The Mother Hips, who performed in the 3:30 p.m. slot, before the David Nelson Band, were established back in 1991 in dorms and small clubs in Chico, California, in which Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono attended college. Twenty-eight years later, with Bluhm and Loiacono still at the helm, the five-piece offered a dynamic set of “California soul” delivered with clever lyrics highlighted by tight vocal harmonies and plenty of extended jams. The proficient set had plenty of twangy Western-tinged jams as well as some ferocious roadhouse-rocker segments — each player delivered in outstanding form. Bluhm and Loiacono were fiery on guitars, and John Hofer (drums) Danny Eisenberg (keyboards), and Brian Rashap (bass) were all superb. Barry Sless added some extra pizzazz, joining the band on pedal steel for several songs before “Toughie” launched into the set-ending sequence.
