Interview: My First Tooth

How the devil are you?

Jo: I'm super, thank you.

Gareth: I've got a chest infection, but the antibiotics seem to be working. Aside from that, fine and dandy.

Ross: Great! I correctly diagnosed Gareth - I'll probably be a doctor soon.

Soph: Very well, thanks! I'm just about to go and watch Wall Street!

Before this tour started, were you able to take some time out to be at home in Northampton?

J: Yeah, we've had a bit of time off from solid touring and it's been nice to have time to catch up with friends, family, bad TV, etc. I get itchy feet pretty quickly though, so I'm really excited to be going back on tour.

S: Well, I live in Manchester ‘cos I'm doing one of those degree things, so no! Although I do to and fro between Manc and N-Town for practice and suchlike. We've been easing ourselves back into touring with a few gigs, but now the real deal has just started…

If people haven’t seen My First Tooth play live before, give them a reason to see you on this autumn jaunt.

G: They'll get a lot more of a rock ‘n' roll show than they probably bargained for. It's worth coming just to see Sophie frantically swapping instruments around.

R: I have two whole pedals dedicated to distortion.

Your album Territories was released on Monday. For the uninitiated, what can people expect from it?

J: I guess the album is more representative of My First Tooth as a band as we exist now. It's much closer to our live show than the EP.

G: It's more of a band effort than the EP. It's a lot more dynamic - the loud bits are louder, the quiet bits are quieter, the good bits are better and the bad bits didn't make it onto the record.

Given that Alcopop! put out your singles, is it reassuring to know that your album release has been in safe, familiar hands?

S: Oh yeah! Alcopop! is a fine fine label and we are proud to be a part of it. Plus [label boss] Jack is really handsome.

J: It really is. Also, the Alcopop! roster is made up of some excellent bands containing wonderful people. At the risk of making it all a bit ‘Waltons’, Alcopop! definitely feels like a little family.

G: If there's a safer pair of hands in the country, I haven't caressed them. The bands all get on really well and Jack works his arse off for everyone. I'm not sure what kind of family that makes us. Working class, single parent?

Have you come across any new bands or songwriters on your travels who Artrocker should be keeping an eye on?

J: I saw Dutch Uncles recently and I think I love them. We've been lucky enough to play with some great bands on our travels in the last year - October Game, Candle Thieves and Poppy and Friends spring to mind.

G: I agree about Dutch Uncles - they blew me away. I firmly believe that Screaming Maldini will end up making one of the most bonkers brilliant records of our generation.

S: Elephants. They are brill! I saw a band called Wot Gorilla? At Leeds and they were good too.

Has 2010 gone too quickly?

J: Yup, it's flown by. But, saying that, I’m so excited that Territories is finally going to be out.

G: It certainly seems like it, but I'm very punctual so it means that I haven't missed too much of it. We've managed to cram quite a lot in so you'll get no complaints from me.

S: YES. Oh my god yes actually. I'd never thought about that 'til just now. Aaargh!

R: Yes, but the memories are a powerful antidote. Did I just say that?

My First Tooth’s tour continues in Bristol tomorrow (Thursday) night at Mother’s Ruin. Their album ‘Territories’ can be ordered from the Alcopop! Shop HERE