In a time of endless knock-offs and sound-alikes, The Teeth are a rare commodity—a band with a fairly distinctive sound.

That's not to say the Philadelphia foursome is without identifiable influences; throughout their songs there are echoes of The Kinks, XTC, David Bowie and The Who (the group is known to do a spot-on live version of "A Quick One While He's Away" from "Tommy").

But it's the way those references are thrown together, tying in with The Teeth's loose-yet-tight, scattershot feel, that makes it stand out from all the "TRL" clones out there.

The Teeth's show tonight at the Funhouse in Bethlehem will be a homecoming of sorts for the band's lead guitarist, Brian Ashby, known for his blistering solos with local blues act Hurry Down Sunshine.