Review: Mother Mother @ O2 Academy Brixton 7/16
Photo Credit: Emily Bradshaw
Review by Deja Tribbitt
When I got to the O2 Academy in Brixton, a venue that I’ve dreamt of attending since I was 13, the line of fans here to see Mother Mother is huge. I struggle to find the end until I realize that the line is so long that it’s completely wrapped around the venue all the way back to the front doors. But I don’t mind the walk, I’ve traveled 3,271 miles to see this show, what’s a few more feet?
Mother Mother is a Canadian alternative rock band founded in 2005 by singer and guitarist Ryan Guldemond, with the current lineup consisting of his sister, Molly Guldemond, and Jasmin Parkin on vocals and keyboards, Ali Siadat on drums, and Mike Young on bass. They’re known for their unique sound that comes from their three distinct vocalists and their unusual and provocative yet relatable lyrics. The band had no plans for releasing new music after their seventh album “Dance and Cry” was released in 2018 until some of their songs blew up on TikTok during the pandemic, which set in motion their next three albums, including their most recent “Nostalgia,” released earlier this summer.
The show’s opener was Canadian alternative artist Fish in a Birdcage, also known as Dustan Townsend. I had heard a few songs by the band in passing and was surprised to find that Dustan is the sole member. The staging of the set was incredibly intimate with him sitting centerstage with only a cello and a tambourine he played with his foot. The music had a folky feel and an earnestness that was reflected in him talking about how this was the largest crowd Fish in a Birdcage had ever played for. Halfway through the set he switched to an accordion, quipping that the definition of a gentleman is someone who knows how to play the accordion, but doesn’t. During the set he played a few unreleased songs, my favorite being “Roledex” that will come out two albums from now. Fish in a Birdcage is definitely worth a listen, but you’re going to have to wait a while for “Roledex.”
Mother Mother’s set was masterfully curated in a way that only a band that’s managed to maintain a solid fanbase for 20 straight years could be. Mike and Ali began the set with a short drum and bass feature that immediately got the crowd screaming. Mother Mother’s music is particularly known for its vocals and guitar riffs so it was awesome to see the rhythm section get some of the love they so greatly deserve. Molly, Jasmin, and Ryan came out next and the stage lit up brighter than anything I’ve seen in my three months in London. Seeing the band all together made the energy in the room skyrocket.
If you’re like me and have been waiting for a Mother Mother Greatest Hits album, know that this setlist is basically it. The band wasted no time giving the audience what they wanted by opening with their classics “The Sticks” followed by “Verbatim,” while peppering in new songs from Nostalgia like “Make Believe” and “Love to Death.” A definite highlight of the show was the fan favorite song “Hayloft” mashed up with Nirvana’s “In Bloom.”
The band played hit after hit with barely a breath in between until Ryan paused the show to thank the audience for coming out to see the show and say that even though we may never meet face to face, we’re still sharing a connection through attending the concert together. One of the things that I’ve loved about Mother Mother since I first heard them is their connection to their fans so seeing and feeling it in real life was really amazing.
Throughout the show Mother Mother’s stage presence was unmatched. They were dynamic, interacting with each other and the fans. Molly, Jasmin, and Ryan are such adept singers that the vocals were album quality with the added swagger of being performed live. Ali’s prowess on the drums was felt throughout the theater. Special shout out to Mike for bringing the energy for the entire show. My favorite part was trying to find him as he darted around stage playing the absolute hell out of that bass.
About halfway through the set, the band switched to an acoustic setup to play a mashup of some of their older songs, including “Body”, “Ghosting”, and my personal favorite “Little Pistol.” After the mashup Ryan handed the microphone to a fan in the crowd who asked his girlfriend to marry him and she said yes. The band then played the happy couple a snippet from her favorite son, “God’s Plan” which once again highlights just how kind and genuine this band is.
They continued the set and ended it with bang with “Hayloft II,” one of the rare cases where the sequel might be even better than the original. The show could have ended there but in typical Mother Mother fashion, they had to go above and beyond. They returned to the stage for an encore of “To Regret,” which offered a melancholy but comforting moment to the audience in its message about the negative feeling of regret but also the fact that it makes us who we are followed by “Oh Ana.” I’ve tried my best to put into words how being at this concert made me feel, but in the end I think you need to go see Mother Mother in concert and feel it for yourself.