Mother Hips

The boys have come home! Now, a San Francisco band, The Mother Hips came back to Chico, where their biggest fans roam the land, and where love for Tim is in the air. They just popped out their fifth record, Green Hills of Earth, that will reel you in the first time you hear the smooth harmonies and Beach Boys / Kinks inspired tunes. It’s the kind of CD where you love every song, with lyrics like, “There’s some boys I know / who play that rock and roll/ They’ve slept on a lot of floors / to get that California soul,” that swim through your brain all day.

Speaking of which, the best way to categorize the Hips is “California Soul.” They reeked of it last Saturday night when they rocked and swooned way past the witching hour. The guys played many tracks off the new album, like “Sara Bellum,” a sweet anthem to a girl Tim is looking for. “Singing Seems to Ease Me” got everyone hopping up and down in agreement. In the spirit of Halloween, lead singer and guitarist Tim was dressed in short, tight, white tennis shorts, revealing those strong, pasty thighs and a sweatband. Tim and Greg combined beautiful melodies with good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll, and cranked out “Esmerelda” from 1998’s Later Days.

Halfway through, they took a break, which was filled with a costume contest. People filed onto the stage, and quickly were booted off, until it came down to the final two contestants. It was between Super Pussy, a half-dressed feline superhero, and a flapper who happened to be a 60-something-year-old woman who repeatedly flashed her breasts. If there were any justice in this world, the gray haired woman who lifted up her skirt, felt herself up, and pinched her nipples in front of an auditorium full of onlookers would have been the winner. But, who said this world was fair? Super Pussy took the gold.

No sooner did the band settle into their places then some crazy lunatic started stage diving into the crowd. Okay, he’s my pal, and only the only truest Hips fans would be willing to jump off the stage and not be caught by anyone. Homeboy took a nosedive into some guy’s leg about five separate times. Now, Auntie Rachel will give the advice of the day: If somebody is flying head first into a hard, polished floor, CATCH THEM!

The only gripe I had about this fab performance was the sound. The speakers were pointed inwards, instead of out towards the crowd, and it could have been a lot louder and in-your-face. But, the show must go on. They played a bunch more songs off Shootout, “Mother Hips,” and off Green Hills of Earth, “Rich Little Girl” and “Life in the City,” and only came back on the stage for one encore, which rippled disappointment through the crowd. But, one encore or 20, the Mother Hips stayed true to their game, rocking the house and almost bringing me to tears with their sweet lyrics and stage presence.

I suggest getting a hold of the new album, if you haven’t already, and thumbing-it down to San Francisco on December 21st or 22nd to check ‘em out again. The Mother Hips are a Chico band…so go represent. Word.

– Rachel Krampfner
– Photos by Myles Stenger

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