MOTHER HIPS

The Mother Hips have flown under the radar as true indie music pioneers for nearly two decades. With the release of their latest album Pacific Dust (available now 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 20 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 well-traveled 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.