Fredericton art rock weirdos Motherhood are at it again. They’ve slathered on whatever sauce gets them geared up, and strangely enough sound tighter than ever. For a band that feel like they’ve only gotten progressively weirder, their newest single, “Pick of the Pugs,” sounds downright poppy in comparison.
Maybe it’s the fact that the song’s subject matter is just so readily accessible. Who hasn’t been in this situation before?
“It’s a little diddy about aggressively painting your ex’s house while they’re away,” explains Motherhood’s Brydon Crain, which makes it sound like a Mellencamp tune that’s rolled along to an unfortunate ending.
Fortunately, the result is something more akin to The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour/Abbey Road. There’s even a reference to “Mean Mister Musta” and the track features Kyle Cunjak (The Olympic Symphonium/David Myles) chuffing away on bass like he’s the Walrus.
While Crain sings about turning to drink, boasting of his prowess with a paint roller and relating himself to the lowliest of pugs, he is really singing of the plight of the everyman. It is the sense that each and every one of us is unrecognized and unsupported in our talents, and a need for such that leads to the very real possibility of lashing out in a grand gesture or some act of vigilante artistry. It could happen to anyone.
Tour Dates:
09.08.18 – Halifax, NS @ The Seahorse Tavern
09.13.18 – Fredericton, NB @ Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival
09.17.18 – Saratoga Springs, NY @ Desperate Annie’s
09.18.18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
09.19.18 – New York, NY @ Piano’s
09.20.18 – Buffalo, NY @ Steak & Cakes (house show)
09.21.18 – Fitchburg, MA @ House Show
09.22.18 – Portland, ME @ Waking Windows Festival
09.23.18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Cobra Club
09.24.18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Pharmacy
09.26.18 – Hadley, MA @ Motor Goose Inn
09.27.18 – Troy, NY @ River Street Pub
09.28.18 – Winooski, VT @ Gloom Garden (7:00pm)
09.28.18 – Burlington, VT @ Radio Bean (11:30pm)
09.29.18 – Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal (w/ Wolf Parade)
10.10.18 – Vancouver, BC @ Red Gate
10.11.18 – Abbotsford, BC @ CITR Presents
10.12-13.18 – Kelowna, BC @ Breakout West
10.20.18 – Halifax, NS @ Halifax Pop Explosion
10.26-27.18 – Caraquet, NB @ Festival 506