When she was a child and knocked her tooth out while racing around a pole, Kristen Allen-Zito couldn’t know the resulting gap would add to the funky look of her rock band.

Yet the missing tooth is just one more of the quirky yet loveable features that define The Trucks. These four women from Washington State have definite attitudes and a fun, never-stop-the-party sound. They’re a bit naughty (best not to blare “Titties” when mom stops over), a little silly (wearing everything from cheerleaders’ uniforms to total punk) and easy to like musically and personally.

But don’t mistake them for some light-weight latter day Go-Go's. These are serious musicians who have rocking music and serious stage presence that will undoubtedly launch them into the big-time.

That was obvious on a recent, rain-soaked evening when The Trucks played a college-bar show in Richmond, Va. Within minutes of taking the makeshift stage the patrons, many of whom were nursing beers and chatting in small groups, were spellbound. Though the audience numbered less than 40, The Trucks sang, played and entertained as if they were in front of an arena crowd.

Allen-Zito (keyboards, vocals) and Marissa Moore (xylophone, vocals) took time from their instruments to dance around the audience as they sang with more gusto than cheerleaders working a close-scoring Super Bowl game. Band mates Faith Reichel (bass, vocals) and Lindy McIntyre (drums) anchored the music with a mesmerizing beat as they, too, worked the crowd with asides and seemingly boundless energy.

Soon after the Richmond show, The Trucks discussed their music, show, and next steps.

Your self-titled album, released last year, is amazing. How has your music changed since you recorded it?

Reichel – It’s always changing….[In the past some] called our music nursery punk. We were so undeveloped when we first started. Some of our songs, when we started out, were more basic and kind of had lullaby sounds in them. Our songs now are more abrasive as we’ve developed. We’re still developing. We want to work more electric guitar into our music.

How do you write your music?

Reichel: It’s a collaborative effort. We all bring ideas and melodies to each other when we have them. One time I was laying on my bed and Kristen had left her keyboard at my house. I was laying there with a melody in my head. I don’t play keyboard but wondered if I could play the melody on the keyboard. I did, which is how that songs was formed.

Allen-Zito: It has been really interesting. At first, we were writing songs on our instruments, but the instruments were new to us. I had played guitar before but never played on keyboards. So a lot of the writing was developed around finding new songs on our instruments. Now we jam, but we’re always experimenting.

When you have these other people supporting you and playing off them, it’s more fun and creative. I want to play drums on the next album. Lindy wants to play bass and guitar. It will be different. I am really excited about it.”