As drummer John Hofer took time off to father his newborn daughter with singer/songwriter Elisa Randazzo, The Mother Hips played some stellar unplugged performances. Recorded at McCabe's Guitar Shop in Santa Monica on November 12th, 2010, and at Center for the Arts in Grass Valley, Calif., the following day, this collection spotlights The Mother Hips’ prowess as a live acoustic act. They open with a hushed rendition of “One Way Out” from their celebrated 2009 album Pacific Dust. Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono’s warm close harmonies provide a nice contrast to the cold, direct tones of their acoustic/electric guitars. The title track takes on new life from the version featured on 1997’s Later Days. Bluhm sings about being snubbed by musicians that he’s sharing the stage with, then forgiving them because they’re just too good a band to resent. The Mother Hips also deliver a beautiful reworking of “Protein Sky”; this version boasts an incredible pedal steel part by the wizardly Paul Hoaglin. Of the two covers here, the group's take on Gene Clark’s “Out on the Side” is a stunning standout.