Timony, in her first NYC performance sans Helium. She was supposed to open for Sleater-Kinney at Irving Plaza at the end of March, but then S-K's Carrie Brownstein (who Timony has a split single coming out with, check Matador Records, they know who's putting it out I think) hurt her back and the whole thing got ppd.

Upon walking into Tonic I see Mary who is holding a tuna fish sandwich and potato chips on a plate, she's also holding her stomach and she tells me that she thinks she might barf.

Nerves, I ask.

No, I think I have a fever, too, She says.

Not good, I say.

She goes out to her van to lie down. So Karrie and I sit down and the place fills up. The stage is tiny, then there are about ten rows of folding chairs with an aisle down the middle. There is a bar off to one side. There's a stalker, who looks like he always had his math homework done a day or two in advance, in the front row taking pictures. Later on he'll want a hug.

Anyway, finally Mary and her new drummer Christina, who does sound at Boston's Middle East, take the stage. Mary appears sort of nervous and doesn't say much between the new songs, except "ok" to Christina to begin the next song. She faces the wall on the far side of the stage the whole night.

The songs are darker and a touch more "metal" believe it or not, than on the Magic City. I'm sure this is just an initial template of what will probably sound completely different once the usual dozen instruments are added, and they are recorded. Christina's drumming is amazing, though the two occasionally struggle to stay in synch with one another. Timony, playing a Fender Jazzmaster (or some kind of angular Fender guitar) rages through at least one solo per song, it is pretty cool.

She even puts away the guitar and plays the viola on a number and it is exquisite. The best song, for my 8 bucks, is one where she sings about "looking up and down a street" or something. Lyrically there is still a dash of medieval stuff going on, but it is good that she is throwing a curveball at everybody and changing her band around.

Anyway, she'll be back in town with S-K at the end of May, doing those shows that were cancelled.

> Peacock Rock
> a 2003-02 @ Paradiso review I can't understand.
> Lots of tour dates added under both Mary and Helium pages. A 1994 Helium live info page created. (info credits: Chris)
> I wasn't able to find any info about the Mary/Ted Leo tour yet. The searches only show the tour dates and venues.
:(
I'll keep on looking.