The Mother Hips

[pawpaw]

You know I wasn't going to let these guys get left behind.  8)

The Mother Hips - "Pacific Dust" - HearYa Live Session 11/20/09

More to come.  :)

[pawpaw]

http://www.motherhips.com/downloads/diots.htm

While drummer John Hofer took some time off in November 2010 to spend time with his newborn daughter, the remaining Mother Hips booked a handful of acoustic shows in northern and southern California. Tim, Greg, and Paul performed songs from almost every Mother Hips record, songs from their respective side-projects, a cover song or two, and two new songs giving us a glimpse of the next Hips record. With lyrics and harmonies shining through, these songs take on new meaning than when performed with the loud rock tones of an electric Mother Hips show. But what also made these performances so enjoyable was seeing Paul Hoaglin alternate between bass, mandolin, and pedal steel guitar while also contributing to the three-part vocal harmonies. This set was mostly recorded live in Grass Valley, California on November 13th, 2010 except for three tracks which were recorded the night before in Santa Monica, CA.

[pawpaw]

Bump for Shug! 

The Hips are recording a new album, and they're having release shows for their new book (!!!) this weekend in San Francisco and Santa Cruz.

People question me when I say that they're one of my favorite bands, but in my lifetime, no other band has given me as much...no other band has been as accessible for great shows (EVERY TIME) and albums. It's been over 15 years that I've been seeing and listening to these guys, and they've been consistently turning out greatness the whole way.

[Jon T.]

Bump for Shug! 

The Hips are recording a new album, and they're having release shows for their new book (!!!) this weekend in San Francisco and Santa Cruz.

People question me when I say that they're one of my favorite bands, but in my lifetime, no other band has given me as much...no other band has been as accessible for great shows (EVERY TIME) and albums. It's been over 15 years that I've been seeing and listening to these guys, and they've been consistently turning out greatness the whole way.

;D  I saw that post last night and I knew you were going to be ALLL over this!

[jaye]

Oh wow - they're at Cafe du Nord tonight!    Great place to see bands.  I've been wanting to see these guys but can't make this one. 

[BH]

I've been wearing out the new album.  I think I asked you this before BBill but give your favorite album.  I know it's a hard to chose but I need another one and all I have is the new one, the Red Tandy ep and BBill's Greatest Hits (which I also love).

[pawpaw]

Bump for Shug! 

The Hips are recording a new album, and they're having release shows for their new book (!!!) this weekend in San Francisco and Santa Cruz.

People question me when I say that they're one of my favorite bands, but in my lifetime, no other band has given me as much...no other band has been as accessible for great shows (EVERY TIME) and albums. It's been over 15 years that I've been seeing and listening to these guys, and they've been consistently turning out greatness the whole way.

;D  I saw that post last night and I knew you were going to be ALLL over this!

8) Dude, you know it!

[pawpaw]

I've been wearing out the new album.  I think I asked you this before BBill but give your favorite album.  I know it's a hard to chose but I need another one and all I have is the new one, the Red Tandy ep and BBill's Greatest Hits (which I also love).

Try Part Timer Goes Full! My favorite changes, but it's definitely one of the best, imo.

[Shug]

I'd say go with Shootout!  ;D 

Shootout is my favorite Mother Hips album.  To my ears, it was a huge leap forward from their first two albums for several reasons:

1.   the vocals got way better, especially the vocal blending of Tim and Greg and the small details of inflections in Tim's singing
2.   the songwriting showed what I think are the first signs of genius, just an entirely higher level than before (Shootout, Emergency Exit)
3.   the music took a turn towards a style grounded in soul, early to mid 60s pop and country/folk in addition to psychedelic rock.
4.   Hammond, acoustic piano, electric piano or other keys on nearly every song, namely by Dan Eisenberg! really bring a full richness to the sound
5.   lots of "character" instruments: banjo, harmonica, accordion, mandolin
6.   musicians and studio crew crafted some fine performances/recordings, having a better than ever command of studio playing and recording

Shootout is the result of a bunch of naturally talented guys gaining experience, honing their craft, and getting really good at what they do. Wofchuck's drumming shines on this one, too, particularly on Honeydew, swinging and with flair. This album also has a way more positive vibe, especially compared to Part Timer.  There is a definite soulfulness here, not a straight R&B kind of soul, but rather a Burrito Brothers/Everly Brothers/Buffalo Springfield kind at the intersection of country/soul/folk/rock.  I hear it in the singing, the songwriting, the combination of acoustic and electric instruments.   There is still a bit of the "attention deficit" song structure like in So Much, but for me, its more effective because its toned down a bit and combined with all the other qualities I like about the record, thus achieving a nice balance between trippiness, flat-out rocking, and mellow sensitivity (you find all of those qualities in Transit Wind). Shootout just makes me smile when I put in on and crank it up.  Its got Transit Wind, Two River Blues, Can't Sleep At All and Superwinner all on one record, fer chrissake! And then you add in genius songwriting like Shootout and Emergency Exit, twangy saloon rock in Whiskey On A Southbound, crowd-pleasers like Mother Hips, drop-dead gorgeous harmony vocals on Collected Some Nerve and you've got one powerhouse of an album.

[pawpaw]

I'd say go with Shootout!  ;D 

Shootout is my favorite Mother Hips album.  To my ears, it was a huge leap forward from their first two albums for several reasons:

1.   the vocals got way better, especially the vocal blending of Tim and Greg and the small details of inflections in Tim's singing
2.   the songwriting showed what I think are the first signs of genius, just an entirely higher level than before (Shootout, Emergency Exit)
3.   the music took a turn towards a style grounded in soul, early to mid 60s pop and country/folk in addition to psychedelic rock.
4.   Hammond, acoustic piano, electric piano or other keys on nearly every song, namely by Dan Eisenberg! really bring a full richness to the sound
5.   lots of "character" instruments: banjo, harmonica, accordion, mandolin
6.   musicians and studio crew crafted some fine performances/recordings, having a better than ever command of studio playing and recording

Shootout is the result of a bunch of naturally talented guys gaining experience, honing their craft, and getting really good at what they do. Wofchuck's drumming shines on this one, too, particularly on Honeydew, swinging and with flair. This album also has a way more positive vibe, especially compared to Part Timer.  There is a definite soulfulness here, not a straight R&B kind of soul, but rather a Burrito Brothers/Everly Brothers/Buffalo Springfield kind at the intersection of country/soul/folk/rock.  I hear it in the singing, the songwriting, the combination of acoustic and electric instruments.   There is still a bit of the "attention deficit" song structure like in So Much, but for me, its more effective because its toned down a bit and combined with all the other qualities I like about the record, thus achieving a nice balance between trippiness, flat-out rocking, and mellow sensitivity (you find all of those qualities in Transit Wind). Shootout just makes me smile when I put in on and crank it up.  Its got Transit Wind, Two River Blues, Can't Sleep At All and Superwinner all on one record, fer chrissake! And then you add in genius songwriting like Shootout and Emergency Exit, twangy saloon rock in Whiskey On A Southbound, crowd-pleasers like Mother Hips, drop-dead gorgeous harmony vocals on Collected Some Nerve and you've got one powerhouse of an album.

Excellent breakdown Shug! I agree with all of it, and love Shootout as well. And when you say "not a straight R&B kind of soul," you and I both know what kind of soul it is...and you're right, Shootout is the first album that takes steps toward that kind of songwriting and performing. It came out my freshman year of college and it's an album that I've got some of the strongest musical memories associated with.

I recommended Part Timer Goes Full to BH because I'd made a mix for him at one time and the songs that he seemed to be diggin' the most were from there. It's easily the darkest Hips album, and for as warm and full as Shootout sounds, Part Timer is equally as raw and fuzzed-out. Bent Carousel, Poison Oak, Showing It All to Bad Marie, Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, all brilliant. It's amazing that those two albums were released consecutively and so close together, yet make such a leap in sound.

[BH]

Oh hell, I'll just buy them both.  :)

[pawpaw]

Oh hell, I'll just buy them both.  :)

...and that's the correct answer! 

I always thought that Part Timer was the sound of a band flying higher and HIGHER, and that Shootout was the sound of them taking a breath of air and figuring out where to go next. Both are brilliant.  :)

[Shug]

Oh hell, I'll just buy them both.  :)

...and that's the correct answer! 

I always thought that Part Timer was the sound of a band flying higher and HIGHER, and that Shootout was the sound of them taking a breath of air and figuring out where to go next. Both are brilliant.  :)

Good call, BH!  ;D  And I agree with you completely, bbill, on the merits and qualities of Part Timer.  It rocks the hardest on certain tracks and its def. got a stoney trippy vibe, too.  Love that record, although its a bit schizophrenic with all the time changes/mood changes within songs.  bbill, do you have a screen name on the Grotto?

[pawpaw]

Oh hell, I'll just buy them both.  :)

...and that's the correct answer! 

I always thought that Part Timer was the sound of a band flying higher and HIGHER, and that Shootout was the sound of them taking a breath of air and figuring out where to go next. Both are brilliant.  :)

Good call, BH!  ;D  And I agree with you completely, bbill, on the merits and qualities of Part Timer.  It rocks the hardest on certain tracks and its def. got a stoney trippy vibe, too.  Love that record, although its a bit schizophrenic with all the time changes/mood changes within songs.  bbill, do you have a screen name on the Grotto?

I do (super_ape), but don't post over there all that often. What do you go by?

I think they're premiering some new songs tonight at Cafe du Nord!

[Shug]

I'm Shug what ever messageboard I go on ;)

They might be premeiring some new songs, but I think the night is more about songs from the past they never or rarely played live.  They are also doing one album in its entirety (my money is on Green Hills of Earth).  The secret set list was chosen by photographer Jay Blakesburg several weeks ago.  I dropped him a few suggestions which he seemed open to and if those get played, its going to be SICK!!!! I'm having a REALLY hard time not being at the show tonight (as I could not make the trip from Arizona and its my birthday no less).  Hopefully some of the bust out songs will stay in the rotation for awhile, after all the trouble to re-learn them they went to.  Are you going to the show, bbill?  If so, PLEASE post a show report/setlist ASAP, I'll be jonesing to hear what they end up playing and kicking myself for what I missed.    Yeah, I'm a masochist that way. ;D   Its going to be a three hour/ two set show.

[pawpaw]

Happy Birthday Shug!

I'm not going to be there tonight, unfortunately.

My next Hips show will be down in Solana Beach in September. One of my Chico friends is getting married this fall and we're planning his Bachelor Party around that show. Beach house, Hips show, horse races at Del Mar, Padres/Dodgers game, it's going to be awesome!

Oh, and btw, I really liked that you called the Hips a Chico band in that other thread (and not an SF band). I love San Francisco, lived there for several years, but the Hips were, are and always will be THE Chico band to me.

[Shug]

I know you are going to the Solana Beach Belly Up Tavern show later in the month, but bbill you gotta come to Chico on the weekend of Sept 9-11 for their 20th anniversary hometown celebration. The box set of unreleased stuff is coming out and there will probably be three shows in three days, although only the show on Sat the 10th at the El Rey theater is official. Original rhythm section sitting in is a fairly sure bet.

For those that don't know, Chico is a true gem of a college town and has both a relaxed, hippie-ish vibe as well as the drunken energy of a raging college frat party. Old houses, tall shade trees, a small but thriving downtown right next to the university. And its surrounded by gorgeous canyons and creeks and lots of orchards and farmland. I could go on and on about how the special nurturing environment of Chico went hand in hand with the organic development of the Mother Hips' innate talents as a rock band, but it wouldn't hold a candle to actually visiting the place.

If there was ever a time to trek to Cali for the Hips, this weekend will be the grandaddy of them all. You and all Hips fans really ought to consider it.  If you are going to Chico, let me know and we'll met up for a Sierra Nevada!

[pawpaw]

I know you are going to the Solana Beach Belly Up Tavern show later in the month, but bbill you gotta come to Chico on the weekend of Sept 9-11 for their 20th anniversary hometown celebration. The box set of unreleased stuff is coming out and there will probably be three shows in three days, although only the show on Sat the 10th at the El Rey theater is official. Original rhythm section sitting in is a fairly sure bet.

For those that don't know, Chico is a true gem of a college town and has both a relaxed, hippie-ish vibe as well as the drunken energy of a raging college frat party. Old houses, tall shade trees, a small but thriving downtown right next to the university. And its surrounded by gorgeous canyons and creeks and lots of orchards and farmland. I could go on and on about how the special nurturing environment of Chico went hand in hand with the organic development of the Mother Hips' innate talents as a rock band, but it wouldn't hold a candle to actually visiting the place.

If there was ever a time to trek to Cali for the Hips, this weekend will be the grandaddy of them all. You and all Hips fans really ought to consider it.  If you are going to Chico, let me know and we'll met up for a Sierra Nevada!

Ugh, we've got a wedding that weekend, otherwise I'd be all over that. It's been too long since I've had a good Chico trip, and that would've been a perfect excuse to get back up there. Have fun though Shug! 

Hey, do you ever get the San Francisco for the GAMH Christmas shows?

[Shug]

Yeah, I've been to Great American Music Hall for the Hips many times.  They used to play there in the summer, too.  That is one of my favorite club-sized venues ever, just a great place to see a show.  Haven't been in a few years since I live far away now and I have been catching the Black Crowes' annual December runs of shows at the Fillmore for the past three years instead.  But I'm getting super-stoked for the Chico weekend coming up, its gonna be so great.  I won't be making the Belly Up show, too bad we won't be at the same shows any time soon, but maybe in the future...  have a good one, bbill!

[pawpaw]

Shug, how was Chico? Did you go to that house party too? What about the bike ride? Sounds like I missed an awesome weekend, but we've got one coming up too! I'll be flying down to San Diego on Thursday night, show on Friday!