Playing What They Like : Mother Hips Prefers the Music It Makes to the Labels It Generates

The Mother Hips sounds as if it came straight out of 1969--one of the most fruitful and creative eras in rock. The vibe of such disparate influences as Moby Grape, Simon & Garfunkel, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Buffalo Springfield, Mountain, Cream and many others are apparent on the group’s second album, the recently released “Part-Timer Goes Full.”

It’s a gloriously authentic effort, unpolished but full of emotion, energy and the sheer joy of playing. Yet the snickering “neo-hippie” handle follows the group, which plays Wednesday at the Coach House, like an unwanted tail.

“I think we all hate the term ‘neo-hippie.’ I’m not even sure what it means,” said Mother Hips’ singer-guitarist and principal songwriter Tim Bluhm in a recent phone interview.

“For some reason, people seem to be fond of that term. We don’t like to be lumped into a category, but you have to be, I guess. It attracts listeners who are into older music, so in a way, it’s good company to be in.”

Bluhm, 25, wasn’t even born when many of his musical heroes were laying down their classic albums, but he and his bandmates--guitarist-vocalist Greg Loiacono, bassist Isaac Parsons and drummer Mike Wofchuck--were all drawn to ‘60s rock, coming together as a band four years ago while students at Cal State Chico.

“We’re into older music in general,” he said. “There’s so much good music that’s happened; it’s hard to even catch up to the modern day.”

Bluhm asserts that the Mother Hips makes no premeditated effort to latch onto or mimic the sound of the ‘60s, but that the band comes to its sound as a result of the kinds of music the members like to play and hear.

“It’s definitely spontaneous,” he said. “If there’s ever a band that wasn’t trying to sound like anybody else and have our own sound, it’s us. We don’t do anything consciously; we just play the way we know how to play.”

As for the notion uttered in some critical quarters that playing in an older style somehow invalidates a modern rock band’s music, Bluhm isn’t buying.

“I believe if anything, this music is more valid,” he said. “It was validated long ago. And there a lot of people our age who just happen to listen to older music.”

* The Mother Hips, Sun Child, Stranger and the Freewheeler perform Wednesday at the Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 8 p.m. $10. (714) 496-8930.