Cleanteeth Interview

1. For those that have never heard of you before can you tell us a little bit about the band?

We are artists that attempt to create what I believe is the most accessible music ever made, just so that we can really make a name for ourselves in the world of popular music. Or we are a bunch of dudes who like to play loud, noisy, soul shattering heavy music and don't care who approves.  

2.How would you describe your musical sound for those that have yet to hear the band?

There aren't a lot of bands we all collectively like, but you can definitely tell where the crossovers are.  That's really the best way to describe our sound -- by our more direct influences.  Godflesh, Neurosis, Harkonen, KARP and Jesus Lizard were probably the main ones we really came together on over the years.  And literally every time we go on tour, once a day James utters the phrase "DUUUUDE we should listen to Botch!".  So somewhere between those things -- we really like to hit hard with riffs and repetition, then get really abrasive and noisy, then occasionally a little melodic.  "Beard Impregnating Doom Metal" is probably the best description ever.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

We go pretty much everywhere.  My favorite thing in the world to do is write lyrics that might resemble a series of dick jokes, but in actuality deals with very dark, personal issues that we have shared throughout the history of the band.  On this record, the most common themes are religion (I grew up in the South), drugs and addiction, mental illness, and NASCAR (I grew up in the South and James is a recovering Catholic).

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name Cleanteeth?

It's like your mind's teeth and you're supposed to bite off a piece of the sonic doom wall and chew on it with your incisors until your teeth are worn down to nubs.  It's the spiritual experience that you get when you... okay nevermind, it was the best sounding name in a long list of nonsense.  

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

We have played some really incredible shows with bands like Eyehategod, Weedeater, Kylesa, and tons of others but there is nothing better than playing with our friends from all over the country.  We always have the most fun with bands like Colossus (NC), the Ascent of Everest (TN), The Osedax (VA) or all the local bros like Sannhet, Meek Is Murder, and Godmaker.  On stage, we play way too loud and in between songs I constantly get yelled at for making fun of everyone at the show because I am a dick.

6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Our record release show will be at the infamous Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn on October 13th, and we'll be in DC in early December with The Osedax. We will most likely be touring again in 2014, and I will start stabbing people if we don't play Roadburn soon.

7.The new album came out on Dullest Records, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?

This is a total DIY label run by a couple of guys named Danny and Luis outside of Philadelphia.  We met them on a tour with The Osedax and Danny's band Hollenlarm last year, and really loved them as people and their taste.  These are guys who just put out music that they want to put out, no bullshit attached.  It is super refreshing to meet people that are still putting out music without the concern of making money back, becuase god knows they won't see a dime on this one.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal?

People seem either very receptive to what we do, or very confused.  We are definitely a heavy band, but we sometimes don't fit in with the more "metal" shows.  Typically stoners seem to enjoy us, and I have no idea why.

9. What is going on with the other musical projects these days?

Kenny plays in another band called White Widows Pact and is also the drummer for Goes Cube.  James has an electronic side project called Ghost Tuxedo, and Drew has been dabbling with some very interesting new things as well.  I just launched a new Chicago/NYC record label called Gypsyblood with Steve from the Atlas Moth and my brother Rob that will be putting out a shitload of records in the coming months.

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

We already have some stuff written for an EP we plan to release in 2014.  Hopefully we could include some recordings of a few of the covers we've done more recently as well, because they are tons of fun to do.  We love playing heavy music, so we pretty much will keep trying to write songs that are heavier than the previous ones.

11.What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you lsitening to nowadays?

We all listen to a lot of metal obviously, like I said -- Godflesh, Harkonen, Neurosis (the obvious ones).  We've all been very partial to the new KENMode, and Kowloon Walled City's newest record rules.  Sannhet's record is incredible.  I think my personal favorite albums so far this year are Faemin by Process of Guilt and Perils From The Sea by Mark Kozelek and Jimmy LaVelle.

12.Outside of music what are some of your interests?

I think we all pretty much work and play music.  Kenny works at a bar, Drew works like 3 jobs, and James is a tattoo artist/graphic designer/animator/everyman.  I run a web development company called Ashe Avenue that keeps me pretty busy.

13.Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Everything is for you, Dale, #3, the Intimidator.  Never forget.