Damn Good Time!

For more than 40 years, The Nighthawks have served up a well-seasoned stew of blues, R&B, and rock with plenty of sweat and a pinch of humor. Damn Good Time is firmly in the band’s eclectic tradition, capturing the freewheeling roadhouse spirit that has been the quartet’s calling card. Founding member Mark Wenner joins veteran bandmates Paul Bell and Johnny Castle in welcoming new recruit Mark Stutso into the fold. All four Hawks take turns at the vocal mic as they tackle a mixed bag of originals and covers. Wenner’s boisterous harmonica work powers such swaggering numbers as “Night Work” and “Too Much.” Castle delivers the rollicking rockabilly tune “Bring Your Sister,” while Bell grabs the spotlight for a vigorous Bo Diddley–ized take on “Georgia Slop.” Besides handling drum duties, Stutso contributes such soulful compositions as “Minimum Wage” and “Heartbreak Shake.” From the suave “Send for Me” to the swinging “Smack Dab in the Middle,” The Nighthawks make all the stylistic shifts look easy. These old pros have a few things to teach the latest crop of roots artists about energy, endurance, and style.