Date Signed: Spring 2012
Label: Dangerbird Records
Type of Music: Indie Pop
Band Members: Nora Patterson, vocals; Gary Larsen, vocals, guitar; Stevie Billeaud, guitar; Joshua Wells, bass; Andrew Poe, vocals, keys, percussion, programming; Josh Hefner, percussion.
Management: Bert Landry / Primary Wave, [email protected]
Booking: Marty Diamond / Paradigm, [email protected]
Legal: Michael L. McKoy & Reid Hunter / Serling, Rooks, Ferrara, McKoy & Worob, LLP
Publicity: Linda Carbone, [email protected]
Web: http://royalteethmusic.com
A&R: Jenni Sperandeo / Dangerbird Records.
New Orleans, LA indie pop band Royal Teeth recently made a toast. It has been a year since the six members quit their day jobs and signed to Dangerbird Records, an experience that vocalist-guitarist Gary Larsen describes as “pretty surreal and crazy.” The Halloween before last, Royal Teeth were playing at New Orleans venue The Maison. “Former CEO of Dangerbird Records, Jeff Castelaz, was there,” Larsen says. “We were excited that someone was interested in us, but we were cautious, feeling we were making a huge life decision.”
The band’s first EP with Dangerbird, Act Naturally, made a splash, particularly with inaugural single “Wild” and its placement in a Buick Verano commercial as well as appearances at SXSW, Austin City Limits and Last Call with Carson Daly. Now Royal Teeth are finishing debut LP Glow, with producer Gavin Brown (Metric, Billy Talent).
“We were very excited that someone was
interested in us, but we were cautious.”
Larsen says that Royal Teeth, like a lot of bands, weren’t looking out for a record deal so much as an opportunity to devote time to the band. “It’s really hard, especially early on, to be a band of six, working part-time jobs, and dedicate time to playing music. We knew if we had the chance to nurture that, we could, you know,” he says.
On Glow, Larsen says Dangerbird allowed the band to explore and get a clearer grasp on their sound. “It has only been over a year since we started our first tour and signed a deal. It’s great to have a label to talk to on a day-to-day basis and keep conversations on more of a friend level. I don’t know what it’s like with bigger labels, but it’s very comforting the way they’re helping us. We never felt negative pressure to have this ready. We’ve been able to make the best thing possible.”
Royal Teeth are touring the US this summer and will release Glow on Aug. 13th.
– Jessica Pace
