Milk Teeth
A stop at Epic Studios marked the half way point of Bristol punks Milk Teeth’s biggest UK tour to date. In support of lates EP Be Nice, it’s an impressive show, but not without its flaws.
Be Nice is not just the title of Milk Teeth’s new four-track EP, but very much an ethos of theirs, it seems. The foursome bound on stage to a montage of the Star Wars theme tune, Smash Mouth, and more, all smiles from the off. Getting down to business, Owning Your Okayness is a bombardment of scuzzy riffs and anthemic one-liner lyrics, while Prism oozes sticky bass, and boasts a huge chorus. There’s a fun vibe in the room, made epically cooler by the huge sheets of lights on the back wall, giving the room a hazy 90s MTV feel.
While the band kick and snarl on stage – “take a fucking step forward and enjoy yourselves!” yells guitarist Chris Webb – the crowd are half hearted. The room isn’t full but it’s not empty either, just empty enough that self consciousness gets the better of some. The sound is sub standard too in the glossy TV studio; in a smaller room like The Owl Sanctuary or Waterfront Studio, the atmosphere would be miles better, and sweatier too.
But the band do well to keep up morale, and a mosh is sustained for the best part of the show. What’s noticeable is the most energetic attendees are young girls, a nice reminder of Milk Teeth’s take-no-bullshit approach towards making their gigs a safe space for all fans, a topic lead singer Becky Blomfield has been vocal about in the past. Snapbacks and neon hair flail to the grungey deliciousness, and by the time Hibernate rolls around, everyone’s considerably worn out. Nice one gang, come back soon.
