With no Musicians within sight we head over to the “D&mn Good Eats” truck. We’ve heard rumors the owner is considering a nomination for town council. Collectively we are undecided if we are ready to cover the municipal elections. Either way it was good to speak with him.
We had taken a seat in the bleachers and with another stroke of luck we saw “Millzz” crossing the festival grounds. We waved him down and I excitedly patted the seat beside me encouraging him to sit with us. I probably looked like an idiot but I’m sure he knows, I’m not just a reporter, I’m also a fan.
I jumped right into it with my team at my back.
Me: Hey Austin(were on first name basis) thanks for coming over, I was hoping you could give us a few minutes of your time we have some questions we were hoping we could ask you.
Austin: uh, yeah sure, i guess.
Me: First off I would absolutely love to know how you came up with the name “Millzz”?
Austin: Its been my nickname for quite a while, its just a play on my last name (Miller) and i think its sounds alright.
We all nodded in agreement.
Me: We wonder if the Miller last name means that you come from a line of mill workers and if you’re the first in your family to venture into the world of making music?
Austin: Uuuuuhhhhh, well the Miller side of my family, I believe is 5th generation railroaders but the other side of my family is a lot more musically inclined.
Me: Do you think the Miller side of your family was hoping that you would take up there ancestral trade of millwork rather then becoming a musician?
Austin: (struggling with the difficulty of my hard hitting questions) No. And they were railroaders. My family has always been really supportive, they’ve never tried to push me into something I wasn’t interested in.
Me: Well they sound like really nice people. If you could work in a mill what kind of mill would you work in and why? Lumber, grain or paper?
Austin: Uh, I guess lumber maybe doing electrical maintenance. Its always been of interest to me.
Me: Do you think the other artists here are jealous of the fact that, not only could you work at any mill you wanted, but you also don’t need a full ensemble to back you up?
Austin: (Laughs) No I don’t think there jealous. They’re all really good musicians here with a lot of experience. Maybe one day Ill have some backing but for now ill just keep doing what I’m doing.
Me: Have you ever considered changing your last name to “music” to better reflect what you do? Like Austin “Millzz” Music.
Austin: That sounds good, I had thought if I ever had my own label i would want to call it “Millzz Music“. That’s what I am on Instagram.
Me: Nice. With all these revelations we’ve made during this interview we cant help but wonder what is next for Millz. Do you keep drudging away at professional music or do you chase your dream of following your family lineage into a career of millwork?
Austin: (Deadpanned staring at us contemplating the question) I think I will use my talents and wisely stick with music.
Me: We all think that is the right decision even if your family doesn’t agree. What’s next after the festival for Austin Millzz Miller?
Austin: Tuesday I’m playing Bruhn Crossing and then September 4th or 5th I’m opening at “Shake The Lake” out at the Sea store.
Me: Cool! Thanks so much for your time Austin we wanted to thank you for your efforts and courage speaking up about mental health and encouraging others to do the same through your voice and music. We will watch your career excitedly.
And that was it, our first interview complete and Austin was probably off to talk to pretty ladies and adoring fans. We really hope he makes it to “Shake The Lake” with him having a hard time remembering the date. We probably wont go because none of us are very strong swimmers.
During the interview Matt Ryan Wagner of Hometown Famous had arrived and was setting up on stage. We had contacted Matts agent prior to the festival about the interview. They informed us that Matt was getting married right after his set at the festival. We were amazed at this! What dedication to play a public festival on his own wedding day!
Matt recognized us instantly and to be honest we’re kinda hard to miss, being such a large group of well dressed individuals. Me wearing my professional band interview shoes. We introduced ourselves and let Matt know we would catch up with him at Music in the Park on Monday. We then each congratulated him on his wedding.
He looked embarrassed and kept saying “Its not my wedding” and “They booked several months before the festival contacted me”
We didn’t want to fluster Matt before his set and on his wedding day so we gave him his space.
We all took a moment to reflect on how well our disguises were working. The grounds were filling up and the local population didn’t know who we were, why we were there, or what we were doing. In full blown incognito mode we were blending in and we were starting to mingle.
As we started to socialize we really started to realize what its was that was so special about Malakwa and this festival. We weren’t fooling the crowd. They knew exactly who we all were, they just didn’t care. They accepted us as there own and didn’t make a big deal about it. It was the kind of community that offered kindness, compassion and acceptance. You could come as you are, sack head and all and they would treat you like you were at home. No one even mentioned my shit shoe smell, but I’m sure they all knew.
We met a young couple who had recently moved from Revelstoke, who, had we asked them, I’m sure would have echoed the same sentiments. Discussing later in the office we realized this couple may have been hitting on us when they asked “Do you come here often?”. At the time we were all pretty confused by the question so we said “Yes” and then promptly moved away to avoid any follow up questions. Maybe later we should do an article about Malakwa’s swinger population. There’s gotta be at least two of them.
From our location we noticed the Blind Bay Blues Band was arriving and made our way back to the stage. We passed Ryan Guilbeault from Headway again just watching Matt Ryan Wagner who had taken the stage. We thought maybe it best to get the interview with him on behalf of Headway while we had the chance. Ryan indicated it to be a good time so we started with the hard questions.
Me: I know your busy so Ill get right into it, with a band name like Headway I expected you to have a way bigger head what’s up with that?
Ryan: Yeah were just a down to earth bunch of guys.
Me: No, I meant literally. I was expecting you guys to have way bigger heads and their all just normal sized. Don’t you worry about false advertising?
Ryan: Oh… I guess our heads all just stopped growing at a normal size, I was slightly concerned people might think we have a big ego but the idea that they might come to shows to see our abnormally big heads might work for us.
Me: I see, a little trickery. You recently played club Mara, we caught a video online, it looked like a great show. I did notice the only fan to take their shirt off was a dude in a speedo, how did that make you feel?
Ryan: (audible laughing)It was a Woodstock theme so maybe it had something to with that.
Me: When the mudd came out the clothes came off?
Ryan: Something like that. It definitely made for a memorable show.
Me: Cool Cool. A while back I gave you a pool table do you still have it and use it?
Ryan: Oh my gosh you actually have that written down?(he was impressed with our research) I actually just got rid of it last year. We used that thing so much but it was pretty warped from being on the deck so we upgraded to a slate table.
Me: It was warped pretty bad when I gave it to you.
Ryan: Yeah.
Me: On July 18th you played the Sicamous Legion, it was Saturday at 8pm. I believe that to be after the meat draw. Did it still smell like meat in there and how did it effect the show?
Ryan: (Laughing) No there was no lingering meat smell and I think it helped the show because a lot of people stayed for it after the meat draw.
Me: It was supposedly for the legions 100th anniversary. I don’t believe that building is actually 100 years old. Do you think they just said that so you would come and play there?
Ryan: I don’t think it was the building but the organizations 100th anniversary. That building is probably not 100 years old. I don’t think they were just saying that.
Me: So does Headway plan on playing other fake events or will you just stick to real ones like the Malakwa Music Festival?
Ryan: Oh i think we will probably just stick to real ones.
Me: Last question. What’s the next show for Headway, real or fake?
Ryan: Were playing music in the park in Armstrong on August 21st.
Me: Awesome! Thanks Ryan
Ryan: No problem.
And like that another interview completed. With that all wrapped up we decided to give the Blind Bay Blues Band a little more time to finish unloading and we hit the vendor tents, where we were surprised to meet a young man who had written and published his very own comic book. Colour us impressed, right here in Malakwa?
We did a quick interview but we don’t have any info. Our fact screwer-upper was supposed to be taking notes but all we got is “Moribund”. We were told its Latin for inevitable death. I hope we see that guy at Vernon Comic Con someday.
By this time, we were completely out of water, one ounce each just wasn’t enough. But it was enough screwing around. Having already been in email contact with both Whiskey and Rain from Vernon, and Whiskey N Rain from Eugene, Oregon, we decided getting the interview with B.B.B.B. was more important.
sicamouslocalnews.ca 