Not only did the quirky indie pop band deliver a buzzworthy performance at this year's annual South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, but the sextet's synth savvy music is getting modern rock radio play, featured in TV shows such as "90210" and HBO's hit series "Girls," and even showcased in a Canadian Buick commercial.
"Things are happening really fast. We haven't really fully processed it yet," guitarist/vocalist Gary Larsen said of the band's rapid rise.
"We all just quit our day jobs in May," added vocalist Nora Patterson by phone from the band's home base in Lafayette, La. "It's a little scary, but it's worked out really well so far."
It almost didn't happen. At least, it might not have happened.
Last fall Royal Teeth was invited to perform in the hipster-approved CMJ Music Festival in New York City, and considered turning down the offer.
"Our manager was a little hesitant to have us play because he wasn't sure we had enough experience," explained Larsen.
At the time the current lineup had only been together for a year.
"There was some talk about whether we should take a little bit more time before we threw ourselves out there and risk getting eaten alive," Larsen said.
Royal Teeth took the chance.
Bolstered by the vocal interplay of Larsen and Patterson, the festival's response to Royal Teeth was almost as exuberant as the group's catchy melodies.
The band, which plays The Jewish Mother in Norfolk on tonight, evokes the golden age of new wave with its swooping choruses and electronic dance beats.
On "Wild," the lead track off its debut EP "Act Naturally," Royal Teeth delivers an epic ode to chasing dreams.
"It's about making a real commitment and going for something you really want," Larsen said.
That "go for it" philosophy struck a chord. "The song is really connecting with people," Larsen said. "It's kind of weird but it's a really good weird."
"We didn't think it would become this anthem when we wrote it," Patterson added. "That's pretty awesome."
The band's live show isn't so bad, either. Royal Teeth tries to connect with its audiences by using simple, but effective, techniques like shooting balloons or confetti into the crowd.
"Our main goal is to be really fun live," Larsen said. "We really want it to feel like an experience. I like to jump in the crowd and play, literally, in your face. I'll take your phone and snap pictures, anything we can do to make the show memorable."
And that takes practice.
"It's actually something we work on," Patterson said of developing the band's stage show. "We want to be different, so we try to come up with new ways to make the show more interactive.
"We put everything we have into it so we can make it really worth the money you're spending to come and see us."
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