Fresh off the start of their Negative Qualities tour, SINGLE MOTHERS came through Chicago with one intention: To tear apart our cold ass winter and leave us in a sweaty pile on a beer-soaked floor. Making rounds with fellow Canadian punks THE DIRTY NIL, SINGLE MOTHERS outperformed their last Chicago show, despite a few sound issues, and the crowd’s response was still a perfect parallel to the blood and sweat that was left on the stage. The show’s adversity isn’t new to the London, Ontario natives either; with break-ups and members leaving since conception, these Canadians aren’t afraid to roll through the punches. The core seems healthier than ever and their debut LP is the only proof you need.
SINGLE MOTHERS IS DREW THOMSON, MICHAEL PETERSON, EVAN REDSKY, and BRANDON JAGERSKY
Frontman Drew Thomson has developed an uncanny ability to walk a fine line between wearing heart on his sleeve and not giving a shit what you think. The in-your-face commentary about girls, pretentious attitudes, drugs and anger all with a nice, healthy twist of sarcasm, cynicism, and an overall sense of jadedness that one acquires with age and emotional pouring shows just how much these guys put on the table. Thomson's lyricism is just the face of their gritty punk instrumentation, swamped by lo-fi guitar work, abrasive drumming, and a pace that beckons your mosh boots; this is a brand of hardcore/garage punk you don’t want to miss out on. There’s no reaching here; only straightforward amped up punk with swelled/noisy bass, distorted chords and some momentous hooks and layering. No wankery, no ostentation, just complementary grooves and riffing whilst Drew slays societal vanity.
Between the fast paced riffs and the giving-it-all, raw lyricism Drew clings to so well, these guys really do choke it all up for their ever growing audience. Still on their rise to the spotlight, Negative Qualities, the group's second official release, definitely helped put them on the map. Landing a Sunday PitchforkFestival slot, the Canadians have big summer plans to look forward to, including Barcelona’s Primavera Sound and a European tour. They’ve come a long way since first releasing their S/T EP (2011) and their raw energy still hasn’t faded in the least... Definitely catch em if you can this summer and check ‘em out now, ya dummy!