Gig Review: Puppy Teeth At The Elephants Head
The Elephant’s Head is once again proving itself to be at the centre of the UK indie scene, this time hosting Puppy Teeth. Last week, the band, who travelled down from Edinburgh for the show, showed themselves to be more than capable of captivating an audience, with a set comprised of their already-admired singles and teasers of their upcoming EP release.
Caledonia, the first opener to perform on the night, demonstrated a solid foundation in the tracks that leaned slower and softer. The group’s more angsty numbers were often wandering and inconclusive, jumping between sections with little transition, but their music showed promise and potential for direction.
They were followed up by Indecision, who have chemistry and a clear vision, if not some way to go with their execution. Evie Press, who told me she only learned the songs a few days prior and wass standing in for her boyfriend, shines on the drums. She’s talented and precise, keeping the group cohesive when they need it. They have a clear penchant for performance and will undoubtedly strengthen their set with experience.
Our headliners, Puppy Teeth, took to the stage confidently, primed to share their gazey grunge. The band, fronted by commanding vocalist Anna Trotsky, lilted through recognisable tracks like 80/20 and Black Honey, with Ed Meltzer (Cowboy Hunters) perfectly ensnaring the crowd, who showed a strong connection with the set. The group, which also included Niamh Jordan, drums; Theo Black, lead guitar; and Ewan Kerr, rhythm guitar and synth, have a comfort with one another, that seeps through in their performance, and together they carried the unpredictable, consummate melodies that characterise their songs with practice.
It’s the end of the set that really stood out, with the penultimate song That Time from the band’s yet-to-be-released EP, pulling the whole night together. It’s heartfelt and striking, proving that their already strong discography wasn’t a fluke, but a stepping stone to something even more impressive. For the final song, which remains as yet unnamed, Trost reached for her flute. The ensemble’s ability to balance their instrumentation and the emotion they push forward is part of what defines them, floating between tenderness and grit. It’s this defined sound that will carry the group forward as they continue to work together, at times landing like summer afternoon music, wistfulness with a harsher edge. Puppy Teeth will certainly be a group to keep an eye on as their work develops, and we should all look out for their next release this spring.
Puppy Teeth’s upcoming EP, ‘teething’, will be released at the end of August, with the first single Melatonin due at the beginning of May.