Putting The Work In: An Interview With Canada’s TeethOut
By Staff | July 15, 2026
When you think of punk bands, you’re probably thinking of New York, London, maybe the Bay Area. Prince Edward Island may not be the first place that comes to mind, but TeethOut is here to say “don’t sleep on the Maritimes”. With a newly stabilized 2026 lineup and a commitment to community over commercial success, the band is moving forward under the philosophy that life is short, and they want to make the most of it. They may have families, mortgages, bills to pay - they’re not kids anymore, but this brand of high-energy punk speaks for itself. We had a chance to sit down with them and find out why waiting for the perfect moment just might not be as important as finding the right moment.
Welcome! Was there a pivotal moment or conversation that sparked the rebirth of TeethOut after returning to Prince Edward Island?
Ozone, drums: Not really one big movie moment, honestly. I moved back to PEI after spending 15 years living elsewhere. Since 2021, I was in the questionably "successful" skate punk band Trashed Ambulance, so before I moved back to PEI I just started asking around who was still playing punk rock. Every conversation ended the same way: "Hit up Josh Lavigne." So I did. We got together to jam, started writing songs almost immediately, and it snowballed from there. We decided from the beginning to try to release as much music as possible, and see what happens.
How do you navigate balancing family and work commitments with the demands of rehearsals and road trips?
Ozone: Well, that is partially why we've had so many lineup changes. Everyone's got careers, families, kids, mortgages, dogs, or whatever else adulthood throws at you. The biggest thing is making sure everyone's on the same page and respecting each other's time. We are lucky to have a few close friends cough Maverick cough that can fill in for shows, and helps do so many other things to lighten the workload.
With 2026 bringing a solidified lineup, what unique energy do Paul and Mike add to the band's dynamic?
Ozone: The main one is stability, honestly. We finally have five people who all want the same thing and are willing to put the work in. Paul's one of those bass players that locks everyone else in, and Mike is an incredible guitarist that has an ear for writing hooks. They're just great dudes to spend a weekend trapped in a vehicle with, and that's probably just as important as being a good musician.
Why does the fast-and-furious release philosophy resonate so strongly with your creative process?
Ozone: Because life is short and we want to do as many cool things as possible while we still can. We've all been in bands where songs sit around forever waiting for the "perfect" release. Then people lose interest, lineups change, or the band disappears completely. We'd rather capture where we're at right now, get the music out there, and move on to the next batch. We write a lot, so there's no sense hoarding songs.
Josh, vocals: “Life is short” has never resonated more. We want to create a library of music so when we are done we truly feel we put everything we had into the band.
Paul, bass: There’s a lot of clout-chasing and waiting for the “perfect moment” in the music industry these days, and I don’t have the time or patience for that. It feels great to put an idea together, have fun with it, and then move on to the next new idea. I haven’t been in a band that sat on the same setlist for months on end yet, and I’m not about to start now.
Beyond just playing shows, what would make this year feel like a definitive step forward for TeethOut?
Ozone: Keeping the momentum going. We've finally got a lineup that feels solid, so now we want to make the most of it. More releases, more weekends on the road, meeting more bands, playing cities we haven't been to yet, and just getting our name out there a little further than last year. If we're having this same conversation next year and we've played a bunch of new places and put out another pile of songs, I'll be happy.
Josh: Continuing to build a supportive community with bands we love and appreciate that reaches well beyond our home (which has never been very supportive).
Paul: With this group of guys, I think we could be one of those bands that puts on a flawless performance every time we get up on stage. Just all energy and passion. If I feel like we’re doing that at the end of the year I’ll be really happy.
If you could share a bill with any band, past or present, who would it be and why?
Ozone: Hmm, that is a good question. For me, probably a band most people have never heard of called Squad Five-O. They had absolutely bonkers shows, and I never got the chance to experience one.
Josh: Lifetime between 1995-97, preferably in a subway car.
If you had to pick one of your songs to introduce yourselves to a brand new audience, which one would it be?
Ozone: I think our newest song “Tonight” is a good place to start. Shameless self-promotion, but you can hear what it sounds like on wax on our split 7" available for purchase at High End Denim's website (see below).
Josh: Flicker Out…….my kids know all the words.
Paul: From the outside, I think that Walking Down captures a lot of the band’s energy and style.
What's the most underrated instrument or piece of gear that you swear by?
Ozone: Earplugs for sure.
Josh: Never tried them. What did you say?
Anyone out there you'd like to thank?
Ozone: Everyone who's supported us so far. All the bands we've shared stages with, everyone who's bought a shirt, a record, or even just streamed a song. Shawn for mixing and producing all of our releases so far. Punk rock has always been about community more than anything else, and we've been lucky to meet a lot of great people over the last couple of years. Josh at High End Denim and all of our label mates. Engineer Records and Punk Rock Records as well. Hopefully we'll see a bunch more of you on the road this fall.
Josh: The “Maritime Pop Punk Chat Group”, without this network of great people and great bands we wouldn’t be in our current state. It’s all about community.
Official website: www.teethout.com
Label: www.highenddenimrecords.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/teethout902
Facebook: www.facebook.com/teethout902
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeethOut902