Tim was on The Jake Feinberg Show and discussed his experiences as a band from the pre-internet boom until the modern-day pandemic era. It’s a very authentic interview in which Tim opens up about the band’s history and their plans during these unprecedented times.
When a band is together for thirty years, things can change in ways that are imperceptible in the moment but obvious with a bird’s eye view. Sometimes that’s behavior within a group, sometimes that’s the way bands play songs live. For the Chico-born “California soul” group, The Mother Hips, that’s often meant the way the band interprets the music it’s played for three decades when on stage.
“It’s March. At least on the coast of Central California, we’re starting to get a taste of spring. This is a brilliant time of year in this part of the Golden State, the birds are out and bees have begun buzzing from one flower to another. The poppies are popping and beer tastes better in the sunshine. It’s a heady season full of promise and this year it is even sweeter because the first three vinyl rereleases of the Mother Hips catalog have been sent and received. We now have Back To The Grotto, Part-Timer Goes Full, and Shootout – all on vinyl – in our record collections. It’s kind of like being in the Columbia House Record Club for Mother Hips fans.”
Thank you for everyone who picked up a vinyl reissue! These are numbered limited edition 180 gram Blue Rose Music vinyl pressings, most of which are on vinyl for the first time! Each includes a download card.
For those who ordered the Back to the Grotto double-vinyl, you should have received it by now. The first pressing of 300 sold out quick! Due to popular demand, another pressing of 300 is in the works and available for preorder with hopes of it shipping in June.
Part-Timer Goes Full and Shoot Out are both double-vinyl and limited to 500 each. They shipped together and should be arriving any day now if they haven’t already. Some copies of each have been put back up for sale.
The limited Later Days pressing of 300 is sold out and will be shipping in April.
All remaining titles are available for preorder. Get ’em while you can and drop a note to any of your vinyl listening friends!
A new track from Greg Loiacono and Jamie Drake is out today! “Bound to Fall” is a duet with acclaimed L.A.-based indie folk singer-songwriter Jamie Drake who can also heard on the track “San Felipe” from Greg’s record Mystic Traces. Greg and Jamie co-wrote “Bound to Fall” together (pictured in the artwork) in March 2019 before recording it in Oakland, CA during the lockdown in summer 2020. The track also features Wilco keyboardist Mikael Jorgensen and was mixed by Scott Hirsch.
“A few years back I had become obsessed with a recording called ‘Please Stay’ by The Cryin’ Shames. It inspired me to dive back into old records of singers singing heartbreak songs from way back. I hoped to convey that lonely, far away sound on this record. Once Jamie and I started working on the song together we focused in on this unrequited love that drives the singer almost into a sense of delusion. It was really enjoyable finding ways to convey this through words and melody.” – Greg Loiacono
“I think we’ve truly captured a specific, vintage, musical world in an authentic way,” adds Drake. “We were visited by a classic-feeling melody as we began to write and it brought a bit of magic to our session—along with plenty of failed relationship experiences to contextually pack into the lyrics. I remember laughing while suggesting the line about listening to Steely Dan and hearing the saxophone play. It’s such a real detail and I’m sure someone out there will relate.” – Jamie Drake
Additional Personnel:
Charles James Gonzalez- engineer
Scott Hirsch- mix
Anthony Puglisi- master
Reed Mathis- bass
Sean Nelson- drums
Mikael Erik Jorgensen- synthesizer
Patrick B Spurgeon- percussion
David Dolger Schwartz for Fast Atmosphere- artwork
out on Blue Rose Music
The Mother Hips 12th Annual Family Hipnic has been rescheduled for Friday, September 24th through Sunday, September 26th! Lineup has been announced! This will be a socially distanced reduced capacity outdoor affair. There will be no tavern shows this year but hopefully, those will return in May 2022!
All of your weekend passes that were originally purchased for HIPNIC 2020 (or subsequent dates) will automatically transfer to the new September 2021 dates. More information for those who purchased tickets for Hipnic 2020 can be found at the (((folkYEAH!))) web site.
“When you feel like you’re believed in, it’s amazing what you can do. It’s really affirming to work with a label that just wants to see you thrive and make great records. 30 years into this and we’re as excited to be in the studio making a new album as when we first started. It’s a fortunate position to be in.” – Tim Bluhm.
Tune in to The Mother Hips Facebook Page Friday at 6pm PT to watch the boys play their 1992 debut album Back To The Grotto in its entirety, live from Tim’s house. Full band! Donations are accepted and welcomed!
One of the biggest gut-punches of this pandemic for Hips fans is that they will be unable to gather together for their annual Hipsmas holiday shows. However, do not fret! The Mother Hips will continue their 20+year tradition and perform 2 sets at the Great American Music Hall for all to see… at home! The show will take place live on December 19th at 6:00 PM PST. Tickets are $25.00. Please come celebrate with us from afar.
