by JOHNSON CUMMINS

The link between "real" country and punk rock, at least when it's played right, is really not that outlandish. Both forms are primal, honest, and when sung straight from the gut, can garner the same reactions. The Sainte Catherines have nothing to prove when it comes to punk rock and their offshoot band Yesterday's Ring easily makes the transition to country while remaining believable and pure. Lead singer Hugo Mudie also walks the walk when he hosts one of the city's best country DJ nights every Tuesday at l'Escogriffe. The Mirror talked to Yesterday's Ring/Sainte Catherines singer/songwriter Mudie about his punk/country balancing act.

Mirror: How did the Sainte Catherines start a country band?

Hugo Mudie: It just started from becoming big fans. The Sainte Catherines would tour about five months out of the year in the States and we ended up listening to mainly country in the van. We probably all listen to a lot more country than we do punk rock. I think it's natural for people to want to play music that they like listening to, so us playing country in Yesterday's Ring just feels natural for us. We try to do something different with country, and because we come from a punk rock background, I think we have something new to offer to people who are just strictly into country music.

M: When you're writing, do you have to split your brain so you know which song will go to the Sainte Catherines and which songs will go to Yesterday's Ring?

HM: Kind of, but in the end it's kind of obvious who will get what songs. I just write for me without thinking about which band is going to end up with the song.

M: Have you been turning a lot of Sainte Catherines fans on to country as a result of Yesterday's Ring?

HM: Yeah definitely, especially at the country night at l'Escogriffe. A lot of people with punk rock backgrounds are hearing singers like George Jones, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard for the first time, and they're really liking it. A lot of younger kids have been really getting into the Yesterday's Ring record too, so I tell them to check out some of the legends of country. A lot of kids have thanked me for that and that's pretty gratifying, to expose people to other music that they may not have come across on their own. We've also been getting older people who like Yesterday's Ring to want to check out Sainte Catherines too, so both bands are really helping each other out.

M: Is it hard to find time for both bands?

HM: It used to be really easy because Yesterday's Ring was more of a side project, but after we recorded the last record, we liked it so much we really wanted to concentrate on it as much as possible. We usually rehearse two hours with Sainte Catherines and then take a break and rehearse two hours of Yesterday's Ring. Sainte Catherines is our priority, but lately I've been liking Yesterday's Ring better. It changes all the time.

With Luther Wright and the Wrongs at le Divan Orange on Friday, Aug. 26, 9:30 p.m., and with Luther Wright, Cowboy Nights and DJ Malbouffe at l'Escogriffe on Sunday, Aug. 28, 10:30 p.m., $8

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