r[pm] Presents Archive

The Sensational My First Tooth More

Written By Michael Wood Sunday, April 5th, 2009

My First Tooth r[pm] Presents at The PM Bar, Shipley, Bradford

My First Tooth, Live at The PM Bar in Shipley

The problem with West Yorkshire's second City - Bradford - is that one can not hear the sound of anything happen for the volume of those who tell you that nothing is happening and the sight of Northampton folk-popsters My First Tooth playing to so few people so very well is as good an indication of this situation as any.

Augmented from the two of Russ Witt and Sophie Galpin - who is once more wearing the I Put The Rad In Bradford shirt - My First Tooth now number five having added a drummer, a bass and a second guitar to add to the lead acoustic. The sound is rich and textured shaped by Russ's deliberate delivery and Sophie's violin.

They start with Margaret Yen which is as catchy a slice of pop as one could hope to hear before a runaround that sees the band swap instruments and a second violin lilting through a set of songs that are both original and bright yet seem older and as familiar as something pulled off the better parts of your family vinyl collection.

Sleet and Snow is their signature tune - their White Winter Hymnal - and the encore is called for by the smattering of people and enjoyed.

The smattering of people. A problem with the City, a problem with the scene, a problem with a music industry that has bred a consumer of product rather than appreciators. Without the sensationalism of bands who become trumpeted as next big things (sometimes justifiably) wonderfully textured and real acts like My First Tooth have to survive on scraps when they should be feasting.

This post is about

    • The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
    • If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle & Sebastian
    • Love and Its Opposite by Tracey Thorn
    • Loveless Unbeliever by The School
    • Realism by The Magnetic Fields
    • Clinging to a Scheme by The Radio Dept.
    • Weathervanes by Freelance Whales
    • Night Falls Over Kortedala by Jens Lekman
    • Crazy For You by Best Coast
    • Whip-Smart by Liz Phair
    • When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog by Jens Lekman
    • Whitechocolatespaceegg by Liz Phair
    • Black Sheep Boy by Okkervil River
    • Champ by Tokyo Police Club
    • His 'N' Hers by Pulp
    • Oh You're So Silent Jens by Jens Lekman
    • It's Blitz! by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
    • A Certain Trigger by Maxïmo Park
    • Wolves and Thieves by Goldheart Assembly
    • Clinging to a Scheme by The Radio Dept.
    • Blue Roses by Blue Roses
    • Lesser Matters by The Radio Dept.
    • Our Earthly Pleasures by Maxïmo Park
    • Yeah So by Slow Club
    • Black Sheep Boy by Okkervil River
    • Showtunes by Stephin Merritt
    • The Stage Names by Okkervil River
    • If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle and Sebastian
    • Little Death by Pete and The Pirates
    • 69 Love Songs (disc 1) by The Magnetic Fields
    • Savage Garden by Savage Garden
    • Bande a Part by Nouvelle Vague
    • Eyes Open by Snow Patrol
    • Voices of Animals and Men by The Young Knives