Slam Dunk Bites: Milk Teeth

Over the coming weeks, Already Heard will be highlighting a variety of bands set to play the Slam Dunk Festival later this month.

Stroud quartet Milk Teeth have been earmarked as one of the UK’s most promising rock bands. Following on from appearances at festivals such as Download, Reading and Leeds, and 2000 Trees in recent years, they’re set to add the Slam Dunk Festival to that list. It marks a new start for the band having joined Roadrunner Records with the first of two EPs, ‘Be Nice’ set to be released in July. From the grunge/punk beginnings, they have grown stylistically with new single ‘Owning Your Okayness’ embracing pop sensibilities with flourishing results.

With a busy summer of headline shows and festival spots following Slam Dunk, we grabbed a word with an excited guitarist Chris Webb as he prepares to make his Slam Dunk debut.

AH: So Slam Dunk is the start of a new chapter for Milk Teeth. How are you feeling about making your SDF debut?
Chris: Excitement! Like you said it’s our first time there and we have a new single to play so all the reasons to be excited. Plus we’re on the Signature Brew stage, which features a lot the bands we played with last year. It’s gonna be a real mates fest.

AH: We’re guessing you’ve attended the festival in the past? If so, are there any standout moments?
Chris: We went to the Birmingham date last year and it was my first time at any Slam Dunk after hearing of it for years and I was completely blown away by the size of it! Plus watching Set Your Goals was the best thing ever.

AH: You’re no strangers to playing UK festivals. What do you think Slam Dunk offers that other festivals don’t?
Chris: I think it does so well because it appeals to all kinds of music fans and age groups. I mean what other festival has Enter Shikari headlining but also a Ska stage? There is literally something for everyone.

AH: You’re playing alongside the likes of Against Me!, The Bronx, Frank Iero & The Patience and, recent tour mates, Puppy. Who are you looking forward to watching over the weekend?
Chris: Literally every band you just mentioned! But if we’re not talking bands we know then I guess I’m most excited for Enter Shikari playing ‘Take To The Skies’ in full. I’m probably showing my age here but I don’t think I’ve seen them since they played the release tour for it, so it’s gonna take me right back to my youth.

AH: We’ve seen you tour quite a bit throughout the UK over the past year or so. But for those who haven’t seen Milk Teeth live yet, what can they expect?
Chris: People always say we are way heavier live so I guess there’s that? I’m not really sure because I’ve never seen us play from the outside but we always try and have as much fun as we can. We pride ourselves on our live shows. A lot of energy and broken gear.

AH: With you moving over to a label like Roadrunner Records, do you feel any extra pressure to deliver when you’re playing a festival like Slam Dunk?
Chris: Well I was chill about it until you said that ha ha. I mean I guess so, when a band signs to a major label people expect a higher caliber of music/live show. But no pressure, I’m just looking forward to seeing how the crowd reacts to our new stuff live. Slam Dunk will be the first time we’ve played ‘Owning Your Okayness’ live.

‘Be Nice’ EP by Milk Teeth is released on 28th July on Roadrunner Records.

Milk Teeth will be playing at 3:10pm on the Signature Brew Stage at Slam Dunk Festival on all three dates.

Milk Teeth links: Facebook|Twitter

Milk Teeth will support the release of their ‘Be Nice’ EP with various festival appearances and a headline tour, where they will be supported by Employed To Serve and Wallflower:

May
27th Slam Dunk Festival, Birmingham
28th Slam Dunk Festival, Leeds
29th Slam Dunk Festival, Hatfield
July
8th 2000 Trees Festival (main stage)
23rd Amplified Festival
27th The Flapper, Birmingham (headline show)
28th Star and Garter, Manchester (headline show)
29th The Plug, Sheffield (headline show)
30th King Tuts, Glasgow (headline show)
31st The Key Club, Leeds (headline show)
August
1st Bodega, Nottingham (headline show)
2nd Epic Studios, Norwich (headline show)
3rd Joiners, Southampton (headline show)
4th Borderline, London (headline show)
5th Hit The Deck Festival, Bristol