Music Spotlight: Electric Tooth Syndrome

It’s Evansville is starting a new recurring feature that will spotlight local and regional musicians that are playing shows around Evansville. If you are a local musician, contact It’s Evansville editor Justin Williams to schedule your profile.

What’s the name of your band and what’s the origin of it?

Colby Townsend: We are called Electric Tooth Syndrome. ETS was formed when guitarist, Brad Linzy, and a few of our friends during high school decided to start a group project in instrumental music class. Ever since then, nearly all the music Brad has recorded (solo and with various other musicians) has fallen under that title.

The name itself has something to do with the strange feeling one gets in their mouth when taking LSD (which we don’t do anymore and I don’t advise anyone to ever take up). But it can also apply to other really hazardous things, like the consequences you might experience after sucking on a battery or an unnatural abscess caused by demonic affliction.

In which case, you don’t need a doctor. Doctors usually tack the word ‘syndrome’ on things when they see the symptoms but have no idea what is causing them, or how a disease is doing what it’s doing to you… You need a miracle.

How long have you been together?

Colby: Brad and I have worked together on and off for about 16 years. Our other comrades have been in the business much longer than we have.

Who is in the band and what instruments do they play?

Greg Bernette: Guitars and vocals.
Brad Linzy: Guitars and vocals.
John Wallace: Drums and vocals.
Colby Townsend: Bass, keyboards, and vocals.

These are the instruments you’ll generally find us on, we do, however, switch up sometimes.

How did you get together?

Colby: Greg and John had been working together for a long time throughout at least 3 different bands. Having had a few wonderful people breeze in and out of our musical lives, Brad and I were taking a break from recording with plans of one day getting back to it. During this hiatus we were asked if we wanted to play with them. The rest is history.

What type of music do you prefer playing?

Colby: I prefer metal and happy/creepy sounding stuff (no matter if it’s slow, fast, heavy, or soft). -Something for which I don’t have an adequate label.

What band(s) do you most sound like?

Colby: This depends on what songs you’re listening to. In our current set list you can hear the influences of bands like Tool, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Mr. Bungle, and Iron Maiden (to name a few). Some of it may throw you for a loop trying to figure out who we sound like. If you can view a band as a single entity, -this one has a multiple personality disorder.

Where is the best place to play in town?

Colby: In Union County, I would have to say (though I’ve never actually played there) the Sturgis Airport - because there’s enough room there for them to pack in thousands of people at one time. They do it every year with a bikers rally. Here we are mostly stuck in our double insulated, reasonably soundproofed, makeshift studio, so that we don’t disturb the neighbors. I have insufficient data to say where the best place in E-ville (Brad’s home) would be.

What is your favorite song to play live?

Colby: Ecclesiastes. Lyrical content. And because it’s like playing three or four songs smashed into one. Plus the ending riffs in that song always give me a mental picture of all the armies in the world coming together in one place against a small, helpless nation. But then the sky rips opened and a light brighter than a thousand suns comes through (to kick some global army butt).

Whose your favorite local band (besides your own)?

Colby: I (personally) am at a loss to say anything about the other bands in Sturgis. There are some great solo musicians here that I’ve had the pleasure of listening to, but the only other band I’ve seen here recently was a country band who almost made my eyeballs throw up… There was a band here not too long ago called Stalemate that was pretty awesome, but they broke up - and if other bands have formed from their split, I haven’t heard them yet.

What are your musical aspirations?

Colby: I write and play music for the mere sake that it’s something I love to do. For me, it’s a potent dynamism. Some people hear voices in their heads, I hear music, and have to get it out. I would love it if this band were to be ‘discovered’, but even if that never happens I’ll continue to write music until the day that I am no longer capable of it…

Where can we see you play around town?

Colby: We have no shows booked at this time. For venue owners who host either exclusively original metal bands or rock/metal cover bands, check out our heavy sessions for free at www.electrictoothsyndrome.com or MySpace.