Live Report: Mother Mother fill the 3Olympia theatre with love

At 6pm on Dame Street in Dublin, a line started to form outside the 3Olympia theatre. Fans of Canadian indie rock band Mother Mother were lining up to be first to get the best view of the stage.

Mother Mother are a five piece band from Quadra Island, British Columbia – consisting of Ryan Guldemond on guitar and vocals, his sister Molly Guldemond and Jasmin Parkin on vocals and keyboard, Ali Siadat on drums and Mike Young on bass.

All three levels of the theatre were packed with fans in black eyeliner, fishnets and dyed hair. The crowd welcomed Gurriers on stage with uproarious cheers and applause – with the band's unique post-punk sound sparking the same energy among the audience as it did onstage.

The dark theatre was then filled with blue light as Molly Guldemond and Parkin walked in from either side of the stage vocalising with one another to ‘O My Heart’.

The lights flashed and cloaked the room in a cobalt coloured hue. As the patrons cheered for the opening song, the lights faded and changed to purple – and Ryan, Molly and Parkin took centre stage, playing the opening chords to ‘Arms Tonite’. The crowd sang the song back at the band, almost as loud as they were playing.

Mother Mother at 3Olympia Theatre. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

The people in the pit swung their bodies in unison to the beat – their hands in the air, waving back and forth to ‘The Matrix’. Even the walls of the building vibrated to the beat of Mother Mother.

In between songs Ryan addressed the crowd and thanked them for coming to the show that night. He said, “we’re gonna support our neighbours and fill the room with love and kindness,” which was responded to with claps and cheers from the crowd. “Remember this is your show and we are here to serve you. Much love,” he said as he transitioned into playing ‘Problems’.

Mother Mother and their fans were dressed to match. The cut out t-shirts, all black, lace and chokers matched the hazy lighting and dark ambient music. When the group started to play ‘Explode!’ from their new album Grief Chapter, Ryan, Molly and Parkin each took a place on the risers, holding their mics out to the crowd.

The crowd followed Mother Mother’s lead, singing the “ah ah ah” quieter on command and then louder, culminating in an epic bass drop and flash of light.

Mother Mother at 3Olympia Theatre. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

When the cheers died down, Ryan crouched down centre stage and prefaced his next song by saying “this song goes out to anyone that doesn’t feel comfortable in their own skin. You’re beautiful.”

The audience were in tears as the band broke out and played ‘Body’. In this performance, Ryan broke out into an incredible guitar solo that left the crowd with eyes wide and jaws agape.

It was clear that Mother Mother could feel the love from their fans and were sending the same love back to them on every song. Ryan described the room as having “good energy,” and that the audience was “lighting a fire in our hearts.”

Mother Mother at 3Olympia Theatre. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

Song after song, the crowd fed off the raw talent that Mother Mother possesse. The group transitioned from their electric instruments to acoustic guitars and a ukulele to sing ‘Ghosting’ and ‘Wrecking Ball’.

For their last song, Mother Mother performed their hit song, ‘Hayloft’ and the auditorium radiated with excitement. By the end of the song the crowd immediately started chanting “one more song!”

Ryan Guldemond returned holding his guitar and spoke about how their new album, Grief Chapter, was written when they were watching their friend lose someone they loved and how this album is for anyone who has lost anyone important to them.

“It still feels like we’re just getting started,” Ryan said, even though the group has been performing together for 19 years. “This is a place of love and radical acceptance.”

For their final song, Mother Mother performed ‘Oh Ana’. They came together on stage to take a final bow. Then Siadat turned to his crowd and tossed one of his drumsticks to the pit while the rest of the band threw branded guitar picks into the crowd, making sure to throw them as far as they could, even reaching the second level balcony.

Mother Mother will be back at 3Olympia again tonight for a sold out show.