Quaker City Night Hawks - Honcho

I have been meaning to review the new Quaker City Night Hawks CD ALL WEEK but I have been putting it off like a mofo. I saw them for the first time last weekend when they opened for Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. It was a hell of a show. I normally don't stand up on the church pew for opening bands, but about two songs in, I couldn't sit still and I was up there shaking my hips and stomping my feet. I left with a CD of their new record, Honcho, that they had only released the night before. I have had a hard time listening to anything else.

I hadn't even heard of this band before I heard they were coming to Blue Light, but this week, upon the release of their new record, I have been seeing their name everywhere.

I'm stealing these words directly from their website because I can't find a better way to describe them...

QUAKER CITY NIGHT HAWKS BRAND OF HARD ROCK N’ ROLL IS BRED FROM TEXAS BOOGIE, MEMPHIS SOUL AND HEAVY BLUES. THEIR MUSIC IS SOUTHERN ROCK RIGHT OUT OF ’75, PLAYED WITH THE FERVOR OF A SERMON CRACKLING OUT OF THE RADIO IN A ’68 LINCOLN. THEY’RE THE WHISKEY BOTTLE YOU FINISHED SATURDAY NIGHT AND THE PRAYER YOU SAID THE NEXT MORNING. LIKE A COUNTRY GUNSHOT ON A HUMID NIGHT AND YOUR FIRST ILLICIT BEER, QUAKER CITY NIGHT HAWKS ARE THE SPIRIT OF ROCK N’ ROLL. COME SHAKE YOUR HIPS!

That's exactly right. All week I was listening to this album and trying to decide what to say in my review when I finally got around to writing it. Well, I guess I should have acted sooner because Hogleg from Galleywinter took the words right out of my mouth... so again, I'm stealing his review, but it's OK because he told me I could so I am. (Damn my job is easy today.)

My recommended tracks are  as follows:
“Fox in the Hen House” because it immediately puts you in the groove for the full Hawks experience. It has all the ingredients of a kick ass tune.
“Cast the Line” has a very Creedence, Lodi feel to it. Makes me want to run or skip (whatever feels right) through a field of Sunflowers with a cape on.
“Rattlesnake Boogie” has that Ray Wylie strut to it. I believe Ray would approve.
I have to like “Greasy Night” because I understand the concept of greasy all encompassingly.
“Yellow Rose” makes me want to sway back and forth with my West Texas lady friend.
I’m no writer here. I’m no album reviewer. I’m just a dude who likes to shake a leg and smoke one if you got it. Get this record. It’s rock and roll.

Hogleg nailed it... QCNK is gritty, greasy, groovy rock. Something about "Train Rolled Home" has me reaching for the volume knob about five times before it's over... it can't get loud enough. "Lavanderia" is just plain fun and almost makes me want to do laundry (not really because nothing NOTHING makes me want to do laundry, but if I had to, this song should be playing). And the CD doesn't do them justice. See them live and see if you can sit still. I promise I'd never lead you astray.

Now turn this up and JAM it.