Dance and Cry Tour visits Guelph Concert Theatre
“If anyone is going through a hard time, we want to let you know that we’ve got your back tonight,” Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother told the audience during the band’s set at the Guelph Concert Theatre. They proceeded to prove this to the crowd by doing what they do best — playing a loud and fast rock show.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Ryan Guldemond showed off his chops on the electric guitar with a dazzling solo on almost every other song. He explained that the band had formed over a decade ago while he was studying jazz and classical music in post-secondary school and living with his sister, Molly Guldemond — who became one of the keyboardist/backup vocalists of the band.
Mother Mother’s set included popular radio hits like “Monkey Tree” and “Bit by Bit,” but two standout songs from their show included a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” by Molly Guldemond and a breathtaking performance of “Biting on a Rose” by keyboardist and vocalist Jasmin Parkin during their encore. The two backup vocalists, who are known for singing the band’s iconic harmonies, were able to shine during these feature moments.
Opening act and fellow B.C. band Said the Whale started off the night with some good music and humour. After playing a fan-favourite song, “Camilo (The Magician),” vocalist and guitarist Tyler Bancroft explained that he wouldn’t be able to play at his usual level of energy due to his recent appendectomy.
“Folks, we may be five people, but we are only four appendixes,” Bancroft told the crowd. Said the Whale charmed the audience as Bancroft and vocalist and guitarist Ben Worcester traded vocal duties during their set, playing older songs like “The Light is You” and “I Love You,” while also mixing in songs from their recently-released sixth LP, Cascadia, like “UnAmerican,” “Wake Up,” and “Record Shop.” A particularly sweet moment from their performance was “Level Best,” an acoustic love song for Bancroft’s young son.
Bancroft, Worcester, and keyboardist and vocalist Jaycelyn Brown all joined Mother Mother later on stage to provide additional harmonies for one of their songs.
Mother Mother’s Dance and Cry Tour dropped by at the Guelph Concert Theatre on Tuesday, Feb. 26, with support from Said the Whale.
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READ MORE: THE ONTARION’S INTERVIEW WITH TYLER BANCROFT OF SAID THE WHALE ON INSPIRATION FOR CASCADIA
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Feature photo by Karen K. Tran/The Ontarion.