The Mother Hips bring their sound back to Chico
Band formed in Chico playing at Chico Women’s Club
CHICO >> Rock band The Mother Hips is hitting Chico for a celebration and release party of their latest album, “When We Disappear.”
The Mother Hips began when fate intervened in 1991 when founding member Greg Loiacono met other founding member Tim Bluhm in a chance meeting at their dormitory at Chico State.
“We took a liking to each other,” Loiacono said. “I was a guitar player who sang a little and Tim was a singer who played a bit of guitar.”
Loiacono ended up at Chico State because his cousin’s friend attended the college.
“Chico’s a great place to be,” Loiacono said.
Loiacono and Bluhm met the two other band members John Hofer and Brian Rashap. Bluhm had some songs written and the band started playing on the streets of Chico and at little bars. Since they weren’t 21, they were often kicked out after their set because they weren’t old enough to be at the bar.
Loiacono is from Marin County and Bluhm is from Manhattan Beach.
Loiacono completed three years at Chico State, majoring in creative writing, but when the Mother Hips got a record deal with American Recordings he dropped out and ending up achieving success with the band. The band is still together and going strong after 30 years.
“We got a great fan base and kept releasing records,” he said.
The Mother Hips started out recording with American Recordings but joined Rick Rubin’s independent label Blue Rose in the 1990s. Loiacono released a solo album with Blue Rose.
“Blue Rose is a great resource and label to work for,” Loiacono said.
“When We Disappear” is available on vinyl and compact disc and can also be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
Loiacono says listening to an album on vinyl is a “cherished experience.”
“Vinyl still sells pretty well,” he said. “It sounds better on vinyl than anything streamed. Also with a vinyl album you can read the liner notes and the lyrics and see the artwork.”
Loiacono said the new album isn’t necessarily different from the band’s other albums but that “really depends on the listener.”
The name The Mother Hips came from a song Bluhm wrote called “The Mother Hips.” After they had a repertoire of original songs they played at a fraternity party in Chico.
“It was off the cuff and just stuck,” Loiacono said about the band’s name.
They play at fairs in Chico and have played at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
“We enjoy coming back to Chico,” Loiacono said. “It’s nostalgic, and we see a bunch of bands from the old days. Even though it’s been years it’s still a homecoming when we visit Chico.”
Loiacono said Chico has definitely changed since he was a student.
“The downtown expanded with more shops and businesses,” he said. “And the park has less trees and more concrete. But a lot of it is the same. We love visiting Bidwell Park.”
Loiacono said the band is influenced by experiences members have had and also by other music they listen to. He said he and Bluhm love literature and poetry and that is also where their musical inspiration comes from. They also read psychology books.
“Tim is a sailor, and he also likes to read about early California,” he said. “Our musical influences come from bands from the 1960s like The Byrds, The Beach Boys and other California bands.”
Loiacono likes playing gigs in San Francisco and Marin County. He enjoys playing at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.
“It’s a special experience there,” he said. “People fly in to the see the show.”
The band will also be playing in Big Sur for an annual show in May.
The Mother Hips will be on tour promoting the new album until March 25. Their website is www.motherhips.com.
The band is playing at Chico Women’s Club with two sold-out shows today and Saturday nights at 9 p.m. They also played Thursday at Chico Women’s Club Thursday. The Mother Hips return to Chico once or twice a year to play gigs.