Pianos Become the Teeth
Encyclopedia
Pianos Become the Teeth is an American rock band that formed in 2006. They perform a style of music inspired by post-rock
and early screamo
acts, and are a part of "The Wave"—a newly developed regional scene of post-hardcore
music. The group reissued their well received debut album Old Pride in 2010 through Topshelf Records.
, Maryland
. Their first release, the Saltwater EP, was released in 2008 through Doomed by Dawn Records. In early 2009 Pianos Become the Teeth released a split EP with Ezra Joyce. Their contributed track, "Creatures of Habit," was a darker song similar to the material that was recorded for their follow-up first full-length.
Pianos Become the Teeth released their debut album, Old Pride in 2009 through Blackjaw Records. They subsequently signed to Topshelf Recordings in October 2009, and reissued their debut album in January 2010 through digital media outlets and on CD. The Topshelf version of Old Pride saw a much wider release that was met with much acclaim. Andrew Kelham of Rock Sound
gave the album a nine out of ten, and wrote that "With a why-just-write-a-song-when-you-can-write-an-epic attitude, the eight songs on their second record are distinguished, articulate and immersive as their juddering post-hardcore clashes with moments of Explosions in the Sky
rivalling tenderness and Mogwai
-esque grandeur." Writing for Alternative Press, Brian Shultz gave the album four out of five stars and said that the group has, "quietly refined their craft over the last few years into an incredibly cathartic and sporadically chilling mode. Their screamo peers--past or present--should be more than envious." Old Pride was released on vinyl in June 2010 as a joint release through Topshelf Records and Mayfly Records. In support of the album, Pianos Become the Teeth toured the US with Touche Amore
and Lemuria
.
In October 2010, Pianos Become the Teeth released a split EP with The Saddest Landscape through Just Say No! Records.
bands that share similar ideologies. Other figures in The Wave include La Dispute
, Touché Amoré
, Defeater
and Make Do and Mend
. The bands in this movement perform with "emotionally-centered lyrical content, dual musical emphasis on both melody and distorted intensity."
Musically, Pianos Become the Teeth write songs influenced by early screamo
acts such as City of Caterpillar
and Funeral Diner
, and also post-rock
bands like This Will Destroy You
. In an interview with Staircase Thoughts, the band described being labeled as screamo as "flattering in some respects," but ultimately didn't want to be pigeonholed as a "screamo band."
Vocalist Kyle Durfey writes very personal lyrics that often discuss events in his life, or about dwelling on the future and growing up. Specifically on their album Old Pride, Durfey wrote about, "how you have this 'young fire' when you're younger and you have to have an 'old pride' to feel right about your life." The track "Cripples Can't Shiver" outlines Durfey's father, and how his struggles with multiple sclerosis
impacted his life. In an interview with Hearwax, Kyle Durfey commented on writing dark lyrics, stating "I feel like most of us and most bands we are into tend to write about darker things. It's hard to write when you're happy. This doesn't mean we aren't happy as people."
Former members
Split EPs
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
and early screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...
acts, and are a part of "The Wave"—a newly developed regional scene of post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
music. The group reissued their well received debut album Old Pride in 2010 through Topshelf Records.
Early years and Old Pride (2006–2010)
Pianos Become the Teeth formed in late 2006 in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Their first release, the Saltwater EP, was released in 2008 through Doomed by Dawn Records. In early 2009 Pianos Become the Teeth released a split EP with Ezra Joyce. Their contributed track, "Creatures of Habit," was a darker song similar to the material that was recorded for their follow-up first full-length.
Pianos Become the Teeth released their debut album, Old Pride in 2009 through Blackjaw Records. They subsequently signed to Topshelf Recordings in October 2009, and reissued their debut album in January 2010 through digital media outlets and on CD. The Topshelf version of Old Pride saw a much wider release that was met with much acclaim. Andrew Kelham of Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
gave the album a nine out of ten, and wrote that "With a why-just-write-a-song-when-you-can-write-an-epic attitude, the eight songs on their second record are distinguished, articulate and immersive as their juddering post-hardcore clashes with moments of Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky
Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, what they refer to as "cathartic mini-symphonies," and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows...
rivalling tenderness and Mogwai
Mogwai
The word mogwai is the transliteration of the Cantonese word 魔怪 meaning "monster", "evil spirit", "devil" or "demon".-Mogwai/Mogui in Chinese culture:...
-esque grandeur." Writing for Alternative Press, Brian Shultz gave the album four out of five stars and said that the group has, "quietly refined their craft over the last few years into an incredibly cathartic and sporadically chilling mode. Their screamo peers--past or present--should be more than envious." Old Pride was released on vinyl in June 2010 as a joint release through Topshelf Records and Mayfly Records. In support of the album, Pianos Become the Teeth toured the US with Touche Amore
Touche Amore
Touché Amoré is an American melodic hardcore band that was formed in 2007.The band released their debut 7" demo on No Sleep Records in September 2008. After a few west coast tours, the band went back into the studio to record their full length entitled ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse. The album was...
and Lemuria
Lemuria (band)
Lemuria is an indie/punk rock band from Buffalo, New York formed in 2004. Lemuria has recently released their "The First Collection" EP compilation and the LP, "Get Better"...
.
In October 2010, Pianos Become the Teeth released a split EP with The Saddest Landscape through Just Say No! Records.
The Lack Long After (2011)
In January 2011, the Pianos Become the Teeth had begun writing a new album, and described the new songs as being "darker and heavier" than previous material, and that they would not become "Old Pride part 2," alluding to new musical direction. Recording began on August 1, 2011 at Developing Nations Studio with producer Kevin Bernsten. Topshelf Records will release The Lack Long After on November 1, 2011, with a supporting tour with Touche Amore and Seahaven expected to follow shortly after.Musical style and lyrics
Pianos Become the Teeth is a prominent band in "The Wave," a new generation of post-hardcorePost-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
bands that share similar ideologies. Other figures in The Wave include La Dispute
La Dispute (band)
La Dispute is a five piece band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that formed in 2004. As of 2011, they have released two albums and seven EPs. La Dispute consists of lead vocalist Jordan Dreyer, drummer Brad Vander Lugt, guitarists Chad Sterenberg and Kevin Whittemore and bass guitarist Adam Vass.The...
, Touché Amoré
Touche Amore
Touché Amoré is an American melodic hardcore band that was formed in 2007.The band released their debut 7" demo on No Sleep Records in September 2008. After a few west coast tours, the band went back into the studio to record their full length entitled ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse. The album was...
, Defeater
Defeater (band)
Defeater is a hardcore punk band from Massachusetts, USA. To date they have released two full length albums, an EP and a single. The band lineup consists of Derek Archambault , Jay Maas , Jake Woodruff , Andy Reitz and Mike Poulin...
and Make Do and Mend
Make Do and Mend
Make Do and Mend is an American post-hardcore band from West Hartford, Connecticut, United States, that formed in 2006, who now live in Boston, Massachusetts. They have released 2 EP's on Panic Records, a split with Touché Amoré and a full length in 2010 on Panic Records and Paper + Plastick...
. The bands in this movement perform with "emotionally-centered lyrical content, dual musical emphasis on both melody and distorted intensity."
Musically, Pianos Become the Teeth write songs influenced by early screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...
acts such as City of Caterpillar
City of Caterpillar
City of Caterpillar was an American band, from Richmond, Virginia. They released a split with pg. 99, a full length album, and an album-length compilation of their demo and some live tracks....
and Funeral Diner
Funeral Diner
Funeral Diner was a screamo band from Half Moon Bay, California, located approximately 25 miles south of San Francisco, playing self-described "screamy, chaotic, melodic hardcore." During the last few years, the band has established a strong cult fanbase through a near constant string of releases...
, and also post-rock
Post-rock
Post-rock is a subgenre of rock music characterized by the influence and use of instruments commonly associated with rock, but using rhythms and "guitars as facilitators of timbre and textures" not traditionally found in rock...
bands like This Will Destroy You
This Will Destroy You
This Will Destroy You, often abbreviated to TWDY, is an American post-rock band from San Marcos, Texas, formed in 2005. The band consists of guitarists Jeremy Galindo and Chris King, bass player and keyboardist Donovan Jones and drummer Alex Bhore...
. In an interview with Staircase Thoughts, the band described being labeled as screamo as "flattering in some respects," but ultimately didn't want to be pigeonholed as a "screamo band."
Vocalist Kyle Durfey writes very personal lyrics that often discuss events in his life, or about dwelling on the future and growing up. Specifically on their album Old Pride, Durfey wrote about, "how you have this 'young fire' when you're younger and you have to have an 'old pride' to feel right about your life." The track "Cripples Can't Shiver" outlines Durfey's father, and how his struggles with multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
impacted his life. In an interview with Hearwax, Kyle Durfey commented on writing dark lyrics, stating "I feel like most of us and most bands we are into tend to write about darker things. It's hard to write when you're happy. This doesn't mean we aren't happy as people."
Members
Current members- Kyle Durfey – vocals
- David Haik – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Chad McDonald – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Zac Sewell – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mike York – guitar
Former members
- Josh Regensburg – bass
- Matt Williams – keyboard, vocals
Discography
Studio releases- 2008: Saltwater (EP)
- 2009: Old Pride
- 2011: The Lack Long After
Split EPs
- 2009: Split with Ezra Joyce
- 2010: Split with The Saddest Landscape
External links
- Pianos Become the Teeth at Topshelf Records