The Maynards Break Out The Make Out

Seemingly apolitical trio The Maynards have packed their breath mints and Chapsticks. The Halifax-based band are taking their high-energy, lip-lock rock show on the road with their new Break Out The Make Out album in tow.

"When we started up, I don't really remember a lot of girls playing music in the city at the time," says bassist Kristina Parlee at Halifax's Coburg Coffeehouse.

"It was also at this point where it was more misogynist-seeming music happening. For me it was more political then, but now it seems in the music scene locally it's getting pretty close to being a parallel of guys and girls being in bands. I don't know if that's the same for a girl in a band in Toronto or Saskatoon. I almost prefer it now that it's not political."

The Maynards, a name robbed from a street name in Halifax's north end, also feature Heath Matheson on guitar, Chantal Tardiff on drums and Kristina Parlee on bass. The threesome share vocal duties by interjecting on one another within the context of their songs. After playing together for nearly a decade, their sci-fi zeal creates quite a stupefying live show. Anyone who's caught their previous sets is familiar with the band's infectious hi-jinx.

"I was really inspired musically after I went to Lady Fest Chicago," says Tardiff. "At the time I wasn't seeing a lot of bands like us."When you don't see anyone like you doing something, you don't think it's possible. But when other people are playing music or whatever, you think, 'Hey, if they can do it, so can I.' Perhaps somewhere down the line we've inspired other women to play music."

The Maynards have played an integral role in the Halifax music scene, as their savvy rock 'n' roll antics have inspired a revival of the teenage, practice spin-the-bottle. Perhaps the rotating empty glass containers have been filled with alcohol and quickly drained, but random strangers, bystanders, fans and friends have stepped out of the metaphorical closet and wildly made out in the middle of the dance floor.

Break Out The Make Out was recorded by Charles Austen (The Superfriendz) and Kevin Lewis at Ultramagnetic Studios. By paying tribute to early '90s garage rock, the album evokes the scrappy sounds of The Muffs and The Mooney Suzuki combined with the playful and flirtatious vocals of Cibo Matto. Pucker up, let loose and hit the town with The Maynards in these cities:
September 28 Sydney River, NS @ Sydney River Fire Hall
September 28 Sydney, NS @ Maple Leaf Lounge
September 29 Halifax, NS @ Gus' Pub
September 30 Charlottetown, PEI @ Baba's
October 1 Sackville, NB @ Struts Gallery
October 13 Halifax, NS @ Gus' Pub