![[The Nighthawks]](nighthawks.gif)
The Nighthawks
Pain & Paradise
Big Mo (CD)
The Nighthawks are bluesmen, apparently of the Stevie Ray Vaughn
school. They've crafted an enjoyable (if not overly involving) disc,
an enjoyable mixture of originals and covers that's sure to appeal to
fans of Clapton et al. I'd love to hear these guys live, though,
because I'm sure their shows brim over with the same blistering
intensity that "Pain and Paradise" struggles to capture. That's not to
say there's no energy here -- vocalist Mark Wenner's harp work keeps the
pace steady, especially on rousing tracks like "High Temperature", not
to mention drummer Pete Ragusa's "I Told You So", on which it's more of
a scat-vocalist. And on tracks where a full-on assault isn't required,
such as "Same Thing" and "Trouble on the Way", the Nighthawks cook.
There's lots to enjoy here -- and with enough volume and distortion, the
anonymity of studio production diminishes. For best results, put on
your headphones, light about six cigarettes in a nearby ashtray, close
your eyes and press play. Periodically spilling beer all over your
shoes and the floor will help, too. -- gz