CMW 2010 Hot Acts: The Balconies

Is it going to the dark side when you train in classical music at the University Of Ottawa and then up and form a rock band instead?

We don't know, but the music universe is probably a better place for The Balconies members Jacquie Neville, Stephen Leville and Liam Jaeger making the decision to be part of the pop music world.
 
Hometown:
Ottawa / Toronto, ON
 
Members:
Jacque Neville (guitar, vocals)
Liam Jaeger (drums, vocals)
Stephen Neville (bass, vocals)

Official Website: www.myspace.com/thebalconies

So, you're about to play the big industry event that is Canadian Music Week. What's the most shameless thing you've ever done to promote your band?  
Liam Jaeger: Sometimes our songs come on the stereo at the cafe where I work. I pretend it's by accident! He-hee.  

What's the hardest part about being an up-and-coming band?
It can be difficult to afford rent and bills sometimes — like when we're on the road. But the amount of fun it is to play everywhere and meet people makes it well worth it.   

How important is it for your band members to circulate and flirt with the audience before or after the show?
We are social people, which is why we love playing music and touring. Circulating the audience is an important part of any night out because we always have a lot of friends to cheers our beers with and give high-fives to.

In new cities, it's also important to meet new people to high five and cheers with. It also helps to sort of personally pump people up so they'll feel more like dancing and partying with us.   

Have you ever stolen from someone else's rider? If so, who was it and what did you take?
Ha-ha, never stolen... but sometimes we "share" things. Like a certain band at a certain festival last summer had some bottles of wine and whisky that they clearly weren't going to touch. They weren't even hanging out in their part of the trailer! So we helped ourselves as our supplies were running short. They were more than welcome to join if they'd been there.
 
Have you ever been graded before according to CHARTattack.com's Rock 'n' Roll Report Cards?
No.   

Have you done anything new or interesting this week?
I drove a car for the first time. Yes, I'm 26. I'm not ashamed.

The Balconies play the Horseshoe Tavern on Saturday, March 13 at 9:20 p.m. as part of the annual CHARTattack/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcase.