by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Straight outta La Réserve Faunique des Laurentides, the Church of the Budgerigars has developed quite a congregation since moving to Montreal three years ago, and most converts will tell you they were drawn in by the alluring Moog rock and psycho-siren emissions of Duchess Says.

The band is Ismael (keys, guitar), Phil (guitar, bass, feedback), Simon Says (drums, beats, "doubtful noises") and A-C (vocals, keytar, guitar), renowned for her eruptive voice, wide-eyed, hyperactive stage presence and that conspicuously incognito look - oversized tacky shades, sports-car-red lipstick and a big brown wig that's sometimes subject to rapid-fire, on-stage "styling" by her bandmates.

Most shows begin with a solemn and somewhat abstract reading from the Pamphlet of Budgerigars, but for those who haven't heard or understood the gospel, here's an explanation of sorts from Ms. A-C:

"The Church of Budgerigars was created to promote the Duchess (or spiritual budgie) and spread its values through sophisticated and elaborate information programs. The church proposes a vast range of products and services including psychic lines, numerology, geomancy, religious shop, the Budgie Laboratories and, principally, our rock band, Duchess Says."

The band's Web site, www.duchesssays.com, features the Duchess's timeline, from her birth in 1897 to her adoption of the habit and the electric guitar in the '20s to her beatification in 1993. It may sound mighty Catholic, but there's something about budgie worship and analog-electro rock that rings pagan.

No matter what your religious or secular affiliations, Duchess Says invite you into their world this weekend for a "Crazy Show" featuring a flurry of music, breakdancing, showgirls, circus performers and visuals. Fortunately for the faithful, this show ends the dry spell that set in after the cancellation of the band's monthly meetings (DJ parties) at L'Escogriffe.

"That project degenerated into total chaos - we were instantly banned from the place," says Phil. Ismael adds, "We're now having our meetings in a secret location where we can play cards and eat logs in peace."

With Dandi, the Hightops and DJs Frigid, Pat Dynamite and LX Statik at Station C on Friday, Dec. 10, 10 p.m., $12.50

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