Fresh off the release of their debut EP Can’t Help But Feel Dramatic, Irish bubblegrunge five-piece Other Mother celebrated the milestone with an electric hometown show at Cork City’s Wavelength. The city centre rooftop venue was packed wall-to-wall with adoring supporters singing and dancing along, many sporting snazzy new merchandise designed and screenprinted by the band themselves. The EP has already earned the quintet one-to-watch status on the Irish scene, and this show proved they’re also an undeniably ferocious live act.
The band kicked off their set with a full play-through of Can’t Help But Feel Dramatic, engaging the crowd from the very first note of grungy opener ‘not sorry’ before continuing with acclaimed lead single ‘anymore’ (the band’s first LOUD WOMEN feature). It was clear Other Mother know how to command a room with ease, the audience seemingly mesmerised as though following an intricate story. As noted in LOUD WOMEN’s review of the EP, its track sequencing plays a large role in how listeners become immersed in the changing dynamics. This was particularly evident live, watching the crowd’s movements. The sea of people collectively swaying throughout ‘fish to fry’ and ‘tension’ came to a complete standstill for the ethereal intro to ‘worm song’, before descending into full-blown headbanging at the beat drop, with bandmates Willow Esteve (vocals) and Bláthnaid Marsh (keys) sharing a smile in the brief seconds before the chaos ensued.
The band took occasional breaks during the set to speak about their creative process and the importance of human art in an era of AI invasion. Most poignant were the moments spent discussing the background of Can’t Help But Feel Dramatic. Esteve spoke candidly about the heavy subjects addressed in the songs and the personal experiences behind her lyrics, which touch on mental health, illness and self-perception. Members of the audience appeared to resonate deeply, with some even putting their arms around each other. In this moment, you could see that Other Mother, whether at their shows or simply through their music, have created a safe space where people feel seen and validated. There’s a genuine sense of respect the band show for their supporters, and this is very clearly reciprocated.
The remainder of the set featured some fan favourites and a whopping seven unreleased tracks, the latter introducing more genre influences into their sound, as well as showcasing the vocal abilities of other band members. The set was brought to a close with a highly demanded encore of their 2024 debut single ‘inevitable’. Not a single person stood still in the crowded venue as everyone danced their hearts out. Chants of “ONE MORE TUNE” immediately erupted from the audience once again, heartbroken at the realisation that the perfect night was over. However, with these new tracks indicating more music on the horizon, Other Mother have made it abundantly clear they have no intention of slowing down the momentum they’ve built.
Support on the night came from local bands Tulca and Magazine Cowboy. Folk-rock and shoegaze artists respectively, both delivered impressive sets that teased their own upcoming work. With such a well-rounded variety of music showcased by the lineup, the gig was truly a celebration of exciting new talent emerging from this corner of the Irish scene, and there’s plenty more where that came from!
Catch Other Mother live:
18 December – Irish Roulette 2.0 at Fred Zeppelins, Cork City
Listen to Can’t Help But Feel Dramatic on Bandcamp:
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