“Arguably born the wrong side of the North Atlantic and of a bygone era: one where oiled boots and thick trousers stomped the streets of New York City, it’d be rational to assume the nomadic Cheap Teeth were part of this scene given their aptitude for deep vocal melodies, howling guitars and romantic organ breaks.
Their hastily ratified DIY style deals in post-punk refrains alloyed with West-Coast garage rock influences, spawning raucous live performances which would more than reconcile a 70s CBGB gig and provide the proverbial blood, sweat and tears.
Their ligature to one another hugely trajects despite the unit forging through childhood bestfriends, a chance encounter and a drummer being procured from Gumtree. The multifaceted four-piece found base in Edinburgh and have quickly loosened many a stiff neck in the Scottish capital. With mordancy, their affable and virile tones consisting of soft growls and brash shouted vocals have spun several heads, resulting in the winning the esteemed T-Break award in 2017.
With songs influenced by an 8 week-long jury-service, a run-in with religious cultists and the suicide of an Uncle, the band’s lyrics span dark themes combined with a playfulness which juxtapose one another in an ironic and extremely satisfying manner.
Flexible punk wordage & rickety lo-fi guitar vocabulary, coupled with cinematic organ fills are what the band dispense. These erratic soundscapes are accessories to the focused song writing & poised lyrical verse which encapsulate patrons at a stroke.
The band’s first release of Fly on the Wall / The Vicar’s Fingers received critical acclaim from the likes of NME labelling them “deliciously grim.” A direct result of having recorded the tracks at Glasgow’s Green Door Studio with Sweaty Palms’ Ronan Fay twitching the faders. Following their debut release, Cheap Teeth returned to Green Door’s velveteen walls, purloining the 70s once more, by releasing Ageless (Half the Devil). The band’s live spectre is what might be most enthralling. Replicating their racket, a Cheap Teeth performance consists of every good vintage gig proverb. Their live vigour & intoxicating demeanour has led them to support the likes of Hinds & Sports Team which speaks volumes for the energy being showcased.
The band’s next release came in the form of the unapologetic single ‘The Wind and the Rain’. A brutish anthem inspired by a conflict of fear and hope, with ultimately the acceptance of one’s fate. Referencing iconic storylines of ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Citizen Kane’ the band sought guidance from western culture in an effort to seek understanding of untimely societal dilemmas.
The track was the result of the band reflecting on previous outings and acknowledgement of the live atmosphere, returning with a considered emphasis on the aspects that excited listeners across Scotland. The track was the first offering from heavily lauded EP ‘Give Me More, Show Me Less’, a homage to the absurdities and oddities the band experienced at an early age whilst honouring the outlook and emotions that such events precipitated. The EP provides an observation of society that may initially appear nihilistic but procures the playfulness of a tongue-in-cheek realisation of why many people have done wrong before. Less of a warning but more a consideration of past mistakes and the ability to find the positivity amongst them.
The EP was the band’s first creation with producer Chris McCrory [Catholic Action, Walt Disco] at Glasgow’s Chem 19 studios and complimented their honest analogue approach. With a fresh reel of tape fit to burst with 2020 angst, headline shows selling out, national radio & press ovation, with the likes of BBC Radio 6 & NME on board, the band are now relishing the return of live music. ‘