20 Years of Mother Mother: “Thank you for going on that little journey with us”
words + photography by Nadine GoetzCanadian alternative rock band Mother Mother’s show at the O2 Academy Brixton on July 16th wasn't just a dream come true for the band itself but also for any fan in attendance. The setlist felt like a list of their biggest hits; the band didn’t waste any time giving the crowd what they wanted by playing one of their biggest hits, ‘Hayloft’, just a few songs into the set. When Ali Siadat (drums) and Mike Young (bass) began the band’s set with a drum and bass solo, the fans were immediately immersed in the performance. Shortly after, singer, founder, and guitarist Ryan Guldemond, his sister Molly Guldemond, and Jasmin Parkin (vocals/keyboards) stepped on stage, and the energy in the room shifted.
Just an hour before Mother Mother took the stage, the show was opened by Canadian alternative artist Fish In A Birdcage, aka Dusty Townsend. His set felt very intimate and somewhat surprising. Townsend stepped on stage alone, playing only a cello and a tambourine attached to his foot to support himself. During the set, he also mentioned that this was the largest crowd he had ever played for. The Mother Mother fans seemed very supportive, and he earned loud applause from the fans in attendance. His music is an interesting blend of orchestral arrangements, indie, and folk sounds, creating a raw performance. Occasionally, he was joined on stage by his partner for some backup vocals.
One thing I really enjoyed about Mother Mother’s performance was how they incorporated other songs into their set, such as ‘In Bloom’ by Nirvana or their cover of ‘HOT TO GO!’ by Chappell Roan. Ryan Guldemond told the crowd how happy he is to be playing at this venue. Before performing an acoustic medley of a few of their songs, he said, “There’s people in this room with dreams that are so scared, so we are sending this energy with this medley and we believe in you. We can’t wait to hear your songs.” It was clear that the band has a strong connection to their fanbase throughout the show. The band seems to love their fans as much as they love them. Guldemond thanked the fans often during their set and interacted with the audience quite a bit. “Thanks for going on that little journey with us,” he said before handing the microphone to a fan in the crowd who then asked his girlfriend to marry him, which had the entire audience erupt in loud cheers. The band then played a snippet of their song ‘Gods Plan’ to celebrate the proposal. During ‘It’s Alright’, they skilfully transitioned from acoustic back into a full live performance, which was incredible to watch. For the encore, Ryan Guldemond came out with his sister before bringing a sign of a fan on stage that read “Queen Molly”, to which he agreed, praising his sister before saying, “It’s an honor to be here at this iconic venue. It’s a big deal to us celebrating 20 years… We love you all so much. We thank our lucky stars every day for this life, for this opportunity to make music.” They even played the song ‘Eureka’, which was requested by a fan in the audience. Apart from the band’s obvious connection to their fans and the chemistry among the band members, they also convinced the audience with their musical talents: catchy guitar riffs, clear vocals, a strong rhythm section, infectious energy. Their track ‘Burning Pile’ earned loud applause and had almost everyone in the venue singing along, the song seemingly a crowd favorite.
They created an inviting atmosphere full of energy throughout the show, packed with sing-along moments, a hit-filled setlist with many fan favorites, lots of dancing, but also emotional moments and a clear connection to the fanbase. Mother Mother put on an unforgettable show in London and at the same time made it clear why they are still around 20 years after founding the band. It’s hard not to believe that the band will continue to thrive in the music industry for another 20 years or more.
