Pianos Become the Teeth (Michael York)

Pianos Become the Teeth guitarist Michael York joins us for an episode ahead of the band's first album in over four and a half years, 'Drift,' which comes out 8/26 via Epitaph. Mike reminisces on Pianos Become the Teeth's early days, when they and their 'new wave of post-hardcore' peers were doing small DIY shows and tours, and building a new underground circuit of their own, before the bigger record labels and music publications started to take notice. He then gets into the moment that Pianos and many of their peers (like Touche Amore, La Dispute, and Defeater) signed to Epitaph, the steady rise that Pianos have been on since then, and how now they've become an influential band on a whole new generation. Mike also discussed some of the musical influences and the use of analog tape loops that helped lead to the weirder, darker sound of the new album, making it with producer Kevin Bernsten (who also did their first two albums), and how the entire band relocated to Mike's uncle's cabin in the woods to make the album in seclusion. Additionally, Mike talked about what an "actual dream (no pun intended)" it is to be touring with reunited screamo legends Jeromes Dream this year, he talked about the Baltimore scene that birthed PBTT (and everyone from Beach House to Future Islands to Turnstile to JPEGMAFIA), and other artists he's been inspired by over the years, like Bon Iver, Portishead, My Bloody Valentine, Flume, SOPHIE, and more. Pick up 'Drift' on red vinyl in our store. Pianos Become the Teeth tour dates and tickets here. -- Theme music by Michael Silverstein.