By
Jessica Klausing
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| Tim Bluhm perfroms at The Troubadour photo by Jessica Klausing |
Longtime fans eagerly awaited The Mother Hips
co-founding guitarist Tim Bluhm as he slowly made his way center stage to his
seat. Bluhm donned a foot cast and crutches for the evening due to an
unfortunate paragliding accident in September 2015 that left his ankle
shattered.
This injury didn’t hold back Bluhm’s energy filled powerhouse performance at West Hollywood’s Troubadour.
This injury didn’t hold back Bluhm’s energy filled powerhouse performance at West Hollywood’s Troubadour.
Tim Bluhm (guitar/vocals), Greg Loiacono (guitars/vocals),
John Hoffer (drums) and Scott Thunes (bass) with special guests, Scheila
Gonzales (saxophone/vocals) and Jason Crosby (keys/violin) played a very
special show for Los Angeles.
The band teased fans with the promise of covering a
surprise record as part of their two set show. As soon as the band opened with
the anguished guitar ballad, “Gimmie Shelter,” the sold out venue erupted in
cheers. The Mother Hips played The
Rolling Stones’ Let it Bleed album in
its entirety.
Bluhm and the gang slayed through the classics such
as “Monkey Man,” “Country Honk,” “Let It Bleed” and the iconic “You Can’t
Always Get What You Want.” The songs were performed ready to burst of hard
rockin’ blues with surprisingly dark undertones that was both sexy and
horrifying at the same time. This stellar performance would have made Mick
Jagger proud.
On top of a secret set, the Hips had another
surprise in store for fans that night. Fans were gifted with a free download of
the new single, “I Went in Hard.” This song is a sneak peek of the group’s new
album due out later this year. The song addresses the accident that badly
injured Bluhm but the band was not going to kiss and tell any more secrets
about the new album.
“We decided not to play the new single tonight. We
wanted the audience to go home and experience it for themselves—plus we don’t
really know how to play it,” confessed Bluhm.
After a brief intermission, the band returned to
play their originals for the final set.
The Hips kicked off the second set with the
alternative rockin’ “Smoke” followed by a bluesy jam of “White Falcon Fuzz.”
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| Scott Thunes and Scheila Gonzales photo by Jessica Klausing |
Scheila
Gonzales had the audience swaying to her jazzy saxophone parts in “Esmerelda.”
Gonzales can play a mean sax! It was her beautiful saxophone solo that stole
the show during “Toughie.” It was the kind of thing you would hear at a jazz
nightclub from the French Quarter in downtown New Orleans. Things mellowed out
with Scott Thunes’ heavy bass groove in “Clean Me Up.” The momentum picked back
up with Greg Loiacono’s rich lead vocals to the more psychedelic “Confirmation
of Love.”
To nail the Hips down to one specific genre would be
nearly impossible. A few songs into the set and already the audience were
treated to a delicious musical buffet of Americana, blues, jazz, country,
alternative and psychedelic rock.
What makes the Hips so special is perhaps the
musical bond between Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono as evidenced during “Been Lost
Once.” Their call and answer vocals section was the main highlight of this heavy
Southern rock guitar jam. These two guitarists were quite a mesmerizing sight
with their dueling compositions. This was not a battle of the brawns but more
of a means to challenge the musical dynamic of the song.
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| Tim Bluhm of The Mother Hips photo by Jessica Klausing |
The Hips closed out the night on a high with
“Magazine” and “Stoned Up the Road.”
The Mother Hips are quite a trip to watch live in person
because of their Grateful Dead-esque extensive jam sessions. However, they are
much more than just a northern California jam band. These guys are constantly
looking for ways to take their songs to new heights. Part of the fun is not
knowing where these guys will end up. It’s more about the journey, not the
destination.
Secret Setlist:
Gimmie Shelter
Love in Vain
Country Honk
Live with Me
Let it Bleed
Midnight Rambler
You Got the Silver
Monkey Man
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Setlist:
Smoke
White Falcon Fuzz
Esmerelda
Honeydew
Gold Plated
Clean Me Up
Confirmation of Love
Third Floor Story
Singing Seems To Ease
Me
Been Lost Once
Toughie
Do It On The Strings
Delmar Station
Time Sick Son Of A Grizzly Bear
Rich Little Girl
Pet Foot
ENCORE:
Magazine
Stoned Up The Road
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