I never thought I would hear the Til Tuesday 1980s hit “Voices Carry” performed live, but this week I got the next best thing.
My long-time friend Dave came down from Jersey to the Birchmere on 12/2/25 for the Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Christmas show, a variety program.
Mann spoofed her own song, creating new lyrics for holiday unease around the tune, singing “Hush hush, he’s your dad now, this is Gary.”
She didn’t skimp on the delivery; here’s the version in NYC a few days earlier.
The show was a happy mix of comedy artists, Christmas songs and indie music. The comics on the show still reflected Mann’s sideways and downbeat view of life’s path. There was a long running joke about a severed brain but I didn’t get it since I didn’t watch the Severance TV show. That was turned into a joke on the Steve Miller hit “Abracadabra.”
We got to the Birchmere at 6:40 and hundreds of people our age were already chowing down, like it was Grandma’s and Grandpa’s dinner hour. We still found good seats and I can recommend the food.
I respected how a singer preserves the voice and still delivers two hours of fun. Ted Leo is a talented singer, guitarist and complement to Mann.
Entertainment value was high. She sang “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” the Charlie Brown TV Christmas song, as well as the ballad “Save Me” and the rocker “Sugar Coated.”
Leo played one of his hits “Can’t Go Back.” They have also recorded as The Both, and “No Sir” from that record was performed.
Mann has had a big year, doing a Til Tuesday reunion and also a tour for the anniversary of one of her big mid-career records “Lost in Space,” which I saw at the 9:30. I even saw the Christmas show about eight years ago. So that makes me a fan boy, I guess.
