By Benjamin Wallen //
The Mother Hips with Paula Frazer and Tarnation //
Great American Music Hall – San Francisco
December 14th, 2018 //
SF rockers The Mother Hips were back at the Great American Music Hall last Friday for their annual holiday shows, commonly dubbed “Hipmas” by the three-piece band. Quite fittingly, the venue was decked out in Christmas decorations and the stage was lit by Hunter Pipes.
Paula Frazer and Tarnation got things started, easing us into the night before The Hips took the stage. The SF-based singer-songwriter and her backing band played music that was both deep and soothing, serving as a perfect warm-up to the rock ‘n’ roll that soon awaited.
For The Mother Hips, this performance was specifically dubbed as an “Ultimate Setlist” show where fans could submit their dream setlist and they would choose one to play. Although the contest’s winner, Dave Berman, is actually currently living in Thailand, the group’s Bay Area fans still got to enjoy his amazing song selections.
Having been at it for more than 25 years now, the Hips are showing no signs of slowing down, and at GAMH, they really brought the heat and tore it up for two full sets, plus an encore.
One year, I hope to make it to one of their “Hipnic” getaways in Big Sur. As a fan at the show told me, “It’s the best band in one of the most amazing places on Earth.”
After a very Merry “Hipmas” in SF, we’ll take their word for it.
Set 1: Can’t Sleep > Sleep Eyes > At All, Two > Whiskey River > Blues, Are You Free? > Freed From a Prison, Old Man From the Mountain > Mountain Time > Time-Sick > Seaward Son > Of a Grizzly Bear, Honeydew > Do It on the Strings
Set 2: Emotional Gold > Gold Plated, Stoned Up the > Potrero Road, The Cosmo > Not So Independent, Best > Friend of the Devil > In Town, Precious O > Put Us All Together, Third Floor > Stories We Could Tell
Encore: Mona Lisa and the Last > Superwinner
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