The Mother Hips are a psychedelic-tinged rock band that formed in Chico, California, and later became San Francisco-based, co-founded and co-fronted by singer/songwriters Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono.[1] Though not from the Greater Sacramento region, the band has been a recurring presence in the Sacramento scene, repeatedly headlining venues and festivals there.[1][2][3]
At a glance
- Origin: Chico, CA; later San Francisco-based.[1]
- Co-founders / co-songwriters: Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono (guitarist).[1]
- Described as Chico's greatest export "since the beer bong."[4]
- Took a roughly year-long hiatus beginning in 2003, skipping about 75 shows.[1]
- Released Pacific Dust in late October 2009 on Camera Records.[1]
- Frequent Sacramento-area performers: New Year's Eve at Marilyn's on K, and a headlining/closing slot at Concerts in the Park.[1][2][3]
Origin and local status
The band is consistently described as originating in Chico, California, before relocating; by 2010 Submerge characterized them as a "San Francisco-based psychedelic-tinged rock band" that "started out up in Chico."[1] Tim Bluhm called Chico his "alma mater" and the place he spent his "formative years," but stated plainly in 2010 that he no longer felt the band was "a Chico band."[1] A 2016 piece still framed Bluhm as the frontman of "Chico, California's greatest export," underscoring the band's Chico identity.[4]
Because the band's origin is Chico — in the northern Sacramento Valley but outside the Greater Sacramento region — they are not a local (Sacramento-origin) act. Their later base was San Francisco. They are best classified as a regional act with a substantial, recurring Sacramento touring presence rather than a Sacramento-origin band.
The band traces its roots to 1990, when Tim Bluhm (vocals/guitar), Greg Loiacono (guitar/vocals), Isaac Parsons (bass), and Mike Wofchuck (drums) met as students at California State University, Chico.[5][6]
Members and songwriting
Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono are the band's co-founders and co-songwriters, with Loiacono playing guitar.[1] Bluhm has historically contributed more of the songs that appear on records, though Loiacono's share grew over later albums; the two write largely independently but exchange ideas and feedback.[1] James Barone is associated with the band in the source tagging from this period.[1][7]
Original drummer Mike Wofchuck was later replaced by John Hofer, formerly of The Freewheelers.[5] For the 2018 album Chorus, bassist Brian Rashap joined the lineup; Jackie Greene also contributed to the recording of that album.[5][6]
Hiatus and reformation
The Mother Hips went on hiatus beginning in 2003. Bluhm described it as lasting about a year and amounting to roughly 75 skipped shows, pushing back against a "common misconception" that the break was much longer.[1] The band took the break out of frustration with touring and a desire to "see what else was out there in life."[1] There was no formal plan or agreement for reuniting; the first six months back were "touch and go."[1] Bluhm credited correspondence with Jon Salter — who went on to found the label Camera Records — as a key catalyst for the band's return.[1]
According to Wikipedia, the hiatus began specifically after two shows at Slim's in San Francisco in February 2003, with the reunion coming toward the end of 2004.[5]
Recordings
By 2009 the band had a studio of its own: Bluhm's Mission Bells studio in San Francisco, where Pacific Dust was recorded.[1] Pacific Dust was the band's second post-hiatus studio album, released in late October 2009 on the New York City-based indie label Camera Records, owned by Jon Salter.[1] The album was produced by the band together with David Simon-Baker, Bluhm's studio partner; Bluhm deliberately did not produce his own band, believing a producer needs an objective, separate perspective.[1] The album's track "Third Floor Story" documented the band's earlier difficulties with record labels.[1] The title Pacific Dust was suggested by the label; Bluhm noted his first recording studio had also been called Pacific Dust.[1]
By 2013 the band again had a new record forthcoming around the time of their Concerts in the Park appearance.[7]
The song "Time We Had" from the album Kiss the Crystal Flake was featured in the music video game Rock Band in November 2007.[5]
In 2017 the band signed with Blue Rose Music.[5][8] On that label they have released Chorus (June 2018), Glowing Lantern (December 2021), When We Disappear (January 2023), and California Current (September 2024).[5][9]
Discography
The band's full studio discography in chronological order:[9][5]
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Back to the Grotto (Feb) | American Recordings |
| 1995 | Part-Timer Goes Full (Aug) | American Recordings |
| 1996 | Shootout (Oct) | American Recordings |
| 1998 | Later Days (May) | Mother Hips Records |
| 2001 | Green Hills of Earth (Feb) | Future Farmer Recordings |
| 2007 | Kiss the Crystal Flake (Apr) | Camera Records |
| 2009 | Pacific Dust (Oct) | Camera Records |
| 2013 | Behind Beyond (Jul) | Mother Hips Records |
| 2014 | Chronicle Man (Jul) | Mother Hips Records |
| 2018 | Chorus (Jun) | Blue Rose Music |
| 2021 | Glowing Lantern (Dec) | Blue Rose Music |
| 2023 | When We Disappear (Jan) | Blue Rose Music |
| 2024 | California Current (Sep) | Blue Rose Music |
Sacramento-area performances
- The Mother Hips played a New Year's Eve show (Dec. 31, 2009) at Marilyn's on K (908 K Street) in downtown Sacramento.[1]
- They were again listed for New Year's Eve at Marilyn's on K in the Dec. 29, 2011 Submerge New Year's Eve roundup.[2]
- In 2013 the band was booked to close a night of Sacramento's free Friday-night Concerts in the Park series, appearing on the June 21 bill alongside Jackpot, The Old Screen Door and Roger Carpio.[3]
Related projects and figures
Tim Bluhm's other musical projects include the Skinny Singers (with Jackie Greene), Brokedown In Bakersfield, Ball-Point Birds, and The Rhythm Devils (featuring the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann).[4] In 2016 Bluhm performed with musician Scott Law — a musical resident at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael — at Grass Valley's Center for the Arts, an acoustic duo show drawing on songs the two had been co-writing.[4]
Bluhm's wife, Nicki Bluhm, leads Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers; her music career began after Tim overheard her sing at a New Year's Eve party and encouraged her to write and perform.[7] The Gramblers' lineup as of 2012 included lead guitarist Deren Ney and David Mulligan, and the band also played Marilyn's on K in Sacramento (June 1, 2012).[7]