Mother Mother may I have an encore?

Guitarist Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother, a rising indie rock band originally from Quadra Island, performs to a sold-out crowd at the Cowichan Theatre on Saturday Dec. 15.

Andrew Leong

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If I could write the review for Mother Mother in three words I’d simply say they kicked ass.

But unfortunately that won’t do.

So let's try "Originality is huge."

That was the idea guitarist and vocalist Ryan Guldemond hurled at the crowd during the indie band’s performance at the Cowichan Theatre Saturday. 
Their crazy lyrics, rhythms, beats and light show exemplified just that, delivering a crazy good time for a near-full theatre.

But I wasn’t surprised.

I've been following Mother Mother since my heart strings were tugged by the song Body of Years from their second album O My Heart.

I had to get the CD and I had to see them live. 
And that I did when they opened for Matt Good in 2009 at the Cowichan Theatre.

I was hooked just as they sing “a fish out of water.”

They played a delicious smorgasbord of songs from all their albums Touch Up, O My Heart, Eureka and The Sticks including my favourite tunes Bit by Bit, The Sticks, Baby Don’t Dance, The Stand, O My Heart and Hayloft.

The songs bounced from new to old and rolled together superbly.

And I loved how they disguised what song was coming next with funky and sometimes lengthy interludes.

As Guldemond indicated prior to the show, it was also clear as day money had been dropped on their light show. It was trippy, to say the least.

Opening act and friend of the band’s Hannah Georgas serenaded the crowd with her quiet presence and stunning set of lungs as well as a stellar set of tunes from her new album Hannah Georgas. 
Her lack of stage presence was made up by her unique and powerful voice.

Georgas, also from Vancouver, joined the Mother Mother gang on stage for a rendition of their song Love It Dissipates from their latest The Sticks.

That song’s lyrics, “If you were so funny, I’d be your joke/ If you had the money, well we both might be broke/ And if you were a gun, I’d be your kill/ If you were the party, I’d be the pills,” is one example of the amazing wordplay this band can swing.

Squishing in another three songs in their encore, Mother Mother left folks with the relatable tune Wrecking Ball from O My Heart.

Formerly from Quadra Island, Mother Mother started as small band in big waters, but I'd say they’ve hit land.

Originality is the name of their game and their unique lyrics and melodies and amazing performance abilities will take them anywhere they want to go.

10 sticks out of 10.