Mother May I (band)

Mother May I was a power pop/rock band formed in 1990 in Washington, DC best known for their songs "Birthday Wish" and "Meet You There".

Mother May I
OriginWashington, DC
GenresAlternative pop, alternative rock, power pop
Years active1990–2001

Formation and early success

Drummer Rob Lebourdais was in a cover band named Lower Wolves while in college. Damon Hennessey was fan who would often go to Lower Wolves shows and sometimes join the band on stage to sing a song or two.[1] Eventually, Hennessey moved to DC to form The Wolves with Lebourdais. Mother May I came together in 1990 when The Wolves disbanded.[2][3]

With the addition of bassist Graham McCulloch, formerly of Negative Approach and The Meatmen, the band released a 7" Single featuring the tracks "Birthday Wish" and "In A Box", both of which would later be re-recorded for their debut album. The inclusion of "Birthday Wish" on a New Music Seminar 1992 sampler cassette got the then-unsigned band an early mention in Billboard Magazine.[4][5]

Rise

In September 1994, the band released Use Your Appetite For Spaghetti, an EP including their soon-to-be signature song "Meet You There" and a cover of The Association's "Never My Love".[6] Soon after, the band signed an eight-album contract with Columbia Records[7] via the man who also signed Soul Asylum, Chalk Farm and Primitive Radio Gods.[8] Before the group entered the studio to record their debut album, bassist Graham McCulloch left the group and joined Earth 18. He was replaced by David Swafford of Best Kissers in the World whom they'd met while both bands toured with Chainsaw Kittens.[9]

In late 1994, Mother May I toured with Judybats,[9] a 4-track CD single featuring 3 songs from their upcoming debut album plus the holiday song "Breaking Up At X-Mas" was released,[10] and a promotional CD featuring "Meet You There" was sent to radio and other music industry outlets.[11] Bassist David Swafford left the band after only a few months, returning to Best Kissers in the World.[12]

Their debut album Splitsville was released on Valentine's Day of 1995. The album includes "Teenage Jesus", a song originally written by The Wolves, but not included on that band's sole release.[13] The band relocated to Marion, NY and toured with Soul Asylum and Sponge.[14][15][16]

Fall

In December 1995, the band was dropped by Columbia Records and disbanded soon after.[8]

The band regrouped in 1997, but in an effort to start fresh, changed the name to Hundred Watt Halo.[8] After only a few shows, the band reverted to its original name. Over the next few years, Mother May I continued to do occasional shows while writing material for their second album.[3] Original bassist Graham McCulloch rejoined during this time. A sophomore album titled 33 1/3 was released in 1999 on SAM Records, a small label from Baltimore, Maryland. The album includes a re-recording of their 1994 holiday single "Breaking Up At X-Mas".

In addition to gigging with Mother May I in support of their second album in 2000,[17] both Hennessey and LeBourdais contributed to Dana Cerick's album My Heart You Break It You Buy It, with Hennessey performing guitar, piano and bass, and LeBourdais performing drums, percussion and background vocals.[18] Hennessey also provided vocals for the alternative country band Red Star Brigade's album Telescope.[19]

By 2001 the band was dormant,[20] with frontman Damon Hennessey having relocated to Chicago, Illinois.[21] An album of old recordings, Demos 1990-1996, was released that year.[20]

Post-breakup and reunion show

After the dissolution of the band, Damon Hennessey relocated to Chicago.[21] He has worked for over 20 years in the film/video production field, serving as director of photography on many projects for several broadcast and cable networks including National Geographic, Hulu, CBS, ESPN, MSNBC, History Channel among many others.[22][23][24]

Rob LeBourdais has since been a member of the Washington, DC area bands Sweetpie Jones, Lu Bango and Timothy Bracken Complex.[25][26][27]

On October 2, 2010, Damon and Rob were joined by bassist Lars Gustaffson to play a reunion show at one of their old familiar stomping grounds, the Iota Club & Cafe in Arlington, Virginia.[28][29]

Discography

Albums/EPs
  • Use Your Appetite For Spaghetti (1994)
  • Splitsville (1995)
  • 33 1/3 (1999)
  • Demos 1990-1996 (2001)

Singles
  • "Nothing To Do" (1990)
  • "Birthday Wish" (1992)
  • "Breaking Up At X-Mas" (1994)
  • "Meet You There" (1994)

Members

Core members
  • Damon Hennessey - Guitar, Vocals (1990-2001, 2010 reunion show)
  • Rob LeBourdais - Drums, Vocals (1990-2001, 2010 reunion show)
  • Graham McCulloch - Bass (1991-1993, 1997-2001)[8]

Other members
  • Peter Gilstrap - Bass (1990)
  • David O'Brien - Bass (1993-1994)
  • David Swafford - Bass (1994-1995)[9]
  • Lars Gustaffson - Bass (1995, 2010 reunion show)
  • Mike Harvey - Guitar (1994, 1997-1999)[8]
  • Les Doerfler - Guitar (1999)

Other bands named Mother May I
  • In 1983, a lo-fi darkwave band named Mother May I from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania released a song "When Children Play" on a WXPN FM compilation album titled I'd Rather Be In Philadelphia.[30] The group also released an undated self-titled 3-track 7" record. The members were Lisa Cortes and Sean Radcliffe. Coincidentally, the engineer for this 7" release, John Wicks, was the opening act for Mother May I (the one that this article is written about) on April 21, 1995.[14][31][32]
  • In 1986, a band named Mother May I from New York City, New York released an eponymous 5-track vinyl EP. The members were Josh Costanzo, Charles Piston, Cesare Costanzo, Charles Marcus and Bob Leploy.[33]
  • In 2005, a dance/funk band named Mother May I from Buffalo, New York released a CD named Chokin' The Doggie.[34]

References
  1. "Mother May I - One of our biggest musical influcences... - Facebook.com".
  2. "The Wolves (5) - The Wolves (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs".
  3. "Mother May I (Facebook About Page)".
  4. Billboard Jun 13, 1992. p. 16.
  5. "Various - New Music Nights Unsigned 92 (Cassette) at Discogs".
  6. "Mother May I - Use Your Appetite For Spaghetti (CD) at Discogs".
  7. "Aspiring Rock Stars Find Major-Label Deals--And Debts".
  8. "It's Hip To Be Round - The Washington Post".
  9. "Mother May I - Live on Brave New Radio (Autumn 1994)".
  10. "Mother May I - Breaking Up At X-mas at Discogs".
  11. "Mother May I - Meet You There (CD) at Discogs".
  12. "Best Kissers Information".
  13. "Mother May I - Splitsville (CD, Album at Discogs)".
  14. "ENERGETIC MOTHER'S PUNK POP - The Washing Post".
  15. "Billboard - Google Books".
  16. "33 1/3 - Mother May I - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic".
  17. "MOTHER MAY I 33 1/3 SAM - The Washington Post".
  18. "My Heart You Break It You Buy It - Dana Cerick - Credits - AllMusic".
  19. "Telescope - Red Star Brigade - Credits - AllMusic".
  20. "REVIEWED! 1 July 2001".
  21. "Damon Hennessey Chicago Cameraman >> About Me".
  22. "Damon Hennessey Chicago Cameraman >> Clients/Credits".
  23. "Damon Hennessey Chicago Cameraman".
  24. "Damon Hennessey on Vimeo".
  25. "Peter Case Tribute Show Featuring Kevin Kinney, Mark Mulcahy & Others Tickets".
  26. "Timothy Bracken Complex's Biography - Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at Last.fm".
  27. "Lu Bango ~ The Little Bang Theory - Indie-Music.com". Archived from the original on 2014-08-23. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  28. "Mother May I - Tonight is the big reunion show at IOTA - Facebook".
  29. "Mother May I - Facebook".
  30. "I'd Rather be in Philadelphia - Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic".
  31. "lovegardensounds - Love Garden - Free Listening on SoundCloud".
  32. "Mother May I (2) - Commercial (Vinyl) at Discogs".
  33. "Albums by Mother May I: Discography, songs, biography, and listening guide - Rate Your Music".
  34. "Mother May I's Album: Chokin' The Doggie".
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