The Little Red Umbrella: Meet The Band: The Beverleys

"An undertow." That's how The Beverleys' Joanna Lund describes the band's music. And listening to their new EP, which is out on Buzz Records, it seems like a pretty apt description. Each of the three songs on the record is a blistering two and a half minutes of garage punk. "Louder than you think," as drummer Audrey Hammer puts it. They're the kind of songs that promise to make for a sweaty blast of a live performance when the band celebrates the release of the new record at one of this week's most anticipated shows: playing Sneaky Dee's on Friday night with Greys, Wish and Mexican Slang. You'll find all the details on Facebook. Meanwhile, you can stream the EP below, check out their new video for "Bad Company" and get to know the Toronto trio a little better with their answers to our five questions:

VITALS

Members: Joanna Lund (guitar, vocals), Susan Burke (guitar, vocals), Audrey Hammer (drums)

Hometown: Toronto

FIVE QUESTIONS

1. If you could open for one current band that you haven't played with before, who would it be?

Audrey Hammer: Thee Oh Sees proly for sureeeee. They fuckin rule, plus they look like they'd be super fun to hangout with, so we'd hope we could have some beers with them after the show....and then maybe go hangout and listen to records at someone's house....and drink more beer.

Joanna Lund: Thee Oh Sees. We're all massive fans. Jon Dwyer is like a fucking song factory. Everything he writes is gold. They are incredible live as well. Probably pretty rad people to chill with too. I'd get drunk with them. Second choice would be Slowdive. Coz...well...it's Slowdive.

Susan Burke: Thee Oh Sees? Girls, but oh yeah they broke up. Deerhunter just to hear Monomania never end.

2. What’s the craziest live show you've ever seen?

Audrey Hammer: Hmmmmmmm. Seen a lot of shows, like a lot a lot. What kind of crazy are you talking about? Crazy good? Would have to be possibly Savages at CMW last year, orrrr oh my gawd seriously this is so hard cause I've been to so many... But if we're talking crazy like out of control crowd, then Converge at The Phoenix years ago. I wasn't so familiar with them at the time, so didn't really know what I was getting into. Holy intense. The band and the crowd. You know those shows where like every person in the crowd is super pumped and excited. It's rare to see that at a show in Toronto. This city is a tough crowd to please.

Joanna Lund: Depends on your definition of "craziest." Live music moves me like nothing else. I get pretty emotional at shows. Like...if the audience is really into the gig, or if the band just sound really good and are into it as well. It fucking melts my soul. There's no other rush like it. I cry at almost every show I attend. Craziest, and most memorable are the same...The Constantines @ Call the Office, probably in 2000. My friend who was a bar back at the time @ the venue had been telling me about this band The Constantines for ages, he knew I'd totally fall in love with them. He was right. I didn't listen to them before I went to the show, and holy crap, I'm glad I didn't. I had no idea what to expect. Didn't know if I was going to a rock show, a punk show, an electronic show and I was so unbelievably blown away. The songs, the energy, the INTENSITY and conviction that they played with was unlike anything I'd ever seen or heard before. I was moved. It was a truly cathartic experience. I'm getting teary just thinking about it. What a loser.

Second best - Explosions in the Sky

Susan Burke: I don't know about "crazy". Jay Reatard was great, but maybe not crazy. Elliott Smith was pretty crazy, if you know what I mean. I saw Tool and NIN and it was crazy for its production value, but like, we were seated so what can you do. Pretty much small local packed venues with loud sweaty bands are the craziest, like one of HSY's last Toronto shows at the White House, total freak out. There was an incredible Sianspheric show lots of years ago that left me shaky and lost.

3. What's the worst album you own?

Audrey Hammer: Why would I buy it if I didn't think it was awesome?

Joanna Lund: I only own good music.

Susan Burke: Even the ones I may be embarrassed about are possibly actually really stellar for some reason or another. I still love my Meatloaf record.

4. If you were going to be a roadie for one band, who would it be?

Audrey Hammer: Mine - we're super fun ;)

Joanna Lund: Oh man...My Bloody Valentine. I'd just play all of Kevin's gear. I worked an MBV show last year and couldn't believe how many guitars he had. It was mind blowing. I secretly touched them all. Lol. Plus...if I were a roadie, I'd probably get to have some pretty interesting conversations with him and Bilinda.

Susan Burke: A younger me would have said Nirvana or NIN but then lots of things happened. The Black Lips seem pretty fun. Ideally a band with another roadie who actually does everything and I just keep the band company.

5. Your all-time, all-star supergroup?

Audrey Hammer:

William Shatner - for comic relief (Has Been is amazing btw)
Damon Albarn - genius (nuff said)
J. Tillman - that man will melt your heart on stage (men included)
John Dwyer - that's a hard working man (that guy has had so many bands, i bet he's lost track of them all)

*Wait, did I even answer this question correctly?

Joanna Lund:

Kevin Shields - guitar
Neil Halstead - guitar
Rachel Goswell - bass
Jason Pierce - guitar
Bilinda Butcher - guitar/vocals
Stephanie Bailey - drums

Can I add another guitar?

Susan Burke:

They're all dead.

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