Drunk Mums are the epitome of ’70s punk rock and everything that comes along with it. An excessive love for alcohol, messy shows (in the most positive sense of the phrase), fans who go crazy at their concerts and an image that says they don’t give a damn about anything else than music.
Believe it or not, the four-piece do care about more than tunes and chords. But what’s important is they’re back, better than ever, blessing us with new bangers and a range of Australian tour dates.
After travelling around Europe for a few weeks to play for their international fanbase, Adam Ritchie, the band’s vocalist and bass player, found the time to chat to us while visiting his family in Cairns in-between Europe and the drop of Drunk Mums’ fifth release ‘Denim’.
“I think it’s quite similar to our last 7” ‘Leather’, and the point of doing this as well was the EPs ‘Leather’ and ‘Denim’ to bring together more of an understanding of rock and roll,” Ritchie says.
With ‘Ode To Death’ released earlier in the year, we recently got another taste of the EP with ‘Hot Flush’ and the accompanying video. As someone who strongly believes I’ve been born into the wrong era, this track is the definition of the kind of garage rock band song that will bring out my inner rebellion and make me want to jump around in nothing but my Dr. Martens. But the catchiness is also contrasted by the slightly anxiety-inducing lyrics.
“Lyrically I was actually coming out of a bad time in my brain so it was sort of a reflection of that. But it’s still fun and it’s saying that you are ok even though something bad might have happened to you,” Ritchie explains.
‘Denim’ is recorded through his own record label, Pissfart Records, and it is clear, listening to their latest releases, that their music has evolved a great deal since the band first started up and Ritchie joined them. “We’ve definitely lost that blues-y, indie rock sound and are just kind of paying homage to ’70s rock bands a little bit more. I think my influence has changed the band a little as well. Hopefully for the good.”
And while 3/4 of the band are songwriters, each of them bringing very individual genre influences into the mix, the band portrayed as rowdy never really argue and have established a very methodical song writing process.
“We used to jam a lot and that’s where arguments would come from, but nowadays we just brainstorm song ideas and influences and then we kind of bring a complete song to practice. So it’s not any jamming or time wasting,” he says.
Their efficient, no-fucking-around method paired with their hands-on production might be the reason they, in the ever-growing ocean of bands in Melbourne, have managed to stay relevant and make good music that keeps hitting the spot.
“I think doing it yourself you don’t lose any integrity or any creative control, which I think is very important. I think that’s why we stand out,” Ritchie says.
And stand out they do, indeed. Not only because of their catchy tunes and rowdy shows, but also because throughout the years they have stayed true to who they are — making music they are proud of, and music people don’t necessarily know they want until they hear it.
“I think we are stereotyped, but the thing is we do love drinking so we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
“But what I write about and the music I listen to is very serious. I don’t want that to be portrayed as ‘I don’t give a fuck’. Because I do,” Ritchie says laughing.
With their new EP due out the on January 8, you might want to take Ritchie’s advice: don’t take yourself too seriously, skip the healthy new years resolutions and go get loose with the Drunk Mums instead.
When & Where: Geelong Bandroom, Geelong – December 16 & The Eastern, Ballarat – January 25.
Written by Nilo Danai
