In interviews, Vancouver's Mother Mother rarely discusses influences besides The Pixies and The Beatles, but its sound is too much of a cocktail to limit to a list of bands the band liked while growing up. What is always present and undeniable in the sound is emotional conflict.
"A lot of the heartache out there is pretty comedic, by nature," says lead guitarist-vocalist Ryan Guldemond over the phone, "and maybe that's just how I see things. That naturally works its way into the music."
Mother Mother has been on the road for months with Matthew Good, finishing up this tour just before Christmas. Despite having vastly different styles, Guldemond says the tour has formed a great connection.
"We each like each others' bands, and fans from both sides seem to be intermingling well," he says. "There's good reception."
Mother Mother has been receiving constant praise from iTunes as having one of the best records of the year, sharing the stage with acts ranging from The Killers to Final Fantasy. The band is also notorious for its energetic performances, with Guldemond's bandmates, Jasmin Parkin and his sister Molly helping to create a thick wall of harmony underneath his howls.
"It feels good to scream and yell things. It's exciting to me, I like that aggression," says Guldemond passionately. It's a challenge not to enjoy the energy Mother Mother can fit into its songs without compromising its discreet dynamics. These are all aspects that Guldemond seems to have deeply considered.
"In life everyone's just waiting for the little intermission where they can go wait for something else," he says. "Music is one realm I don't feel that as much. Time stands still. It's a beautiful thing. So I guess I'd hope for people to experience that."
Mother Mother w/Matthew Good
Friday, December 4, 7:30pm
Cunard Centre, 961 Marginal Road
$30/$35, 888-311-9090, ticketpro.ca
