2008 Woodie Awards
Baby Teeth Thieves have an intricate, rich sound
Stacy Williams
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Features
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Although I am not a fan of the small-restaurant-trying-to-be-a-music-venue trend in Murfreesboro, Tomato Tomäto (the gourmet pizza restaurant that replaced Casa Burrito on West Main Street) should be credited for providing an appropriate atmosphere for live music. Baby Teeth Thieves were a suitable fit in the fresh and comfortable environment of the new restaurant.
Trey Bishop (lead guitar) and Casey Kauffman (cello) have been friends for years, but only began playing music together in the fall of 2006. With the recent addition of Devin Lamp (12-string guitar), Jeremi Morris (upright bass) and Danny Greene (drums), their sound became more intricate and acoustics even richer.
The texture of four wooden string instruments and no percussion (Greene was not present at this show) felt natural in the small space by the front window. There was no stage, so the performers and audience were eye level with each other, which created a personal feel, as if we were all in someone's living room. (Baby Teeth Thieves have played their share of house shows in Murfreesboro; in fact, they prefer them.)
Two things immediately stand out at a Baby Teeth Thieves live performance. Namely, Bishop plays left-handed guitar with a twist. His left arm is gone below the elbow, so he forms chords with his right hand, which is uncommon for most right-handed guitar players. Strumming and picking, Bishop is solid and inspiring to watch. His voice has an indescribable originality that is gentle and wise beyond its years.
Next, how many local bands do you know with an upright bass and a female cellist? Morris and Kauffman are a breath of fresh air compared to the typical electric outfit. Kauffman's diverse range as a musician suggests a classical background and a keen sense of composition. Her soft, breathy voice is similar to the English "godmother of freak folk," Vashti Bunyan, when she sings falsetto.
When all the members sang together, the union of their harmonies was pleasing to my jaded ears. On "Piney Coney County," the wailing vocal refrain lingered in my head even after the marchlike song changed gears. As all the musicians balanced each other's melodies back and forth, it reminded me of an old married couple finishing each other's sentences.
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