Ted Leo’s Guide to Hidden Gems Across the U.S.A.
The indie musician shares his picks for where to eat, drink, and shop for records while on tour.
Ted Leo knows a thing or two about life on the road. For close to thirty years, he’s been an active member in the independent music scene, touring from coast to coast with his band The Pharmacists and with Aimee Mann in The Both. But most recently, while refining a body of work into a new album, he’s been hitting the road solo.
The day after the 2016 U.S. election—not long after releasing the politically charged song “In the Mean Times” as part of Kickstarter’s Election Issues—Leo embarked on a solo tour across the country’s smaller cities. Here, Ted recommends some of the charming record stores, restaurants, museums, and state parks he discovered along the way—from Ohio’s Akron Art Museum to Dixie Dharma, his favorite vegan restaurant in Orlando, FL.
The project for Leo’s new album is live on Kickstarter through March 24.
From Ted Leo:
Richmond, VA
Richmond has great music venues (Strange Matter, The National), great food (Heritage, Ipanema), and great record stores (Steady Sounds), but did you know that Richmond has a great art museum as well? Check out The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for its beautiful grounds and well-curated collections.
Durham, NC
The Pinhook is a warm and welcoming venue that prides itself on being “a safer space for LGBTQI folks, POC groups, punks, lawyers, cyclists, trivia nerds, and everyone else.” I find really it heartening when businesses make policies like that explicit. Get some great food at Luna across the street, and head to the Pinhook for drinks and music.
Atlanta, GA
If you get to hit the 529 club for the Chunklet-sponsored monthly comedy show “Stand UP/Stand Off,” you will be treated to some truly great young comics from the region, and usually some music as well!
Gainesville, FL
You know what? Your snarking on Florida is unappreciated here. Florida is one of the most diverse and interesting places I’ve ever been, and I love it. Near Gainesville, spend the day tubing down the incredible Ichetucknee River, then head to town and browse the stacks at the Civic Media Center Library (where you might also catch a performance) before a veggie ramen dinner at Crane Ramen.
Orlando, FL
Yes, you’ll want to visit the multi-roomed home decor cocktail lounge, Lil Indies, then see a band at Will’s Pub, but first you might want to visit what has stealthily become one of my favorite vegan restaurants in the area: Dixie Dharma.
Chattanooga, TN
I didn’t have a ton of time in Chattanooga this time through, so I spent as much of it as possible eating at Sluggo’s North, the northern outpost of the Pensacola, FL, comfort food staple.
Louisville, KY
I mean, you want bourbon, right? Talk to the locals at Haymarket about it and play some vintage pinball.
Columbus, OH
Oh, don’t worry, you will find the records you’re looking for at Used Kids Records — but you might also find the refurbished vintage stereo equipment, tape machine, or wild little keyboard that you didn’t actually know you were looking for, too.
Akron, OH
In addition to a really lovely canal-side walking trail, venues, and record stores, Akron also has a great little art museum. Beautiful building, really cool exhibits, great collection.
Pittsburgh, PA
This might be old news, but one of my favorite things to do in Pittsburgh is to walk along the riverfront trails and look at all the bridges. Maybe wind your way over to the Andy Warhol Museum.
Buffalo, NY
If you’re coming up from Pittsburgh, get off I-90 at Route 5 and marvel at the beauty of the massive and rusting — but still active — industrial landscape fronting the churning green beauty of Lake Erie as you head into town. To me, it’s more stirring than Niagara Falls.
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