The front page of the Touch & Go Records website now features a picture of Ted Leo following his departure from Lookout! Records to join the Chicago-based label.

Touch & Go also shared the following quote from Ted Leo:
“As sad as I am that circumstances have forced a move from Lookout! Records, I’m insanely happy and thankful to be able to make that move over to Touch & Go. T&G is a label that has provided me, personally, with amazing music for 25 years; over those years, I have become friends with many of their artists and staff, and it’s an honor to now be a real part of their ongoing ruling-ness. In many ways, this decision was an incredibly hard one to make, since I also have great respect for and friendship with a number of other labels who we have been talking to, and what I’m about to say could also apply to them, but in a very big way, T&G’s history is my history, like Lookout!’s history is my history, like Gern Blandsten’s history is my history — American Punk Rock, True Believers, the Real Deal. In a world that seems hell-bent on driving itself further and faster down the shitter every day, these things remain not just important, but the absolute core of our endeavors. Believe me when I tell you that it is in this overly dramatic (granted), but absolutely true (none-the-less) spirit that I thank my lucky stars for all those that I have worked with in the past, and the ability to join Touch & Go to take it higher in the future.”

Ted Leo will be touring in support of his final Lookout! release Shake the Sheets throughout March. Leo’s departure from Lookout! is just the latest in a string of unfortunate events to hit the Berkeley label. Since Green Day pulled its back catalog over unpaid royalties, Avail, The Queers, and Screeching Weasel have also followed suit and Mary Timony jumped ship to Kill Rock Stars last week as well.

Tour Dates
w/ Duke Spirit, Les Aus

03/02: Brooklyn, NY @ The Hook
03/03: Providence, RI @ The Living Room
03/04: Boston, MA @ Paradise
03/05: New Haven, CT @ Toads Place
03/06: Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
03/07: Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
03/08: Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
03/10: Chicago, IL @ Abbey Pub
03/11: Newport, KY @ Southgate House
03/12: Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
03/13: Little Rock, AR @ Vino’s
03/14: Dallas, TX @ Gypsy Tea Room
03/15: San Antonio, TX @ Sanctuary
03/19: Houston, TX @ Walter’s
03/20: Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea’s Cafe
03/22: Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
03/23: Charlotte, NC @ Casbah at Tremont Music Hall
03/24: Washington, DC @ Black Cat
03/26: New York, NY @ Knitting Factory