Big Mother Gig
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1992 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States |
| Founder | Richard Jankovich, Rob Due, Jason Borkowicz, Charles Watson |
| Defunct | 2024 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Key people | Richard Jankovich (leader) |
| Products | Music albums and EPs |
| Website | bigmothergig |
Big Mother Gig was an indie rock ensemble originally formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and later operated out of Los Angeles, under the leadership of Richard Jankovich.
During his time at Marquette University in the 1990s, Jankovich established Big Mother Gig alongside Rob Due, Jason Borkowicz, and Charles Watson. Their debut album, My Social Commentary, was released in 1993. By 1995, the group experienced personnel shifts with Riz Rashid taking over from Due, and Brady Roehl together with Matt Deede replacing Borkowicz and Watson. The band’s second album, Smiling Politely, came out in 1996 before they dissolved following Jankovich’s relocation to New York City.
In 2016, Big Mother Gig announced their reunion with an EP and a live performance in Milwaukee. Their first new material in more than two decades, Almost Primed, was issued in March 2017. At this point, the band was based in Los Angeles and featured Jankovich along with Mike Datz on guitar, Micah Lopez on bass, and Albert Kurniawan on drums.
On October 12, 2018, the band unveiled No More Questions, an album compiling songs from their EP, singles released throughout 2018, and fresh tracks such as "Low Payout," which included a guest appearance by Dicky Barrett of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, as well as "Our Cover's Blown," co-written with author Rick Moody and featuring Britta Phillips of Luna. This release garnered acclaim from publications like Alternative Press, Paste, and Under The Radar. The track "(Let's Make) Compelling Content" received attention on NPR/The Current and charted on the Submodern Radio Chart. Additionally, the music video for "Obliterate" starred Michael Ornstein from Sons of Anarchy. To promote the album, Big Mother Gig toured extensively across the Midwest and California alongside artists including Luna, Soccer Mommy, Gin Blossoms, and Peelander-Z.
In February 2021, Big Mother Gig revealed plans for their LP Gusto through Stereogum, releasing its lead single "The Underdog," which featured Leah Wellbaum from Slothrust. The follow-up single "The Doctor Will See You Now" was issued in March. The full album Gusto was released on April 30, 2021 and received favorable critiques from outlets such as Stereogum, NPR, and American Songwriter. During the fall of that year, the band embarked on a U.S. tour supporting Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. Prior to this tour, Mike Datz and Micah Lopez left the group; thereafter, Big Mother Gig continued as a duo comprised of Jankovich and Kurniawan.
In January 2023, "The Underdog" was featured in episode 511 of ABC’s television series The Rookie. The band also toured in March 2023 alongside Emily Wolfe.
In November 2024, Big Mother Gig announced their official breakup; remaining members have since continued their musical pursuits under the name Long A.
Discography
- 1993: My Social Commentary (LP)
- 1996: Smiling Politely (LP)
- 2016: Quintessentially Average: 92-96 (LP)
- 2017: Almost Primed (EP)
- 2018: No More Questions (LP)
- 2021: Gusto (LP)