About a third of the way into their Saturday night set at Portland, Oregon’s Doug Fir Lounge on March 24, The Mother Hips guitarist/vocalist Greg Loiacono introduced “It’s Alright,” a song he wrote last summer after waking up from a dream with the chorus in his head. At the time, he probably didn’t know that the song’s message might provide a needed morale boost as they embarked on their spring tour.
The day after The Mother Hips headed up the coast and played the first show of the tour, an announcement came that singer/guitarist Tim Bluhm had to have an emergency appendectomy in Grant’s Pass, Oregon. As if Bluhm needed to undergo another physical setback. He’s already had a pretty rough couple of years. In the fall of 2015, Bluhm suffered a shattered ankle and broken hip after a speed flying accident, leading to several surgeries, bone infections, and long months of healing. Although still not physically operating at one hundred percent, he was undoubtedly eager to get back out on the road playing music with his friends and bandmates.
Friday’s Seattle show was canceled, but, with the help of some musical cohorts, the Portland show stayed on the schedule. Scott Law, who was Bluhm’s bandmate in Brokedown in Bakersfield, came on board to play guitar and lead the band through a couple of songs. Scheila Gonzalez (Zappa Plays Zappa) played saxophone and added percussion. Jason Crosby, who’s played with a who’s who of musicians, and had recently been in Portland playing with Phil Lesh and The Terrapin Family Band, played keyboards. The Hips’ drummer, John Hofer, new bass player Gabe Nelson (CAKE), and Loiacono rounded out the group.
Crosby came out solo and played a few tunes first, mostly from his recent release, 2017’s Cryptologic. He explained that The Mother Hips had been his backup band on a portion of the album, and he’d written some of the songs with Tim Bluhm. Crosby switched from acoustic guitar to keyboards and Loiacono came out to play electric guitar on a few songs before they took a short break.
The six musicians that formed the conglomerate pieced together a setlist that included several Mother Hips songs, several songs from Loiacono’s solo albums, and lots of covers, offering selections from Danny Barnes, Gene Clark, Merle Haggard, and Pink Floyd, among others. Loiacono was front and center, leading the group.
Gonzalez and Nelson, being the newest additions to The Mother Hips’ touring squad, sported looks of determination on their faces at the beginning of the show. As things settled in and the audience gave their encouragement, the looks of concern gave way to broad smiles, and the band proved that it’s possible to take lemons and turn them into sweet lemonade.
The show was a success, especially given the circumstances, and showed the professionalism and talent of everyone involved. Of course Bluhm was missed, especially on the familiar Hips songs where fans anticipate his guitar licks and harmonizing vocals. It’s hard to imagine how hard it was for him to not be there. For now, fans have a new album (Chorus, to be released in early June), more tour dates on the horizon, and a new song with a message that might help ease the pain. “It’s alright, it’s alright, when things get turned around. It’s alright, it’s alright, it won’t stay that way too long.”
Watch the newly released video for “It’s Alright” below.
