Pawtooth
Asheville, North Carolina, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
On Saturday June 8th around 10:00 pm, PAWTOOTH shook the speakers at The Garage in Winston-Salem, an open space with burning candles on the bar, red curtains behind the stage, and the largest ceiling fan that I have ever seen. In spite of the small crowd that continued to grow as the night progressed, Penelope Zing on vocals in her spaghetti straps, a black skirt and black boots, Dee Wulf on guitar, Nickey Pete on
glittering drums, and JLee on bass claimed the stage. In one sentence: they present the kind of music that you can close your eyes and get lost in.
It forces your body to move. Is it punk? Is it rock? It’s PAWTOOTH, a name given to this band by the Internet. “It’s a 80s sensation; it’s rock, post-punk, classic rock - I don’t know if that’s a genre,” Zing answered
when asked how their music could be described. Whatever they may be, they are not afraid to give stage directions between each song, they are not afraid to let their hair down, and they are not afraid to share the stage with stuffed animals.
- Hennen's Observer
Pawtooth often gets pegged as an ’80s-inspired act, and in a way, that’s pretty doggone true. But this Asheville, N.C. band is so much more. Case in point: Their latest song “Ringbeat” sounds like Siouxsie Sioux kidnapped the Go-Gos and tossed them in the Stooges’ Funhouse while Dick Dale dials in a lick from outer space. And their other recent tracks, “Paper Cut” and “The Hours,” are just as eclectic and even more badass. “We have never said, OK, we’re going to write a post-’80s-style song with lots of edge and modern feel. This doesn’t happen. We just make it up,” says Penelope Zing, lead singer for Pawtooth. Zing and company are currently working on an LP — the follow up to 2012’s Your Bullets Be Damned EP, which had a punkabilly-meets-the-’80s vibe at times. Zing says the disc won’t differ that much from “Ringbeat” and “Paper Cut,” which means there’ll be more melody, more keys, and more grooves. “I like not sticking to a niche,” Zing says. “It gives a lot of room for creativity.” —Chris Haire - Charleston City Paper
Video interview - Mountain Express, Asheville, NC
Video interview - Mountain Express, Asheville, NC
"[Pawtooth] played a stunning show at The Lab last weekend. Fronted by Penelope Zing, the band references some of the best of '80s and '90s regional rock, while bringing wholly original songs to the stage. ... Zing is equal parts glam and badass, delivering power pop vocals and snarling shouts at turns. At a recent show at The Lab (opening for Alex Vans & The Hideaway), the full band showed off a set-worth of original, high energy songs. ... Their raw urgency is palpable, as is their practiced polish. They command the stage with self-possessed swagger, yet the quartet doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. Zing and Wulf are almost telepathically connected. And Lee, on bass and background vocal, has rock star stage presence. .... the band's men provide a steady vocal canvas for Zing's lyrical prowess. She hits some electric notes at the top of her register, though most songs are sung low and gutsy, with something akin to a gleeful rage. "
- Alli Marshall, A&E Editor, Mountain Xpress (Jan 23, 2013) - Mountain Express, Asheville, NC
"[Pawtooth] played a stunning show at The Lab last weekend. Fronted by Penelope Zing, the band references some of the best of '80s and '90s regional rock, while bringing wholly original songs to the stage. ... Zing is equal parts glam and badass, delivering power pop vocals and snarling shouts at turns. At a recent show at The Lab (opening for Alex Vans & The Hideaway), the full band showed off a set-worth of original, high energy songs. ... Their raw urgency is palpable, as is their practiced polish. They command the stage with self-possessed swagger, yet the quartet doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. Zing and Wulf are almost telepathically connected. And Lee, on bass and background vocal, has rock star stage presence. .... the band's men provide a steady vocal canvas for Zing's lyrical prowess. She hits some electric notes at the top of her register, though most songs are sung low and gutsy, with something akin to a gleeful rage. "
- Alli Marshall, A&E Editor, Mountain Xpress (Jan 23, 2013) - Mountain Express, Asheville, NC
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Arcadian Playground toured this past summer 2013, the first LP from Pawtooth, Asheville, NC
"On Saturday June 8th around 10:00 pm, PAWTOOTH shook the speakers at The Garage in Winston-Salem, an open space with burning candles on the bar", - Shaq, Hennon Observer, Winston-Salem, NC (Sep 01, 2013).
The members of Pawtooth, Penelope Zing on vocals, Dee Wulf on guitar, Nickey Pete on drums and backing vocals and JLee on bass and backing vocals will have worked together for two years in 2014. Collectively the members have performed at notorious venues up and down the East Coast, including CBGB, The Continental, The Pyramid & The Luxx in NYC/Brooklyn. Also their collective resume includes performances at the 9:30 Club and The Black Cat in DC. Around the South their hit lists include The Masquerade, The Riviera, Eye Drum, Dark Horse Tavern, The Garage, The Kraken, The Cave, The Jinx, The Tin Roof, The Art Bar, New Brooklyn Tavern, and many venues in Asheville, including The Orange Peel, The Odditorium, The Lexington Avenue Brewery, The Emerald Lounge, The Pulp, Stella Blue, Vincent's Ear, The Get Down, Jack of Hearts, The One Stop... you get the picture.
Penelope Zing has been compared to a mixture PJ Harvey meets Grace Slick with inspired melodies and vocal styles reminiscent of early Siouxsie & The Banshees; Big, pronounced and unique.
The band's first EP, Your Bullets Be Damned, available on Band Camp, gives us the post punk, 80's influenced ear candy of straight ahead, hard hitting and energetic songs. The first EP has primarily been a post punk, power pop affair, with some forays into raw garage rock stylings.
Arcadian Playground, the 11 track LP, released late 2013 is now available for download on bandcamp!!! One of their first songs, "Papercut" appears on this album along with more new material, groove heavy danceable songs, still with an early 80's influence, but generally not as aggressive as their first cuts on the EP. Expect more orchestration, samples, backing vocals and keyboards, as you will hear on "Ringbeat" and "Everwaves", as well as something akin to a classic rock anthem on the track "The Hours".
Local veteran A&E writer and editor for the Mountain Xpress in Asheville, NC wrote after a debut of "Archetype to Everwaves" off of Arcadian Playground, [Pawtooth] played a stunning show at The Lab last weekend. Fronted by Penelope Zing, the band references some of the best of '80s and '90s regional rock, while bringing wholly original songs to the stage." read more in our 'Press' section... (Thanks Alli)!
And thanks to any and all who take the time to listen to our music. We understand there is so much out there to hear and not enough time for it all so we fully appreciate you whether you like the sounds or not. We say you'll like.
You can email pawtooth@gmail.com.
Band Members
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