The Mother Hips
The Mother Hips have flown under the radar as true indie music pioneers for almost
two decades. With the release of their new album Pacific Dust (available October 27th
on Camera Records), California's unsung psych-pop heroes tell their story. Hailed by
critics for their "rootsy mix of 70s rock and power pop" (pitchfork.com) and for their
unflinching ability to "sing it sweet and play it dirty" (New Yorker), on Pacific Dust The
Hips' signature sound rings more genuine and relevant than ever before.
The Hips - led by co-founders Tim Bluhm (vocals/guitar) and Greg Loiacono
(guitar/vocals) - have been playing music for nearly 18 years, and in the process, have
had the luxury of exploring and refining their craft. For the band's seventh full-length
studio album, The Mother Hips have never been more primed to share their welltraveled
tales - the long days and nights on the road, the gritty politics, the smart inward
reflections and man, the music! - all delivered with a most appealing balance of
Americana storytelling and their California-burnished rock.
Pacific Dust's compositions about penning a song in your kitchen at 3:00 am (the
thundering album opener "White Falcon Fuzz"), record company politics (garage-rock
boogie "Third Floor Story"), and a father and son's relationship through music (on the
ballad "Young Charles Ives") indeed tell the story of many American rock bands. But
here's why it matters: The Mother Hips have survived, and in fact thrived, throughout
the journey - and Pacific Dust, with its bittersweet melodies, poignant lyrics, and strong
and gritty musicianship, is a perfect example of why.
The Mother Hips owe most of their success to their large and loyal fanbase. Earlier
releases such as Part-Timer Goes Full, Green Hills of Earth, and Red Tandy have
become almost cult classics among indie music buffs, and the band's most recent 2007
album, Kiss the Crystal Flake, offered proof that the band still continues to attract new
supporters. Over the years, the band has worked with and played alongside a slew of
renowned/respected colleagues including super-producer Rick Rubin, Wilco, Johnny
Cash, and many others.
