The Canteens
WORDS BY TOM PROCTOR, PHOTO by JAMES LOCKRIDGE

The Canteens, joined host Brent Hallenbeck on 'Rocket Shop', Big Heavy World's local music radio hour on 105.9FM The Radiator.

Listen to a replay here or via Rocket Shop Radio Hour on iTunes or Subscribe on Android

You could compare The Canteens to any number of bands or sounds, but no comparison would ever quite hit the mark. Punk Norah Jones, Stringed CocoRosie, Horror Bailie Rae, all come close but The Canteens have a way of putting their own spin on a track that creates a unique sound that just can’t be replicated. Dubbed “Chamber Rock”, a genre that’s as new as they are, they incorporate cello, violin, guitar and rhythm, crafting dark melodic tracks. Often changing tempos and filling space with dramatic pauses, it brings forth a raw emotion that is rare to see in band with such a collective young age.

Fresh off their impressive win at the Higher Ground Battle of the Bands, the trio popped into the studio to give us a personal sample of their haunting orchestral tunes. Discussing their origins, covers and what’s to come for The Canteens, the trio sit down with Big Heavy World to share a chin-wag.

Tom Proctor: You guys just won battle of the bands, congratulations. How was the competition, were deserved winners?

Kelsey Ackerman: I was watching the other bands and i thought we were just doomed. We have such a different sound and presentation, so we felt a little out of place on the stage dressed all in black.

Michael Sheerin: Not only that but they told us the categories before we started and one of them was stage presence, which was a little worrying as we all sit when we play. Guitarists for other bands were jumping off stage into the crowd, taking their shirts off (Laughs.)

Justine Poole:I think we brought our all, that was our plan. It’s the biggest stage we've ever played on so we were just psyched to be there. We were just going to do our thing so I was just stunned by the result

TP: You guys started as a duo, now a trio, so how did you guys meet what brought you together?

MS: Justine and I work in the same restaurant and she heard that I could play cello. She was looking for a tutor and asked if I could help her out. The lesson didn't go too well but at the end she asked if i wanted to listen to one of her songs on guitar, she played this incredible piece, far better than what we were doing in practice, so I started jamming with her and it went from there.

KA: I came into band in March, Justine and I are cousins so we’ve been playing since kids. I played with Justin and Mike when they’d just started, but was living in Winooski at the time so when I moved up I told Justine she had to let me in (Laughs.)

TP: Where did the name originate from?

MS: People were coming up to us after we played with Kelsey to find out our name and we couldn't answer, so we started flouting names to each other once we got back to Burlington. I thought up The Canteens and it seemed to fit. It relates to our sound, it’s a vessel you would typically carry water in, but it's not a regular bottle it's a battle waterbottle. You take a canteen to war. You take a canteen yo climb a mountain. It's a fitting metaphor for our music because separately the three of us have always had music with us our entire lives, a life giving element that always stays by your side.

TP: I heard your cover of Britney’s “Toxic” while you were in the studio. Your covers put a great twist on songs, are you looking for anything in particular when you pick a cover?