Sometimes a band’s style of conversation perfectly parallels its music. Disjointed, loudly confident, unpredictable and pure non-stop entertainment, a sit-down talk with members of Mothers seems to take a cue from their full-throttle, metal-tinged songs. Behind their respective black attire, baby beards and cigarette smoke, singer/guitarist Matt Wilson and drummer Matt McClain chat about the new Santa Cruz quartet on the deck of Caffe Pergolesi. Guitarist Matt Hintze pops in for brief cameos as he wipes down the tables and works the venue as a nightshift barista. With bassist Dustin White (middle name: Matt), the band of Matts has transformed Wilson’s previous songwriting project—the more subdued Motorcycle Snakebite—into an abrasive, technical juggernaut in which McClain’s cymbal-breaking attacks furiously brew behind a jagged interlocking of guitars. Wilson says, “When people first see us they won’t understand what it is, but I think they’ll like it because—” McClain interjects, “Definitely not because of our looks!” Laughter ensues. Wilson’s sweet and earnest manner is a foil to McClain’s ceaseless sarcasm and jokester jabs (“We’re really influenced by Mariah Carey,” the drummer quips).
Though the music is dark and foreboding, and songs like “Drag the Lake” and “Dysmorphia” contain ominous lyrics with aggressive, unstructured instrumentals and screaming pipes to match, the affectionate twenty-somethings are all about side-splitting good times. They practice out of Wilson’s bedroom 
using mostly his gear (“I have my own drumsticks, though!” McClain declares), some live together, and they’re not afraid to—kiss each other. Yep, there are photos to prove it. A core of friends experienced in a slew of other bands, according to Wilson they’re now playing together “to get back to our punk rock roots.” Catch the camaraderie alongside Fast Asleep and The Groggs when they perform Wednesday, Dec. 29 at The Blue Lagoon. Referring to Wilson, whom he’s known since high school, McClain says, “His mom used to always tell me to play in a band with him.” Apparently, mothers really do know best.
INFO: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29. Blue Lagoon, 923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. $5. 423-7117.
