Backstory: Dental Funeral was originally formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2012 by lead vocalist and bassist Ben “Tooth” McKinney, a dental hygienist by day, and drummer Tommy “Cavity” Barnes, a funeral director by night. Both had a shared passion for music and decided to combine their odd professions into an offbeat band name. Dental Funeral quickly developed a local cult following, winning fans over with their unique sound and irreverent humor. The band further expanded with the addition of two more members, guitarist Emily “Floss” Thatcher, and keyboardist Dan “Crown” Miller in 2014.
Genre: Dental Funeral’s unique sound can best be described as a blend of punk rock with a dash of grunge, a healthy dose of humor, and the occasional scream of horror punk. Their music is known for its catchy hooks, raw energy, and lyrics that often revolve around themes of dentistry and mortality.
Title: “Root Canal Romance”
Full Song Lyrics:
Verse 1:
[G] She walked into my clinic with a [C] sweet and painful smile,
[G] Said she’s got a toothache been [D] hurting for a while.
[G] I looked into her mouth, [C] saw a cavity so deep,
[G] I knew this root canal was a [D] love I had to keep.
Chorus:
[G] It’s a root canal romance, baby [C] drill into my heart,
[G] Let’s fill this empty space and [D] never be apart.
[G] Don’t need no anesthesia, [C] I can take the pain,
[G] Cause our root canal romance is [D] love’s sweetest gain.
Verse 2:
[G] Worked on her molars as she [C] gripped the chair so tight,
[G] I saw the fear in her eyes but [D] promised it’ll be alright.
[G] As I removed her decay, [C] she began to see,
[G] This root canal romance is [D] our shared destiny.
(Repeat Chorus)
Favorite Fan: The band’s favorite fan is a wildly eccentric dentist named Dr. Phil Fillings. Dr. Fillings discovered Dental Funeral during a dental conference and instantly fell in love with their unique sound and quirky dental references. He has since attended every single one of their shows in the Seattle vicinity, often dressed in dental scrubs and carrying a giant foam toothbrush.
Testimonial: “Dental Funeral is more than just a band to me, they’re a movement. They’ve found a way to turn the mundane and often feared aspects of dentistry into pure punk rock gold. Their music, like a good cleaning, is refreshing, cathartic, and leaves me feeling invigorated. I can’t get enough of their root canal romance!” – Dr. Phil Fillings.