by LORRAINE CAPRENTER

From Detroit, Michigan, sisters Jennifer and Laura Rogers alt-rocked with New York’s Ruby Falls throughout the ’90s. Meanwhile, Kauai, Hawaii’s Miyuki Furtado was a polka drummer in Baltimore. Tired of their respective gigs and hungry for fun, the trio met up in Williamsburg in 1999 and triggered a no wave/garage rock dance party wherever they went. Purely Evil captures the high school enthusiasm that has critics spewing comparisons to everyone from the B-52’s to Wire to ESG. The Mirror spoke to singing bassist Furtado about unpretty pictures, mystery meds and lighter ballads.

Mirror: Your album cover’s got celebs with blacked-out eyes, an SUV, Jesus, porn, an American $20 bill and the words Purely Evil. But it’s a party record.

Miyuki Furtado: It’s basically our homage to early ’80s album covers, stuff from Rough Trade, the Slits. But it’s cheeky, too. The images are so ridiculously obvious, we just thought it was funny.

M: Have you gotten any crap for your use of “Dubya”?

MF: No, not at all, but we were named one of the top 10 unpatriotic bands in Alternative Press. I think they were being sarcastic.

M: Mmmm. So your album is 28 minutes long. How long is the show?

MF: About half an hour. But in Europe we sometimes played to the point of exhaustion because the Germans, especially, don’t appreciate bands who play less than an hour.

M: Do you ever resort to medication?

MF: Medication? You mean like Red Bull? You mean like riding the white highway? No, no, Jen doesn’t even drink caffeine. We’re just naturally hyperactive people.

M: Do you ever wish there’d be a ballad?

MF: You mean with lighters, the “Forever Youngs,” if you will?

M: An arena moment.

MF: Like “Love Hurts”? You know, I tried to write a ballad, I really did, but I don’t think it’s in me at the moment.

M: So I can’t let you go without asking if you ever get flack for being a “Sister.”

MF: No, actually, but Jen and Laura’s mother always introduces me as her daughter. She’s a trip.

With Nautical Almanac and Mystery Brinkman at Casa del Popolo on Friday, May 23, 9pm, $7

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