{{short description|American musical duo}}
{{other uses|Both (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Both | image = The Both Philadelphia May 3 2014.png | landscape = yes | alt = Aimee Mann (left) and Ted Leo (right) | caption = The Both (Aimee Mann and Ted Leo) in Philadelphia on May 3, 2014 | origin = | genre = Indie rock, power pop | years_active = 2013–2016 | spinoff_of = Ted Leo and the Pharmacists | label = SuperEgo Records | website = {{URL|www.the-both.com}} | past_members = Aimee Mann<br />Ted Leo }} '''The Both''' was an American indie rock band, consisting of Aimee Mann on bass and vocals and Ted Leo on guitar and vocals. They began collaborating in 2013, and released a self-titled album in April 2014.
==Origins== thumb|right|120px|Ghost logo of the Both, used on T-shirts and album cover The songwriting collaboration between Aimee Mann and Ted Leo originated during a joint concert tour in 2012, and specifically with an appearance together at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 11, 2012, which was later described in the lyrics of their song "Milwaukee."<ref name=luerssen2014/> At that time, Leo was the opening act for Mann, and the two sometimes collaborated on stage.<ref name=gottlieb/> They began writing songs together in December 2012.<ref name=billboard2014/>
Mann and Leo were initially brought to each other's attention in 2001, when Scott Miller, leader of the bands Game Theory and The Loud Family, gave Mann one of Leo's albums.<ref name=spin-fonz/><ref name=both-about-jan2014/> Miller, who died in April 2013, was later described as having a "special, spiritual, guru-like presence" in the heart of the Both's debut album.<ref name=both-about-jan2014/>
On March 8, 2013, the duo performed their first show together as #BOTH, formatting the band's name as a hashtag. This was quickly dropped, with the band renaming to The Both shortly thereafter.<ref name=spin2013/><ref name=mann-bothnews/>
==Personnel and performances== Mann and Leo frequently traded off lead vocal duties within their songs, each taking a verse before joining in harmonies that "expertly interw[ea]ve their voices."<ref name=xpnkey/>
Mann performed on bass and acoustic guitar, and Leo performed on electric guitar. In addition, during concerts Leo occasionally played a modeling keyboard to replicate a few overdubs of strings and synthesized flute from the studio recordings that, according to Leo, were "important parts of the songs" to him.<ref name=mervis2014/>
The Both also became known for their extended on-stage "jokey banter",<ref name=billboard-trust/> with "quips and asides" described as "nearly as great as the songs they fed into."<ref name=conseq2014/> Their concerts have been called "one part super-group show, and one part close friends... fluidly (and hilariously) play[ing] off of one another."<ref name=phillymag2014/>
The Both typically performed with a guest drummer who was introduced and acknowledged, but who had no singing or speaking role onstage. Session drummer Scott Seiver toured with the Both in 2013 and played on the band's debut album. For the band's 2014 tour, Matt Mayhall replaced Seiver on drums, with Mann commenting in an interview, "We're a power trio."<ref name=portland2014/>
==Releases== In 2014, Mann and Leo released ''The Both'', their self-titled debut album. It featured songs written by both members, as well as the Thin Lizzy song "Honesty Is No Excuse." The album was produced by Paul Bryan. ''The Both'' debuted on the ''Billboard'' 200 at #59,<ref name=bbchart1>{{cite web |title=The Both Album & Song Chart History |work=Billboard 200 for The Both |date=May 3, 2014 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200?page=2 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428200419/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200?page=2 |archivedate=2014-04-28 }}</ref> and on the ''Billboard'' Independent Albums chart at #12.<ref name=bbchart2>{{cite web |title=The Both Album & Song Chart History |work=Billboard Independent Albums for The Both |date=May 3, 2014 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums?page=1 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428193156/http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums?page=1 |archivedate=2014-04-28 }}</ref> Music videos by director Daniel Ralston were released for the songs "Milwaukee" and "Volunteers of America."<ref name=volvid>{{cite web | title=The Both - Volunteers of America |date=August 27, 2014 |author=SuperEgo Records |publisher=YouTube |type=official music video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Qz8rN99uI }}</ref>
In 2014 and 2015, prior to tours together billed as "The Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Christmas Show,"<ref name=vanyaland /> The Both released Christmas-themed songs as singles. "Nothing Left to Do (Let’s Make This Christmas Blue)," released in November 2014, was described by ''Stereogum'' as "a sweet song with some dark lyrics lamenting the feeling of listlessness that can come along with the holiday season."<ref name=stereogum2014 /> "You're a Gift," released in December 2015, conveyed a wistful theme of holiday anxiety and "longing for someone to hunker down with and enjoy the holiday spirit with."<ref name=musictimes2015 />
==Other collaborations== Although Mann and Leo did not continue to perform as The Both after 2016, they remained on good terms. In 2019, Mann and Leo began a podcast through the Maximum Fun network, ''The Art of Process'', in which they interview creative personalities on the process of turning ideas into art.<ref name="artofprocess">{{cite web |title=The Art of Process |url=https://art-of-process.com/ |website=The Art of Process |accessdate=5 September 2019}}</ref> Later that year, the two appeared on the animated television film ''Steven Universe: The Movie'', with Mann reprising her role as Opal from the ''Steven Universe'' television series; they perform the song "Independent Together" with Pearl's voice actress Deedee Magno Hall.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://collider.com/steven-universe-movie-poster/ |title=First Poster for 'Steven Universe The Movie' Reveals the Looming Threat |last=Trumbore |first=Dave |date=July 9, 2019 |work=Collider |access-date=July 20, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Haasch |first=Palmer |date=September 2, 2019 |title=Steven Universe: The Movie epitomizes Steven's inescapable saga of love and conflict |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/9/2/20842447/steven-universe-the-movie-review-spoilers |access-date=March 4, 2024 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Commons category}} {{Clear}}
==References== {{reflist|2|refs= <ref name=vanyaland>{{cite journal |title=Interview: Now Christmas collaborators, Aimee Mann and Ted Leo find common musical ground |first=Rob |last=Duguay |journal=Vanyaland |date=December 8, 2015 |url=http://www.vanyaland.com/2015/12/08/interview-now-christmas-show-collaborators-aimee-mann-and-ted-leo-find-common-musical-ground/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128164157/http://www.vanyaland.com/2015/12/08/interview-now-christmas-show-collaborators-aimee-mann-and-ted-leo-find-common-musical-ground/ |archivedate=2016-01-28 }}</ref> <ref name=stereogum2014>{{cite journal |title=The Both – 'Nothing Left To Do (Let's Make This Christmas Blue)' |first=James |last=Rettig |date=November 12, 2014 |journal=Stereogum |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1718202/the-both-nothing-left-to-do-lets-make-this-christmas-blue/mp3s/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150804122634/http://www.stereogum.com/1718202/the-both-nothing-left-to-do-lets-make-this-christmas-blue/mp3s/ |archivedate=2015-08-04 }}</ref> <ref name=musictimes2015>{{cite journal |title=Aimee Mann, Ted Leo Release New Christmas Song 'You're A Gift' as The Both |first=Michael |last=Haskoor |date=December 15, 2015 |journal=Music Times |url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/58394/20151215/aimee-mann-ted-leo-release-new-christmas-song-youre-gift-both.htm |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128162132/http://www.musictimes.com/articles/58394/20151215/aimee-mann-ted-leo-release-new-christmas-song-youre-gift-both.htm |archivedate=2016-01-28 }}</ref> <ref name=conseq2014>{{cite web |title=Ted Leo and Aimee Mann: On Being The Both |first=Kenneth |last=Partridge |work=Consequence of Sound |date=April 14, 2014 |url=https://consequence.net/2014/04/ted-leo-and-aimee-mann-on-being-the-both/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514195843/http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/04/ted-leo-and-aimee-mann-on-being-the-both/ |archive-date=2014-05-14 }}</ref> <ref name=mervis2014>{{cite news |title=Aimee Mann, Ted Leo combine their divergent talents in new duo project |date=May 1, 2014 |last=Mervis |first=Scott |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2014/05/01/Aimee-Mann-Ted-Leo-combine-their-divergent-talents-in-new-duo-project/stories/201405010140 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502061424/http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2014/05/01/Aimee-Mann-Ted-Leo-combine-their-divergent-talents-in-new-duo-project/stories/201405010140 |archivedate=2014-05-02 }}</ref> <ref name=phillymag2014>{{cite journal |journal=Philadelphia Magazine | title=Photos: The Both at Union Transfer |first=Christian Sarkis |last=Graham |date=May 5, 2014 |url=http://www.phillymag.com/ticket/2014/05/05/photos-union-transfer/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513135939/http://www.phillymag.com/ticket/2014/05/05/photos-union-transfer/ |archivedate=2014-05-13 }}</ref> <ref name=xpnkey>{{cite web |title=A casual night of rock and conversation as Ted Leo and Aimee Mann's The Both headline Union Transfer |first=Chris |last=Sikich |work=The Key |publisher=WXPN |location=Philadelphia, PA |date=May 5, 2014 |url=http://thekey.xpn.org/2014/05/05/a-casual-night-of-rock-and-conversation-as-ted-leo-and-aimee-manns-the-both-headline-union-transfer/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513140226/http://thekey.xpn.org/2014/05/05/a-casual-night-of-rock-and-conversation-as-ted-leo-and-aimee-manns-the-both-headline-union-transfer/ |archivedate=2014-05-13 }}</ref> <ref name=portland2014>{{cite news |last=Miliard|first=Mike|title=Aimee Mann and Ted Leo join forces |date=April 24, 2014 |url=http://portland.thephoenix.com/music/158126-aimee-mann-and-ted-leo-join-forces |journal=Portland Phoenix |location=Portland, Maine |archivedate=2014-05-02 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502003005/http://portland.thephoenix.com/music/158126-aimee-mann-and-ted-leo-join-forces }}</ref> <ref name=luerssen2014>{{cite magazine|title=Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Join Forces as the Both |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/aimee-mann-and-ted-leo-join-forces-as-the-both-song-premiere-20140124 |date=January 24, 2014 |magazine=Rolling Stone |first=John D. |last=Luerssen| url-status=live| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129164842/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/aimee-mann-and-ted-leo-join-forces-as-the-both-song-premiere-20140124 |archivedate=2014-01-29 }}</ref> <ref name=both-about-jan2014>{{cite web| last=Willman| first=Chris |title=About |work=The Both |date=January 2014 |url=http://the-both.com/about |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416163945/http://the-both.com/about |archivedate=2014-04-16 }}</ref> <ref name=gottlieb>{{cite news |title=Aimee Mann, Ted Leo reveal Both sides of their story |website=The Edge |publisher=The Boston Herald |date=April 15, 2014 |first=Jed |last=Gottlieb |url=https://bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/music_news/2014/04/both_aimee_mann_ted_leo_combine_on_great_debut |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420024908/http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/music_news/2014/04/aimee_mann_ted_leo_reveal_both_sides_of_their_story |archivedate=2014-04-20 }}</ref> <ref name=mann-bothnews>{{cite web |last=Mann |first=Aimee |date=March 2013 |title=Announcing Shows by #BOTH (Aimee Mann & Ted Leo) |url=http://www.aimeemann.com/news_item&NewsID=3765647609951 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130302064228/http://www.aimeemann.com/news_item%26NewsID%3D3765647609951 |archivedate=2013-03-02 |access-date=2019-08-01 }}</ref> <ref name=billboard-trust>{{cite magazine |title=Aimee Mann, Ted Leo Bring The Both To Brooklyn: Live Review |first=Gary |last=Trust | date=May 2, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6077188/aimee-mann-ted-leo-bring-the-both-to-brooklyn-live-review |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513140636/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6077188/aimee-mann-ted-leo-bring-the-both-to-brooklyn-live-review |archivedate=2014-05-13 }}</ref> <ref name=billboard2014>{{cite magazine |title=Ted Leo & Aimee Mann Q&A: On The Both, Learning To Collaborate and Their Musical Theater Future |first=Andrew |last=Flanagan |date=April 25, 2014 |magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6069985/ted-leo-aimee-mann-qa-on-the-both-learning-to-collaborate-and-their-musical |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425215100/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6069985/ted-leo-aimee-mann-qa-on-the-both-learning-to-collaborate-and-their-musical |archivedate=2014-04-25 }}</ref> <ref name=spin-fonz>{{cite journal |title=Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, as the Both, Bronze the Fonz on Punchy 'Milwaukee' |first=Marc |last=Hogan |date=January 24, 2014 |journal=Spin |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/01/aimee-mann-ted-leo-the-both-milwaukee-fonz-stream/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203232910/https://www.spin.com/2014/01/aimee-mann-ted-leo-the-both-milwaukee-fonz-stream/ |archivedate=2014-02-03 }}</ref> <ref name=spin2013>{{cite journal |last=Hogan |first=Marc |title=She & He: Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Form #BOTH |date=February 22, 2013 |journal=Spin |url=https://www.spin.com/2013/02/aimee-mann-ted-leo-both-collaboration-hashtag-shows/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223173141/https://www.spin.com/2013/02/aimee-mann-ted-leo-both-collaboration-hashtag-shows/ |archivedate=2014-02-23 }}</ref> <ref name=bbchart1>{{cite web |title=The Both Album & Song Chart History |work=Billboard 200 for The Both |date=May 3, 2014 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200?page=2 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428200419/http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200?page=2 |archivedate=2014-04-28 }}</ref> <ref name=bbchart2>{{cite web |title=The Both Album & Song Chart History |work=Billboard Independent Albums for The Both |date=May 3, 2014 |url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums?page=1 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428193156/http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums?page=1 |archivedate=2014-04-28 }}</ref> }}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{allMusic|id=mn0003222098|label=The Both}}
{{Authority control}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:The Both}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Both, The}} Category:American alternative rock groups Category:American musical duos Category:American rock music supergroups Category:Male–female musical duos Category:Musical groups established in 2013 Category:Aimee Mann Category:2013 establishments in the United States