"We always try to represent Montreal punk rock, everywhere," explains Hugo Mudie, vocalist for bilingual punks the Sainte Catherines. With their hometown currently the new epicentre of hipster chic, the band are flying the flag for all the Quebecois kids who had poorly-dyed mohawks at 16 and still don't get what the deal is with art rock. "It's not that now that Montreal has buzz around it we're more proud to be from Montreal, going around with that tag on us," Mudie states, "We're not really part of the Montreal-Wolf thing."
Being one of a very small number of Canadian bands that have found a home on mega-indie Fat Wreck Chords, the Sainte Catherines have also earned the dubious distinction of being the first band from Quebec on the label. "I think it's important for us, because it's the first time that [a] punk band from Quebec or Montreal has some kind of exposure," says Mudie. "We'll try to get people to notice all the other good bands in Montréal, because there are plenty of them: Born Dead Icons, Malcolm Bauld, Jesus and the Headliners."
Knowing that the pending release of their third full-length, the brutal Leatherface love letter Dancing For Decadence, has put their career on an upward trajectory, the band are about to embark on a short, Quebec-only tour. "Once the record is out, I don't think we'll be in Montreal a lot, or in Quebec a lot," explains Mudie. "So that's why we decided to do those shows, just to make sure that the places we used to play are still going to be able to see us once in a while." Once they leave Quebec's borders, the Sainte Catherines are sure to prove that there's a lot more going on in their hometown than some people think. For now, though, it's one final kick at cities like Rimouski and Scott Jonction. "They won't be the biggest shows, and it won't be a big, successful tour," Mudie says. "But it's going to be a lot of fun."
Being one of a very small number of Canadian bands that have found a home on mega-indie Fat Wreck Chords, the Sainte Catherines have also earned the dubious distinction of being the first band from Quebec on the label. "I think it's important for us, because it's the first time that [a] punk band from Quebec or Montreal has some kind of exposure," says Mudie. "We'll try to get people to notice all the other good bands in Montréal, because there are plenty of them: Born Dead Icons, Malcolm Bauld, Jesus and the Headliners."
Knowing that the pending release of their third full-length, the brutal Leatherface love letter Dancing For Decadence, has put their career on an upward trajectory, the band are about to embark on a short, Quebec-only tour. "Once the record is out, I don't think we'll be in Montreal a lot, or in Quebec a lot," explains Mudie. "So that's why we decided to do those shows, just to make sure that the places we used to play are still going to be able to see us once in a while." Once they leave Quebec's borders, the Sainte Catherines are sure to prove that there's a lot more going on in their hometown than some people think. For now, though, it's one final kick at cities like Rimouski and Scott Jonction. "They won't be the biggest shows, and it won't be a big, successful tour," Mudie says. "But it's going to be a lot of fun."
