Nighthawks - All You Gotta Do

The latest recording from The Nighthawks, All You Gotta Do, is about as close to perfection as you would want from a blues and American roots band. Of course those terms and descriptions, blues rock, soul blues, roots rock, roots music, Americana, hadn't even been coined yet when this band started mixing it all up. And created their own magic gumbo of rock and roll. Inspired and encouraged by their hero s and mentors, that created the genres, they learned the language and feel of this great music. And that s what makes the difference. Founding member Mark Wenner has always had a sound he was after. From the deep blues of Muddy Waters, early rock & roll of Elvis and Buddy with some great four part harmonies was the formula. He has the band now that can do just that and more. - The new disc opens with Mark Wenner's rocking version of Brenda Lee's title track, the kind of pop rockabilly that was in full swing at the end of the '50s. Mark Stutso proceeds to give a moving interpretation of Levon Helm's personal farewell, "When I Go Away." Wenner follows with the always mandatory Muddy Waters song, with no attempt to be anything other than the Chicago Blues.