TL show I've seen, but still a great show. The band seemed to be saving themselves to some extent. They're playing 9 shows in 12 days on this tour (including another show at the Black Cat tonight), so I can't say I blame them. Still, the new material is weaker than the stuff from Hearts of Oak, particularly since a lot of Shake the Sheets' political content is already becoming dated. Plus, a lot of his set was fleshed out with material that wasn't from HoO, StS or ToD -- I assume those songs were obscure covers or tracks from Leo's numerous EPs. Perhaps I'm just not sufficiently familiar with those songs, but they didn't grab me the way his best material does.

Still, the guy plays guitar with a frenetic energy that makes it seem like he's just barely able to keep up with his own fingers. And he writes some catchy-ass songs. A so-so Ted Leo show is still a pretty great rock concert.

I'm a few days late noting this, but Josh Marshall is moving to New York, thereby edging out Sally Jenkins for the title of DC's top Big Apple telejournalist.

God dammit, we're a city too! Even if we do only have three rock venues.

Oh well. At least Wonkette still loves us / has a mortgage here.

Don't miss this story in today's Post. It explains the findings of a congressional report on abstinence education programs -- it's simultaneously astounding, hilarious and discouraging.

I've been reading a lot of blog debates about offering "intelligent design" curricula alongside discussions of evolutionary theory. I'm generally pretty averse to that idea, but these abstinence programs make the Creationist lobby look like Richard Feynman. Some sample study material:

One book in the "Choosing Best" series tells the story of a knight who married a village maiden instead of the princess because the princess offered so many tips on slaying the local dragon. "Moral of the story," notes the popular text: "Occasional suggestions and assistance may be alright, but too much of it will lessen a man's confidence or even turn him away from his princess."