With a long, arduous 2015 behind him, The Mother Hips’ cofounding guitarist Tim Bluhm slowly adjusts his seat center stage at Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz, CA last Friday, February 26. It’s hard to tell if his facial expression bears sharp pain or intense anticipation.

Readying themselves for an extensive winter tour that reaches as far East as Chicago, Bay Area bluegrass group Hot Buttered Rum performed a low key and blistering show on a Saturday night at Moe’s Alley in Santa Cruz, CA.