Breaking Artist: The Teeth Fight Their Way to Indie-Rock Success

Who Philadelphia quartet whose new album, You're My Lover Now, seems to channel the Kinks, the Who, and some burnout folkie we've never heard of -- all Brit-poppy harmonies, scrappy energy and weirdly endearing touches. The Teeth are fronted by twin brothers Peter and Aaron MoDavis, who formed The Teeth with two buddies after moving to Philly in 2001. "We were called the Pants," Aaron says. "We just wanted a name that didn't try to sound deep." The Teeth have persevered through shitty shows and some not-so-great jobs, including a pizza and cheesesteak joint where three members still work. Nowadays, though, things are looking up for The Teeth: Lover has gotten strong reviews, and The Teeth recently toured with their buddies Dr. Dog. "It's going well," Aaron says. "People are coming to shows all over the country, and we're makin' cash -- a little at least."

Brotherly Love As Lover shows, The Teeth are meticulous about crafting harmonies, melodies, chord changes and such. But sometimes their attention to detail leads to intra-band scrapes -- both onstage and off. "I gave Aaron shit about this one chord change," Peter Modavis says. "He flipped over a couch and I attacked him. We have a video where you can see his black eye."

Hear It Now Bite down hard on "The Ball of the Dead Rat," a hot track from You're My Lover Now.

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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