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The Teeth

Who? This ragtag Philadelphia foursome, fronted by twin brothers Aaron (guitar) and Peter MoDavis (bass/vocals), has hooked a small army of fans with their frenetic live shows and their dark, intelligent recordings, the most recent of which, You’re My Lover Now out May 22 via Park the Van. The Teeth lineup also includes lead guitarist Brian Ashby and drummer Jonas Oesterle.

What’s the Deal? The Teeth have been known to sport every out-of-date accessory they can find from fanny packs to handlebar mustaches, but their comical appearance and rowdy stage show belies the seriousness behind their music. The indie rock quartet slaves over every note during the recording process, taking as long as three years between releases to form Jerry Lee Lewis’ sock hop guitar riffs, Tom Waits’ sour growling lyrics, and Brian Wilson’s harmonies into dark opuses, like Lover‘s title track, that their fans can dance to.

Fun Fact: Drummer Jonas Oesterle enjoys singing songs about his hometown — Kennett Square, PA — while taking his morning shower. “I just grab the rag and get to it,” Oesterle tells SPIN.com. He maintains his allegiance to Kennett Square and cleanliness and thinks that anyone who wants a solid foundation in life should do the same. Kennett Square has a population of 10,000 people and it is the mushroom capital of the world. LAVINIA WRIGHT

Now Hear This:
The Teeth – “Ball of the Dead Rat” DOWNLOAD MP3

Now Watch This:
The Teeth – “Yellow” https://www.youtube.com/embed/ILD6LlDlfno

On the Web:

The Teeth at MySpace
theteeth.net

Talk: Will you be the Teeth’s lover now?

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