pink teeth blog.

It is snowing here so I decided to get down and dirty about something that has been on my mind, mostly triggered from last night.

I ventured over to New Haven, CT last night to say goodbye to one our only bands to ever “make it” in a sense, Hot Rod Circuit. And granted, I haven’t been rabid (if that’s the word) about them since High School and haven’t been able to relate much to their last couple of years of output (there got to be a point where I seemed to be growing up and these dudes in their 30’s were still singing about girls, it bummed me out a bit), I had to attend and say goodbye. I am glad I did: it was a great show, full of all the favourites and such. Hopefully for those watching, it was also the final nail in the coffin for that type of music that Connecticut has seemed to latch onto and create low-quality photocopies of, and we got saturated with what is called “pop punk” or to most, “rubbish”.

Most everybody grew up. I mean, Diamond J and the Rough opened, which features frontman Jay Russel, whom used to be the bass player for HRC. That band is entirely different, a step in a new, right direction. Also opening was Titles, which boasts members from CT all-stars First Aid Kid, Being Human Being and The Back and Forth Of Courage (aka every band on Said Sew). But at least all of their past musical entities were honest and unique in their own small ways, and of course featured nothing but nice people.

So as we said goodbye to one band, we said hello (well, for me “nice to see you again”, but I’m cooler than you) to the new era of Connecticut. Or so I hope, because honestly we desperately need something new. Since I moved away and now visiting for a little bit, it’s been really depressing musically between the lack of local quality in music and the fact that great shows that come through are virtually empty (I’m looking at you No Age and Deer Tick shows). No one seems to want to change or grow up, and in the end it hurts more than helps. This causes us to get less and less tours coming through that are worth a damn and for our few great musicians to move away (like the Bear Hands dudes who are now NYC’s sweethearts when they could’ve been ours). We’re right next to NYC, Boston, Providence and so on, causing us to be able to branch out and show everyone that CT is a worth a damn, but no one decides to make such an effort.

So let’s enjoy this new day. I’ve provided some band links and mp3s from (what I think are) Connecticut’s best bands, non-Pink Teeth family of course, though many fall under the greater umbrella. And please continue to enjoy Quiet Life, Bruhder and The bird and the vine. If you’d like more information/mp3s on these bands, old greats or anything CT, please feel free to email me at info@pinkteeth.com or IM me at “pinkteethrecords”. I’d be happy to help. Thank you all.

Diamond J & the Rough - Die Before You {band link}
MT Bearington - Keep Warm With Animals {band link}
Mates of State - Fraud In the 80s {band link}
Titles - No Love {band link}
Monitor and the Merrimac - Lonesome House Blues {band link}