- kate leth
Growing up in Moncton, Chantal Caissie spent a lot of time listening to classic female rock singers— Joan Jett, Siouxie and the Banshees — but never envisioned herself in the same role. “I always wanted to start a band — I just never thought I could,” she says. Instead, Caissie spent years playing solo acoustic sets at open mics. While attending school in Halifax, she met up with Shawn Mackenzie and Jordan Murphy, who asked her to start a band with them. Caissie’s friend (and Scoop Outs/Deadly Hearts bassist) Ben Manuel joined the fold, and Caissie, a Twin Peaks fan, suggested the name Audrey and the Agents. Their sound recalls a naughty dream I sometimes have featuring Brody Dalle, Juliette Lewis and all three members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in athletic and compromising positions. After winning the second round of Battle to Warped II last week, the band is working on new music, planning a New Brunswick mini-tour with the Bad Bad Bad in March and crossing their fingers for the finals next Tuesday.