The Red Verse, formerly The Reverse, will hold a pre-release party for their new EP No Chance for Romance this Thursday, June 5 at Cafe du Nord. The full album release will be on August 15, but the band and their label Tricycle Records will be making 20 limited edition CDs for sale at this week’s show.

Tricycle co-founder and artist relations rep Julie Schuchard told me in an email that she had been interested in the band after seeing them perform at Cafe du Nord and having them play at Tricycle Presents shows. “I have a soft spot for old country and I could really hear that influence in the music,” she wrote. “It’s unlike anything we have on our roster and I liked the idea of expanding our roster into a new genre.”

The band’s style moves back and forth from a Strokes-influenced prep-rock to 50s-60s Rock and Roll and country, with throwbacks to Elvis and Johnny Cash. The new EP includes four tracks that embody these influences and fills in the spaces that were left by their demo (Love is Just the Middle of a Fight) that was released back when the band was just a two-piece.

For 18 months the band was just singer/guitarist Alex Oneil and drummer Danny Sullivan (of Beulah). But after the recording of Love is Just the Middle of a Fight, they were joined by Allen Davis (of Every Move a Picture) on lead guitar and Andrew Gallucio on bass. At this point they were renamed The Red Verse.

The band will be joined Thursday by Murder of Lilies, The Snobs and guest DJs Luisa Black of The Blacks and DJ Otterpop. The show starts at 9pm and costs $10.