The legacy of Scott Miller, the former Game Theory and Loud Family power-pop songsmith who died early last year, just got that much more impressive. Aimee Mann first became aware of Ted Leo thanks to Miller way back in 2011, according to the website for her new project with the hardcore-punk alumnus, the Both. Originally using the goofy name #BOTH, the two word- and melody-smart rock underdogs started playing live shows together almost a year ago, and the first studio track from the duo — posted today over at Rolling Stone — could hardly be a better tribute to Miller’s influence. From upcoming album The Both, due out April 15 via Mann’s SuperEgo label, “Milwaukee” is at once brainy and leanly catchy, with a peppy chorus about a “nucleus” and a hint of Thin Lizzy in its rollicking, raise-your-beers guitar solo. Leo told RS the song was an attempt to “immortalize” the time he and Mann saw a bronze statue of the Fonz together, so the late Miller will have to share any implied honors here — but you’d have to think the guy who named one of his bands partly after a ’70s Saturday Night Live sketch would be chuckling anyway.
The Both track list:
1. “The Gambler”
2. “Milwaukee”
3. “No Sir”
4. “Volunteers of America”
5. “Pay for It”
6. “You Can’t Help Me Now”
7. “The Prisoner”
8. “Hummingbird”
9. “Honesty Is No Excuse”
10. “Bedtime Stories”
11. “The Inevitable Shove”
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The Both tour dates:
April 24 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
April 25 – Boston, MA @ The Paradise
April 26 – Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall
April 27 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s Place
April 29 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
May 1 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 2 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
May 3 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
May 5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
May 6 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland
May 7 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
May 9 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
May 10 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
