Artist:The Nighthawks
Album:Pain and Paradise
Released:1996
Source:Big MO 10302
Genre:Blues
Info:Click Here
Review:
With harmonica player/singer Mark Wenner, bassist Jan Zukowski, and drummer/singer Pete Ragusa now well into their third decade together, the Nighthawks are a veteran blue-collar band that gets the job done, and Pain & Paradise is one of their better studio efforts. Guitar chores are now handled by relative newcomer Pete Kanaras, who replaced Danny Morris. The Nighthawks' reach never exceeds their grasp, and this album displays their excellent grasp of the Muddy Waters/Little Walter-style Chicago blues and bar-band rock & roll that lie at the core of their sound. They kick butt enough that you know you've been kicked, but not so much that it hurts, and they're even confident enough to ease up every now and then (AMG)
It probably only seems like it, but haven’t The Nighthawks been around since the days of Robert Johnson? Actually, these blues bad boys from D.C. are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, and now have a fine new album Pain & Paradise (Big Mo Records). With new guitarist Pete Kanaras joining longtime members Mark Wenner, Pete Ragusa and Jan Zukowski, the ‛Hawks show no signs of slowing down. They’ve never been afraid to break the mold with their arrangements, as evidenced by the version of Little Walter’s "High Temperature." The Nighthawks take the straight Chicago blues and add a doo wop chorus, courtesy of some original members of The Orioles (the singing group, not the baseball team!). And Mark Wenner shows on "I Told You So" that he’s still one of the best harp players around. Here’s wishing this band another successful 25-year run. (Blues Bytes)
Opening with a cut from the famous California bluesman, Frank Zappa, the Nighthawks take on "Trouble Comin' Every Day" sets the tone for a no compromise platter of hard times and in your face roadhouse blues. Wenner is strident and rhythmic and wraps himself around a harp like no one's business. He's just as tough on the vocal duties, fully and articulately expressive with just enough edge. The 'Hawks put you somewhere between Pain & Paradise. Pete Kanaras is as happy with twanging, boogieing or picking, to which Jan Zukowski's bass provides a steady foil. Wrapping it all is a steady-handed (maybe too steady into monotonous) rockin' and rollin' rhythm machine in Pete Ragusa. The cuts have no nonsense, straight-forward vibes and the theme is interpersonal interaction. There's little question about what will be worked on by a boogie down "Shade Tree Mechanic," driven by a hot juking harp. Willie Dixon's "Same Thing" explores another side of the theme in a nice, slow glide version. Wenner's harp is a focuser bringing Little Walter's "High Temperature" to a steady rolling boil while the vocals are delivered with an Estrin-esque swing. An acoustic counterpoint is Delta deep that points out "Trouble On the Way." It's a fine shift in gears before the wrap up with "I Told You So" and "Snap It," two Nighthawk-written boogies. —M. Gresser
Track List:
01. Trouble Comin’ Every Day (Frank Zappa) 5:21
02. Shade Tree Mechanic (J. Shamwell/A. D. Prestage/W. Godbold) 4:05
03. Same Thing (Willie Dixon) 5:32
04. The Soul of a Man (P. Ragusa/S. Smith/G. Sutton) 4:04
05. High Temperature (Jacobs/Cohen) 2:57
06. Pain & Paradise (B. Hodge) 4:49
07. Is Love Enough (J. L. Williams/W. Raymond) 4:37
08. Trouble on the Way (T. Garland/Funzalo) 4:10
09. I Told You So (Pete Ragusa) 4:28
10. Snap It (P. Kanaras/S. Smith/P. Ragusa) 3:12
Harmonica & Vocals: Mark Wenner
Guitars: Pete Kanaras
Drums & Vocals: Pete Ragusa
Bass & Backing Vocals: Jan Zukowski
Keyboards: Steuart Smith
