The Sinking Teeth treated punters to a bowl of false teeth lollies upon arrival at The Workers Club, urging them to help themselves to the well-loved treats as a “dad joke”. This set the scene for what was to come: a bit of old fashioned, goofy frivolity on stage and some excellent music for everyone to…ahem, sink their teeth into.
Band members Nick Manuell, Julian Doan, and Ben Stewart play solid power-punk, similar to Regurgitator, Refused, or Rancid. This show was to support the launch of their new single ‘Temporary Living’, taken from the upcoming EP White Water.
The single has been getting some decent airplay, and the band has performed a bunch of shows in Melbourne and interstate over the last few months to a welcoming reception.
The crowd thickened when The Sinking Teeth confidently hit the stage, with the boys swaggering playfully around and seeming very comfortable in their own skin; more like seasoned professionals than the newbies that they are.
Vocals for power-punk are difficult to pull off because they require singers to make sharp, seamless shifts between bass, baritone, and tenor. But the lead vocals sustained the stamina necessary to keep up with the ebb and flow of the music.
A third of the way through their set, the group played a stunning instrumental metal piece, so tightly constructed and flawlessly executed that it changed the atmosphere in the room considerably. It set them apart as serious musicians with excellent technical skills – no longer just another run of the mill act.
By the middle of the show, the crowd was baring blissfully smiling to the tunes of the talented trio. The front of the stage was packed and a mosh pit broke out.
Disembodied limbs appeared to flay about as the pace of the mosh quickened. Only the brave inched closer to the front. “Dad” wasn’t so dorky anymore because false teeth lollies come in handy as substitute mouth-guards for a misplaced elbow to the mouth.
During a pause, the boys extended their hospitality to the audience; pointing behind them and indicating the location of the Carlton Gardens: “we all live together, just across the park. You’re all invited to come and party at our house afterwards.”
Towards the end of the evening, the band played an excellent cover version of Billy Idol’s ‘White Wedding’. A fan appropriately sprayed the stage with some silly string.
Debut single ‘Carcass’ saw the band room erupt into a frenzy. One lad jumped up on the stage for some solo dancing, which ended in a huge stage dive and some serious crowd surfing.
The show wound up with the anthemic ‘Temporary Living’ single, and this was when the solo dancer brought his girlfriend up on stage to dance. Two is much more fun.
The Sinking Teeth played a sensational gig that had everyone grinning. Jokes aside – even your mum and dad would’ve liked it.
