Interview: Breakout UK punk band Milk Teeth

Photo by Andy Watson

Milk Teeth are unapologetically shaking things up and emerging as a key band to keep an eye on from across the pond. Formed in Stroud, UK, in 2013, Milk Teeth is a punk band that have paved themselves a road to the next level. Their new record Vile Child has received widespread critical acclaim, an album which Clash Magazine referred to as “12 tracks of ’90s nostalgia that segues from punk, post-hardcore, grunge and emo with wild and wilful abandon.”

Bigger stages like The Forum in London, bigger crowds like the upcoming Leeds Festival, and releasing Vile Child on their new label Hopeless Records – things are going in the right direction for this group. They are a band that seems to never quit, playing countless shows in Europe and deservedly opening a door for themselves to be seen in North America and elsewhere.

Despite all the success, it hasn’t been a completely smooth ride for them up until this point. Guitarist and vocalist Josh Bannister left the band in January right as they were set to release Vile Child. However, Milk Teeth isn’t the kind of band that lets these obstacles slow them down – they were quick to enlist their friend Billy Hutton to replace Bannister and subsequently promising “new music, videos, tours, festivals, yoyos and puppies all coming your way in 2016.” The band has certainly delivered (although we still cannot confirm the yoyos and puppies part).

Milk Teeth are headlining their own European Tour starting May 1st, after playing a set at Leeds Festival. Catch them along with Citizen, Turnover, and Sorority Noise at Ritual Nightclub tonight, presented by Spectrasonic. 16+ to get in/19+ to drink – 6pm doors – $16.50 advance + service charges
(14-15 year olds admitted with parent or guardian). Tickets available in-person at Vertigo Records or online here.

I had a quick chat with Milk Teeth’s Chris Webb, which you can read below.

Interview with Milk Teeth

Now that the band has been on Hopeless Records for a little while now, how has your day-to-day lives changed? Do you get much time to do non-music related things?

Yeah, I guess it has been a little while! Time flies when you’re having fun. But I guess so. We’ve been touring a lot more, like we’ve been on tour since February up to the end of May, with like 10 days off between it. So anytime we get off we just spend working so we can afford to eat when we’re on the road!

Now that the first LP Vile Child is out into the world, what are some places that you’ve never been to that you’d love to play a show?

Well right now we are in America, and that’s something we never dreamed would happen! It’s so much fun. But now I guess we’d like to other side of world; Australia and Asia would be sweet. Hopefully next year it can happen.

How has the band adapted to losing guitarist Josh Bannister? Were there any delays in your tour routes or doubts about the band’s future?

We saw it coming so we had time to prepare and get our man Billy Hutton to fill the spot. There was no delays as such, bill had to learn all the songs so maybe he was feeling the pressure but for us it felt like the right move. Our live show is stronger and way better than it ever has been so we’re stoked.

What would some of the biggest pieces of advice would you give kids wanting to learn instruments and start a music career in today’s climate?

Play as many shows as you can. When we were starting out we’d drive hundreds of miles to play a show for free to about 10 people. But if you play a room and you win one new fan over then it’s all worth it.

What is the worst thing anyone has ever said about your band?

Some guy said he hoped we’d drink bleach and jump in a wood chipper. That was pretty funny! But usually we just kinda laugh it off and no one has ever said it to our faces so! Everyone’s got their own opinion and that’s fine. It’s just the people that are dicks about it you gotta watch out for.

If there were one active band that you could go on tour with, who would it be?

There’s so so many bands we’d love to tour with! We love to play with as many different sounding bands as we can. But if we had to pick one then it would be Green Day. They always been a huge influence to us, so it’s gotta he them.

You guys have done a lot of touring and with the release of Vile Child, don’t seem to be slowing down. How do you keep yourselves energized and grounded?

I guess the key is being boring. Not partying to hard so you can physically still do it. I mean we have fun but we ain’t like Motley Crü! And besides, we all love playing shows so we can just keep going and going!