The Pack A.D. has done a lot in the four years since signing with Mint Records.

The Vancouver twosome, comprised of drummer Maya Miller and vocalist/guitarist Becky Black, has put out four releases, including 2010’s Polaris Prize-nominated We Kill Computers.

The pair has also toured like madwomen, showcasing their enormous punk-infused garage rock sound across Europe and North America - and they are hitting the West End Cultural Centre on Halloween.

“We’re already getting our costumes ready,” says Miller, sated with a belly full of Atlantic lobster and mussels on the group’s day off in Charlottetown.

While they’re keeping their costumes a secret, she hints that they are going traditional this year, “and not Amish traditional.” 

As for the audience dressing up with the band, Miller encourages it, saying there may even be prizes awarded from stage.

On the topic of tricks or treats, Miller prefers the latter.

“Some tricks are kind of weird, so I’ll stick with treats,” she says. “Hopefully wings. I think it would be great if you could go door-to-door for hot wings. I really like wings more than chocolate.”

“ I think it would be great if you could go door-to-door (trick-or-treating) for hot wings. I really like wings more than chocolate.

Maya Miller, The Pack A.D.

Learning about the all-you-can-eat wing night at Garbanzo’s the day they are in town, as well as the existence of a hot wing truck in Winnipeg, only excited Miller further.

The Pack A.D. is touring in support of last year’s Unpersons, which was produced by Jim Diamond (Dirtbombs, White Stripes).

However, they have half an album’s worth of material recorded that they have decided to keep, according to Miller.

“We’re going to do some more recording around December, and the new album could be (out) as early as spring, might not be until next fall. We’re just going to see how it goes.”

Miller and Black have been testing at least five new songs to see how they go over with the audience.

“Scary new premiere, scary song,” Miller says with a laugh.

A couple of recent blog posts, including one by Winnipeg’s own Jen Zoratti, have explored the ridiculousness of “women who rock” magazine issues or lists, and “female-centric” questions.

Miller agrees that it’s all silly.

“I think it’s a crying shame that we have to be asked questions about it, to be honest,” Miller says. “When you’re playing music, you’re not playing it as a gender.

“It’s painfully sad that in the grander scheme of things, regarding the largest bands, there seems to be a lack of women, so I guess that’s why we’re still talking about it. But I don’t really see the point.”

Published in Volume 67, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 24, 2012)