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Nov. 4, 2009
Interview
with the Mother Hips:
1. Greetings from
Hood River,
Oregon! Well, it took a
bit of digging around, but buried in our "Where Are They Now
Files" I found a Mother Hips folder, so you guys must have played
here in the past. Do the names "Northshore Bar & Grill" or "River
City Saloon" bring back any memories, and what's the connection
between the band and the Columbia River Gorge?
We have played in
Hood River,
at the saloon, many times. It is always a blast. Gumby is always
really nice to us. And the local folk know how to rock (and
cook!).
We played on the other side of the river
one time about 10 years ago. I seem to remember lodging at a Boy
Scout facility that night?
2. Your people sent my people an
advance copy of "Pacific Dust." It's really great stuff. How much
of the new album can we expect to hear in your set, and what do
you do to keep things interesting on-stage for yourselves
musically?
We will probably play quite a bit from
Pacific Dust on Saturday night. I would bank on at least half of
the album.
We keep things interesting on stage by
trying to make each other laugh (or cry) with non-typical musical
sound events. I also like to try to count the strings on Paul's
white bass.
3. The Mother Hips have been called
everything from a 'hippie jam band' to "the greatest rock n roll
band in America."
Exactly what has the Hips evolved into since you started back in
1991?
If I knew that I would be a rock
journalist.
4. What's the songwriting process
like? Is it words first or music first?
For me, it is usually music first. I
create chords and melodies to go over the chords. If I do not have
a specific idea to write about, then I start making up words or
sounds to carry the melody. Sometimes a made-up phrase will be the
impetus for a whole song plot.
5. I read some interview stuff on your
website from a few years ago (2006) and Tim said "There’s
something that prevents me from enjoying music that is really
hyped or really popular." I'd like to know what that "something"
is, because I think I've got that "thing" too. But I really don't
think it's a bad thing. Could it be the sheer volume of
"new-must-have band CDs" that come out every single month, and you
don't even know where to begin? I mean, how much of your income is
one supposed to devote to listening to new music?
That would be a question for Timmer. I
used to be afraid to listen to new music but I conquered my fear a
while back.
6. Since we have a lot of musicians
here in The Gorge, let's talk a little about your music gear.
Describe some of the guitars/amps/effects used to make "Pacific
Dust."
I used my Fender Telecaster on most of my
guitar tracks. I also used my 1967 Epiphone Casino with one P-90
pick up.
For amps I used Jackie's 1964 Fender Super
Reverb. (Which is just like the one I use live) and I played
through a really great sounding Deluxe Reverb that they have at
Mission Bells studio.
For pedals, I used my Union Jack fuzz
pedal (the one that Paul bought me. Thanks Paul!) quite a bit. I
used my 1969 echoplex tape machine. I also used an Eectric
Mistress on "Are You Free" to get the spidery, leslie effect.
7. Some of your press material says
you guys toured with Mr. Cash. What year was that, where did you
play, how did you get the gig, and what was that experience like?
We played one show with him at The
Fillmore in SF in 1996. It was amazing. He was a total gentleman.
My mom was at the show and she got to meet him. He kissed her on
her cheek and she almost collapsed; it was special.
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