Sometimes, an informal coming together can lead to the best collaborations.
Levi Henry, the lead singer and guitarist of rising band Teeth, had a residency in Rochester, where bassist Josiah Smith and drummer Nick Novotny reside. With no long-term plan, the pair joined Henry for a couple shows, and the trio hit it off, leading to occasional performances when they could all get together.
Playing the Big Turn Festival in 2023 forced them to choose a name for their project, and Teeth was born. The nature of the band's beginning is part of the draw for Henry.
"It was very informal, very spontaneous and just kind of all around magical," he said on Headwaters on KAXE June 6. "Everything just kind of fell into place."
From there, Teeth has relied on their buzzed-about occasional live shows (and hilarious dentistry-related social media) to raise their profile. With no recorded music to check out for those interested, a good explanation of their sound is in their Instagram bio.
"MN blues/rock band. Overhyped and underprepared is the pocket we thrive."
Henry referenced modern-day blues revival groups like The Black Keys and Brothers Landreth as inspirations, saying, "It's very groove-centric. Just stuff that feels good."
For drummer Novotny, improvisation is a big part of their music.
"For the folks that have seen us before, you're not gonna get the same thing twice, which is super fun for coming back and seeing us again," he said, "It's been a while since I've been in something this flexible."
The pair was on Headwaters in anticipation of their appearance on the KAXE-hosted side stage of Festival Rialto. The following day, their set was a great showcase of their energetic live show.
For more on Teeth, listen to the full interview above. To find out where you can see the band next, watch for updates on their Instagram page.
This conversation was made possible by the citizens of Minnesota through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
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