Mother Culture - 03 Sept 10

Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide's getting close and personal with another band set to rock the local stage soon - Mother Culture! Hailing from Kansas City, MO (a rockin' town known for its hip jazz scene), this indie band performed at SXSW Fest earlier this year which was also part of their tour starting at Fargo, ND. Now embarking on their Fall 2010 tour with a stop at Chicago's legendary Subterranean, they'll be sharing the stage with Empire State Express, Ryan Traster and SouthSide's good friends, The Love Shots on Thursday September 9. This reviewer also had the pleasure of listening to Mother's latest EP, "Sold Your Voice" and highly recommends snagging a copy. Through the magic of email, SouthSide asked Nick (percussion), Kyle (bass), Justin (guitar/vocals), and Jessie Lu (vocals) a few questions about their name, music and perhaps tiny tidbits we never knew about Mother Culture until now.


SouthSide: What inspired the band to be named "Mother Culture"?

Nick: The name was originally taken from a Daniel Quinn book called "Ishmael." A "Mother Culture" is an early civilization or people who have a widespread affect on later civilizations and cultures. For instance the Olmec or considered a Mother Culture to Mexico. The book discusses how mankind has existed in harmony with the planet of millions of years and how in the last 2,500 years we've stepped away from tribal society and into civilization. The name for me though, is about sharing ideas with the greater world in order to make it a better place. Being in a touring band is a very tribal way of life, and it just seemed fitting.

Justin: To me the Mother Culture is also a sort of parent influence throughout this planet. We've decided that commerce, materialism, and economy are the building blocks for a "civilized" state, and anyone who sees things from outside of that paradigm is seen as sort of an outsider. It seems like the Western, first world, ideology is considered to be the correct one throughout most of the world, and countries that are hanging onto their tribal way of life are expected to "grow up" and be like their "Mother" Culture, even though that culture is responsible for most of the world's problems. I guess for me, it made sense to name the band Mother Culture because it allows for questions like this one.

JessieLu: I think the fellas covered it completely.

Kyle: Ditto

Nick also added this: Its the whole "assimilate or die" concept that was applied to the American Indian or the Aborigines. This sort of pressure still exists and in places like Tibet and parts of southeast Asia and South America where slaves build our cell phones and tennis shoes. I think in a way we hope to draw attention to the fact that there are ways to exist outside of this grid, and that there are alternatives to aimlessly pursuing the latest and greatest toys and gadgets because CNBC market reps told us we need them.


SouthSide: How would you describe your music to new fans?

Nick: I like to tell people we're a mix of punk rock cabaret with a strong pop sensibility, but don't take my word for it, decide for yourself.

Justin: Theatrical rock with a bit of Tokyo club zest.

JessieLu: I think most people would consider us Indie rock because it's relatable. If I told people that I thought we were a bit of pop, rock, with punk flavored sprinkles accompanied by heavy opinions and maybe a bit of a hypnotic flow at times.. it would be a mouthful

Kyle: I usually tell people our EP is indie rock with pop, dance, and folk elements, but when trying to describe our new material, it usually ends up getting lost in some long diatribe about electronics and atmospheric noise that eventually ends up ends up back at "rock". I find that people always come up with vastly different ways of describing our sound though, and I like that.


SouthSide: What's the one song should fans listen first off your Sold Your Voice EP? and why?
Everyone suggested Paper Dolls (With Plastic Parts) as well their personal favorites to SouthSide.

Nick: My favorite song to play from the EP, as the drummer would definitely be "Paper Dolls (With Plastic Parts)." Its got a lot of fun transitions and cool grooves.

Kyle: I think "Paper Dolls" is the most fun to play live as a whole, and also has the most energy.

Justin: Hmm...the fun song? Sold Your Voice and Paper Dolls are definitely my favorite songs on the EP to play live.

JessieLu: Vocally my favorite would be Cancer for Commerce, it's my FU to the man and just really fun to sing. As a band my favorite would be Paper Dolls

Kyle: but I also really enjoy the climactic rise and fall of the musical break at the end of "Empire" live.

Nick:My favorite song as a listener though, would definitely be "There's an Empire in My Head." I love how the different vocal parts all converge at the end. Its so uplifting.


SouthSide: What's the fun song off the EP in which you feel that vibe from your while performing live?

Nick: I'd say "Sold Your Voice" since its the title track off the album. I also think it gives people the best understanding of what we sound like. I'd love it if they listened to the whole EP though :-)

Justin: I would say "Sold Your Voice" because it makes you wanna shake ya ass and your fist.

Kyle: I also hope people will listen to the whole album through, so I suggest starting with "Sold Your Voice" as well. Its only like 20 minutes long!

JessieLu: It's unanimous.


And yes,blogspot readers, SouthSide did ask the ever "dreaded influence" question only because she enjoys hearing the many different as well as possible answers this one particular question can accummulate. Here's how the member of Mother Culture responded:

Nick: Haha, oh the dreaded influence question. I think we could all go on for hours about what groups have influenced us and how. For each person the list is very different. For me, I've been listening to bands like Social Distortion since I was a kid. Bands like The Adolescents and the Dead Kennedy's had a huge impact on my musical tastes early on. I still listen to those bands, but I also enjoy groups like The Format, The Dear Hunter, Gogol Bordello, Local Natives, The Matches and Wye Oak. I'm a sucker for anything with big, overblown arrangements.

Justin: For me I guess it's just living in the world that we do. If I turn on the tv, open a magazine, or hear someone's conversation, I'm probably forming some kind of opinion on what I'm witnessing at that moment, and that opinion is going to be translated into an idea that makes it's way into a song. I've always loved bands that can throw an idea at you and make the hairs stand up on your arms; bands that can really rally the ideals that live in your heart and soul. That's always been something that I wanted to do.

JessieLu: As a band we pull from so many influences in our lives. Everything from personal experience, music, a glance, a memory, a conversation, even a dream. Musically I love The Flaming Lips, David Bowie, The Neutral Milk Hotel, Television, David Byrne.. Anyone with an imagination, really.

Kyle: As hokey as it sounds, Justin was actually my first real "influence" on the bass. He pretty much showed me the ropes and gave me a decent framework for becoming a better player back in high school. Since then, I'd say my playing style has mostly been influenced by Roger Manganelli (Less Than Jake), Rex Brown (Pantera), Cory Murchy (Minus the Bear), and Jared Warrren (Big Business/Melvins), all for vastly different reasons.


SouthSide: What's the one thing you hope the audience gains from your live shows?

Nick: I hope they have fun. If they're not having fun we haven't done our job, and they just wasted $7 or $8.

Justin: I would hope that they leave feeling inspired. I've always loved being inspired by a great performance and I can only hope that I can do the same.

JessieLu: Smiles and a brain full of ideas.

Kyle: I hope the listeners gain enjoyment out of it, whatever that may be to each individual person, since that's what music is all about.


SouthSide: What's the one thing your fans don't know about Mother Culture that you wish to reveal now?

Nick: ...I have no idea. Reality is relative?

Justin: Um...we have a time machine and are actually from the year 2547.

JessieLu: It is the distant future.. the year 2000. We are robots.The world is quite different ever since the robotic uprising of the late 90's. We no longer say yes, instead, we say affirmative....Unless we know the other robot really well.

Kyle: We sleep with our eyes open and breathe through gills in our feet! Not really, but I don't think there's anything too interesting I could tell you that people don't already know. Unfortunately we're fairly normal.


What funny responses to her last questions, blogspot readers. SouthSide cannot wait to meet them in person when she reviews Mother's SubT performance next Thursday. She highly suggests checking out this band during their Fall 2010 tour coming to a city/town near you. For more details and information, visit www.motherculturerock.com or www.myspace.com/motherculture.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide