What do you get when you throw three drummers and a bass player together? You get Malcolm & the Moonlight – a lovely throwback to swingy ’60s melodies with a touch of mischief. Oh, and this band only has one drummer.  Malcolm Holt and bandmates, Ryan Betts and Daniel Knowlton, share some sass with Sad Mag dishing on the band and Vancouver music. Be sure to check out their show and EP Release on Friday, March 4th at the Astoria.

Sad Mag: Who is in the band?

Malcolm Holt: Myself, Malcolm Holt. I strum the guitar, attempt to sing, but mostly just play the fool.

Then there’s the lovely Daniel Knowlton on bass. He’s pretty to look at, but as empty as an Oklahoma grain silo after a long summers drought. Just Kidding, He’s a swell fellow with a heart of gold but a temper that puts my drunk daddy to shame. Nah, Just kiddin’ again there, my Daddy’s a swell fella too, in fact he puts ol’ Dan Knowlton to shame.

The cymbals and skins are beaten like a ten dollar gigolo on Davie by the sharpest tool in our shed of rusty hoes. That’s Mr. Ryan Betts I speak of. He’s a real shiny diamond in a sea of clams.

Adam Veenendaal picks up six on the lead guitar. He’s the most neurotic axe slinger since my gran Pappy Schlomo. But that’s really saying something cause ol’ Schlomo Bernstein was one hell of a Jew. Adam’s probably one political argument away from giving up on society as a whole, retreating into a cave, and becoming a true guru of sound and silence.

SM: How did you all meet?

MH: At a Handy man’s retreat at Cultus Lake. Adam, Daniel, and I brought our tools. Ryan on the other hand, mislead by the retreat’s name, showed up with his “tool” in hand, looking to get serviced.

SM: What’s your favourite part of working together?

Ryan Betts: Malcolm has been one of my favourite drummers in Vancouver for the last few years. He pretty much sealed the deal at the Rickshaw last year during the Quadruple Dare release party when he knocked a beer can someone threw at him clean out of the air with a thrown drumstick … and didn’t miss a beat. So, it’s great to be backing him.

MH: Thanks Ry Ry.

SM: What sorts of things inspire your music?

MH: I’m really inspired by all walks of the musical life. I grew up on the Beatles, Everly Brothers, Michael Jackson, and all the Motown greats. I cant help but have that influence me when I sit down to write. Then there’s teenage Holt that peaks his wide eyes through. If you listen close enough you might hear a dose of Hot Water Music, The Specials, and Alkaline Trio.

SM: How do you find the music scene in Vancouver?

MH: Just step out your front door and follow your nose to the smelliest part of town.

Daniel Knowlton: OKCupid.com

SM: What’s with the name?

MH: Well, it seems like lead singers don’t ever really get enough credit or attention, putting my name in the title would surely change this unjust tradition.

SM: This is quite a departure from your former band Fake Shark Real Zombie, Malcolm. What gives?

MH: After a life time of banging hollow shells wrapped in skin at the back of a dark stage it made me want to grab a guitar and take centre stage. Playing drums did the same thing, too! Hey Oh.

Damaged Goods presents: Malcolm & the Moonlight Album Release Party
The Astoria
Fri­day, March 4th, 10:00 pm
RSVP on Facebook

Photographs: Tina Krueger Kulic

Last time she checked, “you don’t need a dick to turn a mixer on.” The feisty Blondtron, a rapidly up-and-coming Vancouver DJ, joins a packed line-up of female DJs at Friday’s Utopia festival, a celebration of women in digital culture. Blondtron talks to Sad Mag about how she grew from an Ace of Base-loving wunderkind to a globetrotting DJ who shares stages with Peaches and Isis Salam—and how other women can follow suit.

Sad Mag: How did you get your start in music?

Blondtron: I think I’ve always been musical. I used to play accordion and fiddle in our family bluegrass band so it started early. I always loved all kinds of music. The first 5 tapes I owned were Ace of Base, Dance Mix ‘94, the Dangerous Minds soundtrack, Celine Dion and Bob Marley. My mom used to make mix cassettes for her boyfriends and friends so I’d make mixes for my friends. When I graduated high school I decided to go to sound and engineering school so I could learn how to produce my own music. Everything has just grown from a genuine interest in all sides of music.

SM: What got you involved in the Utopia Festival?

B: My friend Maren (DJ Betti Forde) invited me to be a part of it and needless to say, I was beyond thrilled. Maren has always been larger than life to me. She is a superwoman DJ, artist, activist party kid with a heart of gold who doesn’t take shit from anybody. She has always supported me in my music career and Utopia is just the opportunity of a lifetime! I have tried to get as involved as possible because we need events like this.

SM: Why is it important to support women in the music industry?

B: Women bring a completely different energy to music and the party scene. We need to support them to be sure of themselves and of their own power and talent. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been offered opportunities for a ‘girl DJ,’ often without even knowing what I play or what I’m capable of. If you’re only ever offered opportunities specific to being a woman you start to see yourself as just a ‘girl DJ’ for a ‘girl DJ night’. Last time I checked you don’t need a dick to turn a mixer on. Supporting women for their skills and not for being a woman is the only way we can start to make a change.

SM: What would you say are the primary challenges women face when trying to make it in music?

B: Confidence. I think we’ve just been programmed to think that boys are good at the technology stuff and bad at laundry. (Which is completely not the case. My boyfriend is fabulous at laundry). We need to inspire women to take the cables and connectors in their hands and feel confident in doing so.

SM: How can we support young female artists to take an interest in, and succeed in electronic music?

B: We need more programs in school that are technology-based. If we give everyone the skills at a young age it won’t seem so daunting later on. There are plenty of musical women, just not enough digital women and it’s something that is best understood when you grow with it.

SM: There are a lot of great female DJs playing at the evening showcase for the festival—are there any women in particular that you are excited about meeting or hearing from on Saturday?

B: So many! I’m a fan of every single artist on the roster. Isis Salam’s debut album is spectacular. I was really taken with Lynx, I’d never heard of her before the festival and when I bought her music to put in the artist compilation I mixed I was completely blown away by it. She’s crazy talented and has a great vibe. Of course I love peaches. She’s one of my idols. Sharing a stage with her is going to be so rad.

SM: I see you’ve lived in a few places around the world, and performed in a number of cities. Reflecting on Vancouver’s electronic music scene, how do you feel about your chances for success and growing your music career while based here?

B: Sadly, Vancouver is really behind in its electronic music scene. I’ve played all over the world and this city is one of the toughest. I blame a few things—the fact that radio in North America is all owned by the same corporation. It used to be illegal to own more than a few. And then we have the CRTC, which is the worst. Vancouver is hard with it’s licensing too. It discourages independent venues and makes it extremely difficult for the little guy. That being said, there are a lot of amazing people in the city that are slowly but surely building a more positive scene, Utopia and W2 being prime examples. You just have to know where to look and band together with everyone that inspires you.

Utopia Festival: Women’s Festival of Digital Culture
W2 Storyeum, 151 W. Cordova Street
Saturday, March 5
Workshops (women only) 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Evening Program (everyone welcome) 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Evening Showcase, feat. Peaches, Isis Salam and Blondtron (everyone welcome) 10:00 pm – 4:00 am

Get tickets from eventbrite.

Photo: Karolina Turek.