DOGTOOTH Band

Glasgow-based three -piece Dogtooth have already clocked up over 200 gigs.

All the more remarkable considering how young they are. John and Craig are just 15 while Robert is 17.

They come across as seasoned veterans though, having first got together around 4 years ago.
The new EP Breakthrough showcases their development perfectly.

It was recorded and produced by Bruce Rintoul, whose credits include Twin Atlantic, Fatherson and Vukovi.

Robert said: “The music started off very much mod. Everything was mod.

"As time has gone on we’ve broadened our sound, whilst keeping hold of the mod and punk influences. I’d say we are more musically diverse now.” - The Scottish Sun

Tell me about yourselves? How did you all meet? Where are you all from?
John is from Kilbirnie, Craig is from Larkhall, and Robert is from Linwood. John and Craig met at Millport Scooter rally August 2013, they met Robert at a rehearsal studio in Paisley in April 2014.

What are your names and what position do you have in the band?
Robert Lang on drums and backing vocals, John Hewitson on guitar and lead vocals and Craig Morrison on bass guitar.

What if anything does your band name mean/Why are you called that?
Dogtooth comes from the fabric design on some Mod clothing (dogtooth pattern) as we were heavily influenced by the mod/scooter scene when we formed the band.

Describe your music to someone who has never heard you before?
Indie/alternative.

What song(s) do you remember most from your childhood?
Mostly songs by The Jam, SLF, The Clash, also Oasis and The Stone Roses.

Do you have a process for writing your songs?
One of us will bring an idea in then we all work on it, or it might just happen out of nothing in the studio.

Have you released any music yet, and if so how has it been received?
We have a lot of songs on iTunes and Spotify, and it has went well, our debut six track EP ‘Breakthrough’ is available in all UK HMV stores.

Are you planning any music releases for the near future?
We have just released our latest single (Trying to Save You) and hope to release another very soon.

If you have released music, where can fans to be find it?
ITunes, Spotify, Soundcloud…all the streaming sites.

Do you have social media for the band and if so please provide links?
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/dogtooth.001/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/DOGTOOTH4

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dogtoothofficial/

YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIbEgQfGNchnK0JRB7_SidQ

Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/dogtooth-509227980

Website – http://dogtoothofficial.com/

Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues?
All over the UK, and also played a few gigs in Ireland, favourite venue is The Glasgow Barrowland, not played in too many bad ones.

Do you have any gigs in the near future, and if so where and when?
We’re gigging all the time, you can find the most comprehensive listing on our Facebook events page. In April we’ll be in Glasgow, Guilford and Dumfries. May sees Darwen, Glasgow and Perth as well as the Cavern Club in Liverpool and June/July we have Kilmarnock, East Kilbride and Butefest in Rothesay.

How do you balance your music with other obligations?
The band comes first so we try to work everything else around that when possible.

Following on from that question, what has been your biggest challenge as a band and have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so then how?
Breaking into the Glasgow/Edinburgh scene has been tough since we started playing all our own material…but it is a challenge we’ve welcomed and hopefully we are doing okay.

And let’s end with something a little different…Which famous person, living or dead, would you have dinner with and why?
Robert would like to have dinner with Paul McCartney, John’s preferred guest would be Noel Fielding…no comment from Craig on that one!



First Published on: https://offtherecordblog.org/ - THOMAS NEIL

Though formed in 2013 and having a well-received debut EP out four years later, Dogtooth come to The RR as a new proposition through a new two track AA sided single. A quick introduction and visit to the Scottish band’s music and previous songs revealed that they have been a potent potential fuelled enticement for a while but the new dual temptation of What For? and Away simply outshines all the exploits that came before.

As mentioned the Breakthrough EP two years back took Dogtooth to a whole new richness of attention whilst continuing to impress with their live presence. It is easy to expect recognition and praise of the band’s indie/alternative rock bred enterprise to increase now through the bold exploits of both What For? and Away; both songs confirming that theirs is a sound which is really developing its own identity.

The Killers has been suggested as a reference to the band’s music but straight away as What For? strolls through ears and especially as it settles into its eager almost teasing temptation an Inspiral Carpets like hue rises to the fore. Even so it is simply a single flavouring in the band’s indie rock audacity as the guitar and vocals of John Hewitson swing across the rhythmic enticement of bassist Craig Morrison and drummer Robert Lang. There is a great grumble to that bass which earths the loftier melodic threads which spring from the guitar while Lang’s beats just enjoyably nag throughout.

Eagerly infectious, the song is more than matched in craft and temptation by Away; it our favourite of the two with ease without diminishing the strength and impact of its companion. The track strides in with a rapacious rhythmic intent and is immediately bound in the delicious sonic wires of Hewitson’s guitar. Quickly, the song reveals a whole fresh web of imagination and devious textures to trap and enslave attention and appetite. Each twist brings potent drama and turn sets irresistible temptation, the song something akin to a mix of Asylums, The Horrors, and Scars with a hint of The Cuban Heels and quite superb.

Evolution in the band’s sound is on-going with both tracks suggesting bigger bolder things to come but there is a new maturity in their songwriting and craft which is most striking and as exciting, Dogtooth for sure heading to bigger things.

What For?/Away is released August 16th.

http://dogtoothofficial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/dogtooth.001/ https://twitter.com/dogtooth4 - Pete Ringmaster