Gold Pony is Maggie Smith on vocals, Liz Kesten on bass, Daniel DeMaria on guitar and Richard Chisholm on drums. There’s is a tight, infectious sound that is like T-Rex fronted by Kim Gordon, or if Bikini Kill met At The Drive In, with more starry-eyed, dreamy idealism. Gold Pony is all about playing exciting music. 

They’re playing a show Thursday July 27th at Smiling Buddha (961 College St.) with Bueller, Wine Lips, Crazy Bones and Tange. Have a listen.

SDTC: What should we be paying more attention to?

Liz: That’s such a good question. I wish I had a less boring answer but, honestly, I would have to say policy makers. It seems we’re gearing up for some pretty big challenges. I’d like to see us paying closer attention to these folks making huge decisions for us.

Dan: Damn. Well said. I was just going to say Quora.

What was the last Netflix series you binged on?

Maggie: Outlander is a favourite of mine, a Scottish historical time travel show starring a strong female heroine. I was impressed to discover Richie also enjoys the show!

Dan: Not Netflix but we are very into King of the Hill at the moment.

Liz: Yeah, lots of cartoons. Rick and Morty. Also not Netflix, but I love Broad City.

One new thing you learned this year?

Maggie: I taught myself how to build a simple pocket theremin for a sound installation. Before building it I didn’t even know what a schematic was.

Dan: How to tie a kid’s hair in a ponytail.

Liz: Needlepoint.

Biggest music industry pet peeve?

Maggie: Sexism. Judge my art not my gender.

Liz: Yeah, and not only inclusion for other women but inclusivity everywhere: POC, Trans, First Nations, I mean, you name it. Under-representation is a huge problem in all facets of Canadian culture. We can do better for sure.

What book/song/lyric/etc is resonating with you right now?

Liz: Perfume Genius’ “Too Bright.” For whatever reason I catch feelings from it. And I’ve been listening to Arrested Development’s “Everyday People” as my feel-positive-now tune.

Dan: Sheryl Crow’s “Favourite Mistake” is such a good song. And Bjork’s “Hyperballad” after my coworker brought it up. Brought back years of ninth grade memories.

Maggie: I’ve been reading a lot of Seneca (a Stoic philosopher). He helps me rein in my passions and emotions.  I definitely am over-sensitive most days so Stoicism really has helped me become stronger and more focused.

Describe the funniest thing you’ve experienced in recent memory.

Maggie: I drank too many kombuchas at practice…

Dan: Our youngest daughter is having trouble sleeping in her bed lately. She keeps telling me the bed is “too comfy.” I’ve spent weeks laughing at that, trying to figure out what she means.

Liz: She probably means it’s too squidgy.

Best advice you’ve been given?

Liz: I always seem to come back to two: to each his/her own, and “it’s not about you” and like, to not take stuff so personally and be all about my ego so much.

Maggie: That emotions are dangerous and when we react we should react through reflection and replace emotions with reason. Courtesy of my man, Seneca.

What is the best part of being your current age?

Dan: You’re not as clueless as you are in your early twenties. So you accomplish a lot more.

Liz: Knowing what I like and what I value.

Maggie: I feel more confident and care less about what people think of me.

What word or phrase should we use more often?

Liz: Thank you.

Dan: Squidgy.

What’s on your night stand?

Liz: A stack o’ books (just starting Jane Jacobs’ The Nature of Economies), a sweet lil’ Saje diffuser, and a giant pink weeble wobble balloon bunny called Pet Pet that we got for the kids. Can I be candid? A small vape for “flowers” because I am a fancy adult now. Hand creams. Pens. Papers.

Maggie: Eye cream, alarm clock, lamp, and my P.D. James novel (I’m in bed right now).

What one item would you be lost without (besides your phone)?

Liz: Coffee.

Dan: My bike. Or my guitar. Priorities.

What trends are you loving right now?

Dan: I honestly can’t even name what trends are out there right now. I would ACTUALLY have to Google it.

Liz: I like those glitter liquid phone cases. And community-run grassroots organizations.

Who was your celebrity crush when you were a kid?

Maggie: Edward Norton and Angelina Jolie.

Liz: Angelina Jolie! Um YES. I guess Kurt Cobain? I feel silly somehow answering this one.

Dan: I’ll give you a silly one: Natalie Imbruglia. I remember just being so into that song “Torn.”

Describe your ideal Saturday.

Dan: Our best Saturdays include hours outdoors with our kids during the day and hanging out with our closest friends at night.

Liz: Yeah, outdoor activities for sure. I really like getting the smoked trout or whitefish from St. Lawrence Farmer’s Market. Plus Kozlik’s mustard spot makes these mustard gruyere sticks only on Saturdays. So. Good. Definitely a treat.

Maggie: Going to a pal’s garage sale and laughing a lot (my last Saturday – it was so nice, even in the rain – and I got a Sinead O’Connor CD for fifty cents).