Editing Maow (section)

==History==
The band came together in 1994, when Americans Case and Beesley-Hammond, who had been at art school together (at what is now [[Emily Carr University of Art and Design]]), joined with Black, also an American who was studying in Vancouver. Their original name was 'Meow'; they changed it when a New York band of the same name objected. They played their first gig in the backyard of the 'House of Rock', where its residents, members of [[The Smugglers (band)|The Smugglers]], held events such as the 'Debut-B-Q'. When Maow performed, neighbours called the police. The police attended, and watched the concert.<ref name=freshmint>Kaitlin Fontana, ''Fresh at Twenty: The Oral History of Mint Records''. [[ECW Press]], 2012. {{ISBN|978-1770900523}}.</ref>

In 1994, Maow entered 'Shindig', a band contest hosted by the [[University of British Columbia]] radio station [[CITR-FM]], and became the first female band to win.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lawrence |first1=Grant |title=CiTR's Shindig celebrates 35 years, Nov 2018 |url=https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/courier-archive/general-archive/citrs-shindig-celebrates-35-years-of-battling-bands-in-vancouver-3087769 |website=vancouverisawesome.com |date=13 November 2018 |publisher=Vancouver is Awesome |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> (''Discorder Magazine'' called it a "travesty of musical justice" because Maow was "Really bad".)<ref name=freshmint/> As a result of the win, the band was given recording time at [[Mushroom Studios]]; Beesley-Hammond recalled that [[Heart (band)|Heart]] had just finished recording and their lipstick was still on the microphones. While recording, they found their musicianship rapidly improving.<ref name=freshmint/>

Maow released a six-song [[extended play|EP]], ''I Ruv Me Too!'' on the independent Texas record label Twist Like This, which was owned by Beesley-Hammond's brother.<ref name=freshmint/><ref>[https://chrwradio.ca/content/radio-what-wave-playlist-aug-232012 "Radio What Wave Playlist Aug 23/2012   All female led band show as our tribute/show of solidarity for the ladies of Pussy Riot!"]. ''CHRW 94.9FM''</ref> Also in 1995, the band was signed to Vancouver's [[Mint Records]] (which is co-owned by Beesley-Hammond's now-husband, Kevin Beesley, guitarist for The Smugglers and the Beauticians).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molgat |first1=Chuck |title=Beauticians Cosmopology, Oct 2002 |url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/beauticians-cosmopology |website=exclaim.ca |publisher=Exclaim! |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mackie |first1=John |title=Vancouver Indie Label Mint...Oct 2006 |url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/vancouver-sun/20061021/282943855756850 |via=PressReader |work= Vancouver Sun |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref>

In June 1996, they released their full-length album, ''[[The Unforgiving Sounds of Maow]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaups |first1=Robert |title=The Unforgiving Sounds of... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-unforgiving-sounds-of-mw0000079959 |website=allmusic.com |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="Inc.2002" /><ref>[http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/article/13014041/americana-woman "Americana Woman"]. ''Washington City Paper'', David Daley 10 Oct 1997</ref> The album had two cover songs and fourteen original tracks, the best known of which was "Ms. Lefevre".<ref>{{cite web |title=Maow - Ms. Lefevre |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk3GYN6M4-U |website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref><ref>[http://www.canuckistanmusic.com/index.php?maid=442 "The Unforgiving Sounds of Maow Mint - 1996"]. ''Canuckistan Music'', Michael Panontin</ref> Where they had previously not taken themselves seriously, with the release of the album, they took a more professional approach and started touring. They opened for [[The Phantom Surfers]] in San Francisco, they played the [[Horseshoe Tavern]] in [[Toronto]], and numerous Canadian venues in between. With outlandish costumes, a cheeky sense of humour and a tomboy attitude, their media attention increased and they were asked  to go on a US tour with the [[punk rock]] band [[The Hanson Brothers (band)|The Hanson Brothers]].<ref>[http://dropd.com/issue/6/Mint/ "Minty Fresh Taste, Long Lasting Refreshment"]. ''Dropd'', 3 May 1996 Review by Suzanne Goodwin</ref> But when the bands arrived at the American border together, Maow misrepresented their reason for crossing into the US. Both bands were denied entry and their instruments were seized. The tour was cancelled, resulting in a significant loss of revenue for both bands, and for [[Virgin Records]].<ref name=freshmint/>

Maow toured across Canada with the Hanson Brothers but the three women found that touring was unhealthy and stressful. Beesley-Hammond went into footwear design.<ref>{{cite web |title=REVVED-UP RUBBERS |url=https://www.straight.com/article/winter-style-bites |website=straight.com |date=22 November 2006 |publisher=The Georgia Straight |access-date=8 December 2021}}</ref> Case moved back to the US and went on to a solo career as an [[alternative country]] star and sometime vocalist with Canadian [[power pop]] ensemble [[The New Pornographers]].<ref>[http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2005/10/13/the-new-pornographers-the-last-picture-show/ "The New Pornographers: The Last Picture Show"]. ''Magnet'',</ref>  In 2001, Black joined the indie rock band The Gay.