Local Band Gets Happy and Fuzzy

The seven-three-two concert series at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County library is also the first Toms River concert for Tiny Teeth. Whether you lump them into folk-punk or 'shy basement punk,' the trio will be bringing some sparkly tunes to the Wednesday audience. Guitarist and song writer Christina answered our questions heading into this week's concert. 

Q: Give us some straight-up About You type stuff. A brief history of your band.

We all live in a house in Elizabeth and we play music for fun.  I played a toy piano in a bunch of recordings that I made last year, so we decided on the name Tiny Teeth. We’ve all been in bunches of bands.  Gary and Phil are still currently members of Mister Snake and Slaw respectively, and the last band I was in was Toms River-based Foxes & Lions.

Q: What is the current line-up of your band and when did you form?

I play guitar and make words, Gary plays bass, and Phil plays sparkly drums.  We kind of just “happened” sometime in October because we all play music and live together.

Q: What genre would you describe your music as/what bands have you been compared to?

Well…we’ll probably get lumped into the category of folk-punk, and someone along the line will probably say that we sound like This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, because that’s seems to happen to most of the bands I’ve been a part of.  One of my friends that I showed a recording to said we sound happy and fuzzy, which is probably a bit more accurate.

Q: What is your favorite place to perform at on the Jersey Shore and why?

Asbury Lanes is easily my favorite venue in New Jersey.  The staff is amazingly friendly and it is just an awesome place to hang out, even when there isn’t a show going on.  It’s a bar, bowling alley, and venue that has ever-changing art exhibits from local artists.  Do I really have to say more?  Apart from the Lanes, it’s always the most fun to play house shows, particularly in New Brunswick because everyone there is super nice.

Q: Any recent news from the group--new music, big shows, upcoming tours?

We’re probably going to play a bunch of house shows and put out a tape sometime this winter.

Q: What can we expect from a live show?

Kind of loud, kind of shy, kind of catchy tunes.  Smiling ghosts.  If I’m feeling adventurous I also tend to do nerdy things like make lyric books to hand out so people can sing along if they want to.

Q: What are some of your biggest musical influences?

Our major influences would be some combination of Dinosaur Jr., Joy Division, and Defiance Ohio plus whatever that feeling is that happens when you see a cute baby animal.

Q: What does your upcoming show calendar look like? Where can we hear your music?

Our first show is at the library!  It is December 15 at 7 p.m. in Mancini Hall at the in Downtown Toms River, and it’s free!  You can check out some demos at tinyteethnj.bandcamp.com.

Q: How do we find out more about you?

We have a Tumblr that you can check for shows and junk at tinyteethtunes.tumblr.com.

Q: Anything else to add?

Our tape, should we make one, will NOT be called Jagged Little Phil