The Nighthawks – 9/22 – SOLD OUT!

THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT. FOLLOW THE TICKET LINK TO EVENTBRITE TO JOIN THE WAITLIST.

Legendary blues and roots rock band THE NIGHTHAWKS is heading back to Syracuse September 22.

The Nighthawks was an idea in Mark Wenner’s brain long before he was able to implement it. The musical product of pre-1958 radio in Washington, D. C., he did not know there were rules against mixing blues, R&B, honky-tonk country, doo-wop, gospel, and rockabilly into one delicious stew.

The current lineup for The Nighthawks is:
- Mark Wenner: Vocals, Harmonica
- Mark Stutso: Drums, Vocals
- Sol Roots: Bass
- Dan Hovey: Guitar, Vocals

In 1972, Mark, then 23, returned to his hometown after a New York City band apprenticeship eager to start a real, work-every-night band based on American roots music. He found a receptive local scene. Washington has long been a musical melting pot of the kind that made Memphis the source point for the evolution of American music in the second half of the 20th century. It just never had a Stax or Sun record label to tell the world. As the city exploded with an influx of people from all the surrounding states during the Great Depression and World War II, Washington became a hotbed of musical cross-fertilization. When Bill Haley first brought his wacky Pennsylvania mix of hillbilly music and rhythm and blues to D. C. in 1952, people got it. And white kids like Mark found the Howard Theater – now recently restored and part of the historic top tier of the Chitlin' Circuit – just a 25-cent bus ride away from the suburbs.

The Founding Quartet

The original Nighthawks lineup solidified in mid-1974. Bringing together frontmen Mark Wenner and the young Jimmy Thackery with a veteran rhythm section, Jan Zukowski on bass and Pete Ragusa on drums, the quartet ruled the highways and honky-tonks until Jimmy’s departure in 1986 to pursue a solo career. The band opened many doors and forged touring routes for contemporaries and shared stages with many blues and rockabilly legends. They opened for Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Carl Perkins, and backed up and recorded with John Hammond and Pinetop Perkins.

The first years after Jimmy’s departure were a bit under the radar. Mark, Jan, and Pete took on roles such as Elvin Bishop’s East Coast band and became the backing band of choice for Rosebud Agency showcase tours with John Lee Hooker, Elvin Bishop, John Hammond and Pinetop Perkins. After a series of guitarists that included Warren Haynes and Steuart Smith, a collaboration with Wet Willie frontman Jimmy Hall led to several years with a solid quintet that also included guitarist Jimmy Nalls.

The next iteration saw Danny Morris step in as guitarist, followed by Pete Kanaras. Pete Ragusa stayed until 2010.

A Team of Veteran Players

Mark Stutso spent nearly two decades with former Nighthawk Jimmy Thackery. Before that he played in a number of rock bands, including Ruffryder and Trix. Originally from West Virginia, Mark put in five years in the coal mines before escaping into his drum kit. He lives in Pittsburgh and has collaborated with the late Glenn Pavone and Norman Nardini. His vocals are a force to be reckoned with.

Blues Music Award

In 2009, Sirius XM’s Bill Wax invited the band to record live tracks for his 'B. B. King's Bluesville' channel. In less than two hours the band cut almost a dozen tunes. The release Last Train to Bluesville on RipBang Records won Acoustic Album of the Year at the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards in Memphis in May 2011.

After 40 years, The Nighthawks are still having a Damn Good Time. And so will you. Listen up!

DOORS: 5:30PM SHOWTIME: 7:00PM

TICKET INFO:
- The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service that seats 75 people.
- The green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables, and the orange squares are regular-height tables.
- Most of our seats are sold as 'Tables for Two' – meaning the ticket admits TWO people.
- We have a limited number of single seats available; single attendees may be sharing a table with other single attendees.
- Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will automatically be seated together (up to 6 people).
- Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for our VIP Patron members.
- If anyone in your party needs special seating arrangements – walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table requirement, or you want to be seated with another party – please email us after you place your order and we'll make it happen.
- All tickets are 'WILL CALL' – no need to print anything out, just give your name at the door.

Event details:
- Date: September 22
- Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
- Venue: The 443 Social Club & Lounge, 443 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203

Links:
- Website: https://thenighthawks.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNighthawks
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighthawks1972/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Q2L3fR3hmzSTxE5Sf9Y60?si=cpYAVHt-QL-wkNg2g9gLOQ
- Tickets on EventBrite (waitlist): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-nighthawks-at-the-443-social-club-tickets-1992786110902?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Video: https://youtu.be/o7nm4gBh8g8?si=RSvg1uQ_L_Bxuyud