Brother and sister Jacquie and Stephen Neville teamed up with Liam Jaeger back while they were studying classical music at the University of Ottawa. The ensuing basement jam sessions transformed into dark, danceable and loud rock with the chemistry of a trio that has been playing together for decades.
Notorious for speaker-exploding and drumstick-breaking, The Balconies’ live shows are energetic and rugged — and now that they call Toronto home, the Ottawa ex-pats have blasted many of our sweaty crowds’ eardrums. We caught up with Stephen to talk power trios, the capital and sibling rivalry.
How does Toronto compare to Ottawa for a new(ish) band?
Toronto is my home now and it’s a lot of fun, there’s a lot of excitement, more touring bands to go see and more venues to play at.
How did you guys first get together?
Well Jacquie and I are siblings so we’ve been playing together our whole lives. Liam and Jacquie met at the University of Ottawa, they were both studying classical music.
What’s it like being in a band with your sister?
Yeah, not like they’re very big fights, but we’re more so quick to react. With a sibling you don’t have a filter when you get into an argument. With a band mate, you’re more hesitant. We still have a professional relationship and that keeps us in check. And we’re really good friends. She’d be like, ‘We don’t fight!’ And then I’d argue [laughs].
Is it challenging for just three of you to have such a loud and massive stage presence?
I think it’s a challenge, yeah, but it’s also a lot of fun. Bands that we really model ourselves on are bands who do the same thing. Power trios like The Police, Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Green Day and Nirvana — that kind of stuff. All those groups, just being three of them, they all have to do as much as possible with their limited abilities. They each only have their voice and their hands. Well, the drummer would have their feet too.
How did winning runner-up in the Big Money Shot competition change things for the band?
That was huge for us because that funding allowed us to record our new project because we also put out our first EP. And we also recorded our new album, which isn’t out yet, but it’ll be out in October. We got some new cool band gear too. It’s definitely a changing moment for us because now we’re more full-time with it. We’re more prepared to hit the road.
