The Mother Hips

{{Infobox musical artist  | name = The Mother Hips | image = Mother Hips GAMH in SF Dec 2010.jpg | caption = Great American Music Hall, 2010 | image_upright = 1.2 | origin = Chico, California, U.S. | genre = Indie rock, alternative rock, folk rock | years_active = 1990–present | label = Blue Rose Music American | website = {{url|motherhips.com}} | current_members = Tim Bluhm Greg Loiacono John Hofer Brian Rashap | past_members = Daniel Eisenberg Isaac Parsons Mike Wofchuck Paul Hoaglin Scott Thunes }}

'''The Mother Hips''' is an American rock band based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

== History ==

=== Formation and ''Back to the Grotto'' ===

Tim Bluhm (vocals/guitar), Greg Loiacono (guitar/vocals), Isaac Parsons (bass) and Mike Wofchuck (drums) met in 1990 while attending California State University-Chico, living off-campus in Bradley Hall.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Locey |first=Bill |date=1993-12-16 |title=ROCK : The Biggest Thing in Chico : Mother Hips Takes Act on the Road |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-16-vl-2363-story.html |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> They jammed and played some original songs at a few parties (once billed as Pippi Longstocking and the Trunk-of-Funk), but soon Isaac and Mike were lured away by the prospect of playing Led Zeppelin and Jane's Addiction covers at big parties as the rhythm section of the Keystones. Meanwhile, Tim and Greg played acoustic guitars and sang harmonies with singer Ali Weiss in the mellow trio Ali and the Cats.

These bands played throughout 1990, but in early 1991, Tim, Greg, Isaac and Mike got back together and got serious about being a rock band. It didn't take long to step up from parties in Chico, CA to local bars and dance clubs like LaSalles and Juanita's. The band released ''[https://www.motherhips.com/back-to-the-grotto/ Back to the Grotto]'' in February 1993. It was produced by the band with Bay Area-based musician/producer Paul Hoaglin (who would subsequently replace Parsons on bass upon his departure in 2002).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sun |first=Pacific |date=2018-10-26 |title=The Mutation of the Mother Hips {{!}} Pacific Sun |url=https://pacificsun.com/the-mutation-of-the-mother-hips/ |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Pacific Sun {{!}} Marin County, California |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Major label ===

The Hips were courted by major record labels and almost signed a deal with MCA. A&R Exec. Rob Kasino signed them to Rick Rubin's American Recordings even though they were still students at Chico. The Hips then became labelmates with Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, and the Black Crowes (whose Chris Robinson helped the band to sign with American.) The band visited The Black Crowes at Conway while they were recording Amorica on their way to SXSW.

They did more recording and mixing on ''Back to the Grotto'' for its American re-release (March 1995) and set out to record a follow-up. Released in August 1995, ''Part-Timer Goes Full'' included new songs as well as tunes from their back catalog. American Recordings decided the song "Shut the Door" would be released as the first single, but this decision did not go over well with some fans, who thought the song was not representative of their sound. While the song didn't top any charts, the fanbase grew due to touring, including a concert at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds with 2,400 tickets sold. They were also headlining major venues like the Fillmore in San Francisco and appearing at festivals like Laguna Seca Daze and the HORDE tour.

Their third album ''[https://www.motherhips.com/shoot-out/ Shootout]'' was recorded in early 1996 and released in October of that year. American Records failed to promote the album and eventually dropped the band from their roster.

=== Changes and later days ===

Their music shifted direction around 1997, with shorter, radio-friendly songs, instead of longer multiple-sectioned songs. They started to get into basic country-style songwriting, but it didn't fit with drummer Mike Wofchuck's style, so they replaced him with John Hofer, formerly of The Freewheelers. In 1996, the band members moved out of the Chestnut Street house in Chico, to the San Francisco Bay Area.

They recorded the stripped-down ''[https://www.motherhips.com/later-days/ Later Days]'' album and self-released it in May 1998. They continued playing frequently, focusing mostly on California cities, with occasional jaunts to Utah or the Pacific Northwest. They self-recorded another album, the more pop-oriented ''Green Hills of Earth''. Indie label Future Farmer liked the album and released it, but, again, the album did not promote the band to their desired popularity. Bassist Isaac Parsons left the band in March 2002, to spend more time with his son. He was replaced by Paul Hoaglin (co-producer of ''Back To The Grotto'' and ''Part Timer Goes Full''). In September 2002, Greg Loiacono, lead guitarist, decided he too needed a break, and the band went on indefinite hiatus after two shows at Slim's in San Francisco in February 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mission Bells studio |url=https://submergemag.com/tag/mission-bells-studio/ |access-date=2026-05-28 |website=Submerge Magazine {{!}} Music + Art + Lifestyle |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Hiatus ===

During the hiatus, Tim Bluhm was the most active musically. He enlisted the Southern California band Five Foot Tuesday as backup, but played to smaller audiences. Greg also formed a band, the Sensations. Also in 2004 two documentaries about the Mother Hips were completed, Patrick Murphree's ''[https://pacificsun.com/the-mutation-of-the-mother-hips/ Stories We Could Tell]'', a detailing of the history of the Mother Hips, told by the Hips themselves, friends, and family, and Bill DeBlonk's [https://www.newsreview.com/chico/content/i-wanna-hold-your-hips/32332/ ''This is the Sound'',] a compilation of footage from the band's entire career. (A third movie followed in 2006, Dave Schwartz's chronicle of a 2003 Santa Cruz show, [https://artist-stores.com/products/mother-hips-beauty-rock-live-at-the-catalyst-dvd ''Beauty Rock''.])

=== Reunion and present day ===

Toward the end of 2004 the Mother Hips reunited and started playing shows again. They recorded an EP, ''[https://www.motherhips.com/red-tandy-ep/ Red Tandy]'', followed by a full-length album, ''[https://www.motherhips.com/kiss-the-crystal-flake/ Kiss the Crystal Flake]'', released in April 2007. The song "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfwtF5_R3zs Time We Had]" from the album was featured in the music video game ''Rock Band'' in November 2007, and two songs, "Red Tandy" and "Time-Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear" were made available as downloadable content for the game on the week of April 29, 2008.

The band released their seventh album, [https://www.motherhips.com/pacific-dust/ ''Pacific Dust'',] in October 2009 [https://submergemag.com/tag/mission-bells-studio/ to great acclaim,] including highlights "White Falcon Fuzz" and "Third Floor Story". The album was recorded at Mission Bells Studio in San Francisco with co-producer/engineer David Simon-Baker.

Bassist Hoaglin, who had experienced long-term severe depression and anxiety, and who had become increasingly unenthusiastic, was fired from the band in late February 2011, and temporarily replaced by former Frank Zappa and Fear bassist Scott Thunes. Hoaglin was asked to complete the remaining backing tracks for the group's next album, ''Behind Beyond'', in August 2011, and contributed various additional overdubs from home. Hoaglin has subsequently retired permanently from music, due to physical and mental illnesses. In an [http://www.relix.com/articles/detail/the_core_the_mother_hips interview] in ''Relix'' magazine in September 2013, Bluhm incorrectly asserted that Hoaglin quit the band.

The Mother Hips released an archival 4-CD set compilation celebrating 20 years of music together on September 13, 2011, called [https://www.motherhips.com/days-of-sun-grass/ Days of Sun and Grass.]

On July 9, 2013, the band released a new full-length album ''[https://www.motherhips.com/behind-beyond/ Behind Beyond]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jambands.com Announcement|url=http://www.jambands.com/news/2013/05/14/mother-hips-to-release-new-album-in-july|access-date=October 28, 2021|website=Jambands.com|date=May 14, 2013 }}</ref> A new song, 'Freed From a Prison' was made available for streaming on SoundCloud.<ref>{{cite web|title=SoundCloud Announcement|url=https://soundcloud.com/camera-records/mother-hips-freed-from-a|access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref> The album was produced by David Simon-Baker and recorded at the Mission Bells studio in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web|title=Behind Beyond Album|url=https://www.motherhips.com/behind-beyond|access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>

In 2014 the band released the studio album Chronicle Man which includes eleven tracks that were originally recorded in 1995–96 when the band was signed to American Recordings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chronicle Man Album|url=https://www.motherhips.com/chronicle-man/|access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>

In September 2015, the band played at the Sound Summit festival at the Mountain Theater in Mount Tamalpais State Park, in Marin County, CA.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sound Summit 2024 - Past Lineups |url=https://www.soundsummit.net/past-lineups/ |publisher=Roots & Branches Conservancy |access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref>

In 2017 the band signed with Blue Rose Music.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mother Hips Announce 2017 Holiday Shows|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/mother-hips-announce-2017-holiday-shows|access-date=June 22, 2020|website=JamBase}}</ref>

In 2018 the Mother Hips released their first full-length, original studio album in five years. ''[https://www.motherhips.com/chorus/ Chorus]'' featured a new bass player, Brian Rashap, with Jackie Greene contributing to the album. The record was received with critical acclaim and positive reviews around the music community.<ref>{{cite web|title=Glide Magazine Review of Chorus|date=June 7, 2018 |url=https://glidemagazine.com/207846/the-mother-hips-continue-offer-fierce-anthemicaly-celebratory-new-lp-chorus-album-review|publisher=Glide Magazine|access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>

In the fall of 2021, it was announced that The Mother Hips would be releasing a new full-length LP on December 3, 2021, on Blue Rose Music.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Glowing Lantern Album Release|url=https://www.motherhips.com/glowing-lantern|access-date=October 28, 2021|website=Motherhips.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Titled Glowing Lantern, the album featured eleven new tracks and was released on all streaming platforms as well as in a limited edition gold 180-gram vinyl.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Limited Edition Gold Vinyl Release|url=https://blue-rose-music.myshopify.com/products/the-mother-hips-glowing-lantern-vinyl|access-date=October 28, 2021}}</ref>

On January 27, 2023, the band released their 12th studio album titled ''[https://www.motherhips.com/when-we-disappear/ When We Disappear],'' described in a reviews as a "blend of rock, soul and psychedelic Americana with Beach Boys worthy harmonies" complete with "reverb-laden, trippy daydream of ''<nowiki/>'Lost Out The Window'''".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=John |date=2023-01-25 |title=REVIEW: The Mother Hips “When We Disappear” • Americana Highways |url=https://americanahighways.org/2023/01/25/review-the-mother-hips-when-we-disappear/ |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Americana Highways |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bright |first=Kimberly |date=2023-03-03 |title=The Mother Hips “When We Disappear” |url=https://americana-uk.com/the-mother-hips-when-we-disappear |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=Americana UK |language=en-GB}}</ref>

On September 27, 2024, the band released their 13th studio album ''[https://www.motherhips.com/california-current/ California Current]'', with 11 tracks blending "their signature West Coast sound with lyrical mastery" to much success.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hips |first=The Mother |title=Iconic California Rock Band, The Mother Hips, Announce New Album, California Current on Blue Rose |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iconic-california-rock-band-the-mother-hips-announce-new-album-california-current-on-blue-rose-302261026.html |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Timeline == {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:120 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1990 till:12/31/2025 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:3 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1990 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1990

Colors = id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar,_Vocals id:bass value:blue legend:Bass,_Vocals id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:lines value:black legend:Studio_Album

LineData = at:02/01/1993 color:black layer:back at:08/22/1995 color:black layer:back at:10/15/1996 color:black layer:back at:05/01/1998 color:black layer:back at:02/22/2001 color:black layer:back at:04/03/2007 color:black layer:back at:10/27/2009 color:black layer:back at:07/01/2013 color:black layer:back at:07/01/2014 color:black layer:back at:07/06/2018 color:black layer:back at:12/01/2021 color:black layer:back at:01/01/2023 color:black layer:back at:09/01/2024 color:black layer:back

BarData = bar:Tim text:"Tim Bluhm" bar:Greg text:"Greg Loiacono" bar:Issac text:"Issac Parsons" bar:Paul text:"Paul Hoaglin" bar:Scott text:"Scott Thunes" bar:Gabe text:"Gabe Nelson" bar:Brian text:"Brian Rashap" bar:Mike text:"Mike Wofchuck" bar:John text:"John Hofer"

PlotData= width:11 bar:Tim from:01/01/1990 till:end color:guitar bar:Mike from:01/01/1990 till:03/09/1997 color:drums bar:John from:03/10/1997 till:end color:drums bar:Issac from:01/01/1990 till:03/31/2002 color:bass bar:Paul from:04/01/2002 till:02/28/2011 color:bass bar:Scott from:03/01/2011 till:11/30/2017 color:bass bar:Gabe from:12/01/2017 till:08/15/2018 color:bass bar:Brian from:08/16/2018 till:end color:bass bar:Greg from:01/01/1990 till:end color:guitar

width:3 }}

== Discography ==

*''Back to the Grotto'' (1993) *''Part-Timer Goes Full'' (1995) *''Shootout'' (1996) *''Later Days'' (1998) *''Green Hills of Earth'' (2001) *''Kiss the Crystal Flake'' (2007) *''Pacific Dust'' (2009) *''Behind Beyond'' (2013) *''Chronicle Man'' (2014) *''Chorus'' (2018) *'' Live at the Great American Music Hall ''(2019) *''Glowing Lantern'' (2021) *''When We Disappear'' (2023) *''California Current'' (2024) <ref name="BSLUP">{{cite web |title=Big Sur Land Use Plan (North Section) |url=https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/housing-community-development/resources/monterey-county-gis-maps |access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commonscat}} * {{official website|http://www.motherhips.com}} * [http://www.bluerosemusic.com/ Blue Rose Music] * [http://www.the-grotto.com/ The Grotto] (fansite)

{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mother Hips, The}} Category:Musical groups from Chico, California Category:California State University, Chico, alumni Category:Musical groups from the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Indie rock musical groups from California