ALBUM REVIEW: The High Hawks Radiate Good Vibrations on ‘Mother Nature’s Show’

Expect good vibes when you encounter Mother Nature’s Show, the sophomore outing from The High Hawks. This easygoing sextet exhibits the kind of special team spirit that can’t be faked, working like an efficient, albeit nicely scruffy, groove machine as it spans a variety of roots styles to evoke Little Feat, The Grateful Dead, The Bottle Rockets, and other like-minded dudes.

The High Hawks (photo by Michael Weintrob)

A true group effort, The High Hawks features four writers, all of whom sing their own material with ample gusto, and arrangements designed to highlight the tunes rather than instrumental prowess. The members have overlapping resumes: Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman (guitar) and Chad Staehly (keyboard) of Hardworking Americans co-founded Great American Taxi, while the other four — Tim Carbone (fiddle, guitar), Adam Greuel (guitar), Brian Adams (bass), and Will Trask (drums) — all have a Taxi connection of some sort.

The instantly familiar songs cover a lot of ground, ranging from dark visions of societal dysfunction to the joys of good fellowship. Opening the show, the mellow “Diamond Sky” is a bittersweet love lament that seeks to soothe winter doldrums and the pain of heartbreak through fond memories; the rollicking “Somewhere South” follows with an invitation to escape the cold on a fishing trip down yonder, an offer guaranteed to appeal this time of year.

The ominous “Fox River Blues” conjures desperate images of peddling drugs and robbing banks, and “Same Old Stories” casts a weary eye on life’s everyday trials. Mostly, however, The High Hawks dedicate themselves to pursuing hope, or at least fun, in an uncertain world. The sentimental ballad “This Is What Love Feels Like” is as beautifully soothing as its title suggests. Boasting a shuffling beat The Meters would admire, “Shine Your Blues” delivers a reassuring pep talk. Powered by funky clavinet, the delightfully silly rave-up “Backwater Voodoo” recalls the great comedy R&B of The Coasters.

Although the players check their egos at the door, occasional hot licks provide a glimpse of an alternate, more forceful version of the album. The intensity rises whenever Carbone lets fly on his thrilling fiddle, and dashes of boogie-woogie piano and spiky guitar add stronger spice to the mix. Mother Nature’s Show is an understated pleasure, but extra sparks wouldn’t hurt a bit.

The High Hawks’ Mother Nature’s Show is out Feb. 16 on LoHi Records.