Anyone who’s ever watched This is Spinal Tap knows how difficult it can be to find a decent drummer. However, if you’re The Both (lord, what an awkward name for a band), you’ve got a ready-made replacement in…Uncle Ed.
The Both is: Aimee Mann and Ted Leo. Both are true veterans of their respective scenes. Mann is known both for her lengthy solo career, and her work with the new wave group ‘Til Tuesday. Leo, on top of his solo work, has played with bands such as Chisel, Citizens Arrest, and The Spinanes. And now the two have combined their formidable talent to make The Both. The band’s eponymous first album is set to drop in just a couple of days on April 15, but it’s also currently streaming as an NPR first listen.
On to “Milwaukee”. It’s fun, it’s upbeat, and Mann’s vocals are perfectly on point. We won’t spoil the video too much, but…Uncle Ed is really just Ted Leo in a cruddy wig. Sorry.