The Nighthawks
By Mike O’Cull
The Nighthawks are celebrating 50 years of being the best bar band in the world with a brand-new album, Established 1972, that’s so good you’ll want to listen to it for another 50. Out now on the VizzTone Label Group imprint, the record is a testament to the creative staying power and musical muscle of one of the USA’s all-time great blues bands.
Founded back in the day by lead singer and harpmaster Mark Wenner, it would have been easy for the group to pull a bunch of tracks from its back pages and call it an anniversary release but Nighthawks fans know that such a move doesn’t fit their favorite band’s well-established, hard-charging style. Instead, Established 1972 contains 14 new original songs that roam undefined through the wilds of American roots music and are absolutely ready to party. That, my friends, is The Nighthawks’ style.
This new set was produced by the band and longtime partner David Earl at Earl’s Severn Sound Studios in Annapolis, Maryland during the pandemic. Wenner and his present-day lineup of drummer Mark Stutso, guitarist Don Hovey, and bassist Paul Pisciotta circled up and made some of the finest music of the Hawks’ lengthy career. The musicians all share vocals and songwriting duties and have a clear chemistry together that has kept the D.C.-based outfit’s power and reputation intact despite all the time and miles that have gone by. The band has been through many changes in five decades but this version is as good as they’ve ever been and shows no sign of hitting the brakes.
Established 1972 kicks off with the amped-up Chuck Berry-ish rocker “Nobody.” It’s a strutting, dance floor song meant to improve both your mood and your circulation. Mark Stutso pounds out a straight-ahead beat that will wear out your shoe leather and Wenner’s harmonica is wonderfully dirty and cool. It’s the kind of number the group made its bones on, overflowing with energy, joy, and an obvious love for American music. Expect to play this one a few times in a row.
“You Seem Distant” is a prime Gulf Coast boogie delivered with a bit of subtle snark and a pocket that refuses to quit. The band locks together as one and puts down a sound that can hang with any house-rocking legend that’s ever taken the stage. Don Hovey’s guitar work is on point, super tasty, and well-executed here and throughout the album and he gives all the aspiring pickers out there a ton of cool licks to figure out.
The vibe turns almost completely around on the vintage soul jam “I’ll Come Running Back To You.” The Nighthawks pull back and smooth out on this one and deliver the kind of old-school, mid-tempo soul music that practically requires a velvet tuxedo. Wenner’s harp work fits into this context surprisingly well and the tune comes off as romantic and genuine. It’s a big shift in tone from the previous songs but the band slam dunks it with ease.
“Johnny Too Bad” is a pumping garage rock cut with roots overtones aplenty that’s nothing but fun. It has that simple, heady feel that set so many of us off in our formative days and will make you want to jump up and sing along. The ballad “West Memphis” is gentle and true. It has a plain-spoken, emotional take on tough times and love gone wrong that can’t help but touch any beating heart that encounters it and is one of the new record’s peak moments. Be sure to also spin “Gas Station Chicken” and the closer “Driving.” The Nighthawks still have an incredible amount of music to give us and Established 1972 is proof positive of that fact. Dig into it and it will make your summer happen.
Listen to “I’ll Come Back Running To You”
The Nighthawks website
My absolute favorite. Been a fan back to the Thackery days. Mark is the best harp player in my book. Their music is genuine with a mix of old blues sounds, early rock and roll country and rock- a- Billy. You can’t beat them live, I see them as often as I can. Go an see them r give em a listen. If you like blues and Americona music you will like it too.