Mother Mother – Cabaret Mile-End – 12.11.11
It was a very refreshing feeling to attend an earlier show, considering how most shows don’t start until very late these days. Singer-songwriter, and award-winning filmmaker extraordinaire, Daniel Isaiah Schachter, who now goes by the stage name Daniel Isaiah, was the opening act. He, accompanied by two talented musicians walked onstage at around 8pm. They set themselves up quickly, and efficiently, and started playing a beautiful set of heart-plucking songs that would build up into intense, moving climaxes. People underestimate how full a three-piece band can sound. The guitar, bass, and drum combination made for a rich, honey-sweet listening experience, and Daniel’s beautifully sad vocals left you mesmerized and floating into space. Come to think of it, it felt like his voice had a bit of a bluesy, Timber Timbre tinge to it in some parts. Be sure to check the trio out again this coming Thursday, November 17 at La Sala Rossa, along with Young Empires, Cadence Weapon and more!
The moment Mother Mother set foot on stage, the riled up Cabaret crowd cheered at a level of decibels that would be easily comparable to the level you’d hear at a European football game. Minus the vuvuzelas, but still on par. They started off their set with an older song, from their 2007 Touch Up album, called “Ball Cap”. Actually, their whole set was a perfect mêlée of their whole discography up until now. They even played the crowd-favourite “Wrecking Ball”, from their 2008 O My Heart album. Not that any of their songs were least favoured. Honestly, I think my ears went deaf more from the cheering than from the music that night! Every slight pause in a song was taken as an opportunity for the crowd to cheer out their effervescent love for the band. The show was mostly meant to let Mother Mother’s new songs from their recently released EUREKA album breathe and get some exposure though, which was obviously accepted with open, air-punching fists and arms! The sound was nothing less than pristine; the sound-technicians really did their jobs. I’m tipping my hat to them; no word was muffled, and not a strum went twangy. At the end of their set —after the synchronized, floor-smashing foot-stomps the crowd threw to bring the band back for an encore— they thanked the crowd, and mentioned how this show was very important and revelatory to them, considering Montreal’s habit of being fickle-hearted with bands; them being no exception. It was a magical show, filled with exuberant energy from both the band and the crowd, and I am one hundred per-cent certain that Montreal would love another treat show from Mother Mother, as soon as possible! -Sarvenaz Amir-E.
Daniel Isaiah
Mother Mother
-Photography by Christie Vuong
