“Ball of the Dead Rat”
from the album You’re My Lover Now
2007
iTunes
MP3 – “Ball of the Dead Rat” [right-click/save-as]
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, came out yesterday via Park the Van. The Teeth lineup also includes lead guitarist Brian Ashby and drummer Jonas Oesterle.
The Teeth have been known to sport every out-of-date accessory they can find from fanny packs to handlebar mustaches, but their comical appearance and rowdy stage show belies the seriousness behind their music.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.
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 says. 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.