In 2005, the Putnam based MotherLode Trio found itself caught in the whole mom rock band mania. They ended up on Good Morning America, Rachel Ray and The Today Show so a benefit at Gilda’s Club earlier this month certainly represents a downsize in comparison. But Patti Pelican, Terry Platz and Stacy Labriola distinguish the difference in venue through a wisdom that only a mother could successfully mete out to that much anticipated destination or on the long journey of life.
“You are always where ever you are,” Labriola says is the answer to the oft asked question –
Doling out the advice and parental experience in Folk/Rock form, the trio definitely does as it says and likes where it is. “When we get together, I think we all acknowledge that what we have together, we cannot have alone,” says Peggy Pelican.
Otherwise, all three have long musical backgrounds but segued into other careers. They randomly met at a few parties in 2000 and eventually agreed to interrupt the various stages each was in as stay at home moms. “We had a great blend and we started singing,” says Labriola, who also works as an childhood music specialist and privately teaches guitar.
Terry Platz, who has a day job with The Beacon Institute of Rivers and Estuaries, seconds the “magical” serendipity of their good fortune. “It’s not something you can plan,” she says. “It was just meant to be, I guess.”
They got down to the business of songwriting several years into it but the creative spark has always come as a solo. “We always want to write together but we never seem to have the time so it’s a private process and then we get together and load it up on the harmonies,” says Labriola.
At this point though, they’ve gotten away from motherhood themes in favor of more universal lyrics. All with teenagers now, the three moms may be just as much at a loss with adolescence as any other mother. “It’s actually gotten harder as the kids have gotten older,” says Labriola. “I don’t know why that is, they seem to need you in a different way.”
Even so, the music still holds an appreciation among five combined children – up until the kids can make exits of their own, according Labriola. “It’s something they know I love to do,” she says, “and then it’s like, Ok, bye ma.”
Nonetheless, the trio easily opted for the mystery over the more lucrative, publicity laden path that could have emerged from the likes of Rachel Ray and even a Reality TV offer. “The priority is the sanctity of our families and keeping that private and personal,” says Pelican, who doubles as the Director of Service Excellence for Medic Exel, USA.
Of course, none will deny the recognition was both fun and a validation of their talents but much more ado would have cut into a payback that cannot be measured in dollars and cents. “It’s almost like an out of body experience. It just sort of washes everything away,” concluded Platz of their collaboration.
