Presenting the Mother of all rock shows
Mention the world “mother” and not many people’s thoughts are immediately going to fly to the world of rock music.
But the offbeat and unusual directions are normal for the band, Mother Mother.
The up-and-coming indie band arrives in Duncan Saturday with their unusual name matching their music style.
“It’s born out of abstraction…the word mother has a mysterious intrigue, it’s soft and ambiguous about what it’s implying and there’s truth to that in our music,” said Ryan Guldemond, a guitarist and vocalist for the band.
“I find there’s a clarity that exists in the word and it seemed to fit to a band that doesn’t have a clear musical style.”
Mother Mother is originally from Quadra Island but is now based in Vancouver.
Formed in 2005, the band has had considerable success. Its latest album, Sticks, has received critical acclaim and their hit single Bit by Bit is quite catchy. The band’s best label may be that they can’t be labeled and that is what makes them so popular.
“It’s hard to describe because people couldn’t put a genre on it and it created our own identity. For those who know us, they put us in our own place for the most part. It’s something people are either intrigued by or repelled by because they don’t understand.” Guldemond said.
“I would just say we are something as simple as weird rock music with boys and girls.”
For Guldemond, music is more than a profession. Like many musicians, he feels it is his calling. Some people might feel pressured to write a chart-topping song but Guldemond says the music just comes to him.
“It just kind of bubbles up and if you like it, you invest in it. It’s just a beautiful act and craft so it’s pretty easy to stay inspired, he said.
I write the songs and when they are complete enough to share (the band members) add their flair. We stay interested because it’s so interesting.”
The band, which consists of Guldemond’s sister Molly on vocals and keyboard, Jasmin Parkin on keyboard and vocals, Ali Siadat on drums, and Jeremy Page on bass, takes its inspiration from The Beatles and The Pixies.
B.C. born and raised, Mother Mother is excited to return to Vancouver Island.
“The island has a nostalgic feel to it, like we are all connected to each of those parts. I’m looking forward to the nostalgia and the similarity.” Guldemond said.
If you’ve seen Mother Mother perform before, you haven’t seen them like this. The band has re-vamped its show to add more interest to their music.
“Everything’s been elevated on tour, we’ve invest in the sound and the aesthetic value of the show. I think the music has evolved and not just our new music but the old songs too. We’ve tried to rejuvenate them with new interpretation.” Guldemond said.
Beginning in Halifax, Mother Mother has been on tour since Nov. 17. The tour ends in Vancouver on Dec. 19.
But after nearly two months of touring this band isn’t complaining. A new city every night and a lack of sleep might tire out some musicians but they keep going with a guitar in hand and a smile on their face.
“I like to tour because you get to assemble your assemblage of amps, guitars and your family that you do this with and turn it up and watch the people come into the house,” Guldemond said.
“There’s so much spontaneous energy and little pockets of improv and you relive the lusty sparks you had with songs every time you perform them.”
Your ticket
What: Mother Mother
Where: Cowichan Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m, Dec. 15
Tickets: $32.50 from the Cowichan Theatre box office. Call 250-748-759
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