Midnight Shift
"Rhythm Rockin' Boogie"
Cabernet Records
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, © March 2011

Have you ever wondered how certain albums got their titles? Much too often they have nothing to do with the songs and in some cases, make no sense at all. However, on this particular disc, the title is quite apropos..."Rhythm Rockin' Boogie" is just what you're going to hear - and lots of it at that. The CD contains 18 mostly original tracks totaling well over 60 minutes, without 1 dull minute one amongst them.

Midnight Shift consists of; Mike Mettalia on lead vocals and harp; Mike McMillan on guitar, vocals and maracas; Paul Pluta on bass and backup vocals; and Tim Smith on drums, congas and backup vocals. On "Rhythm Rockin' Boogie", the bands second release, they feature special guests Steve Guyger on harmonica, Tommy Conwell and Christopher Dean on guitar, Chicago Carl Snyder and Dan McKinney on keyboards, and Phil Pilorz on slide guitar.

Not featuring any of the guest musicians, the opening track - "Real Good Sign" - is a great introduction to the nucleus of the band. It's a hot shuffle featuring smooth vocals, great guitar leads, tight rhythm, and sharp harp...all performed to perfection.

In addition to being fun, the lyrics on this track are - and as most woman might say, sadly so - quite true as well. It's all about a man's inability to pay attention due to a "Low Cut Blouse". So? The beat coming from Tim's congas will have you wanting to cha-cha-cha during this one. Great piano work from Carl as well.

As long as you're up and dancing, stay there. But first you'd better get your feet out of that cha-cha frame of mind and get them ready to "Tear It Up". This one, screams and all, is flat out wild. Good ol' rockin' rockabilly at it's best.

Catch ya breath yet? You're gonna need it for the title track. "Rhythm Rockin' Boogie" is "faster than a speeding bullet" and Steve's smokin' harp has it sounding "more powerful than a locomotive". Just be careful of those "tall bounds" you'll want to leap while listening. If CD players had a speed setting you'd be looking to see if this one was on 78 by mistake.

Ahhhhhhhhh...one for the slow dancers. This is the one that might get you thinking that "Before This Song Is Over", she's going to know just how much she's turning you on - if you get my drift. Mike and Dan are magical together with their harp and piano tandem and Mike's vocals are absolutely spine chilling. God, I love this kind of good old 50's stuff.

OMG! Here I am, only up to track 7, and I've already had something to say about 5 of them. As I said in the intro..."without 1 dull minute one amongst them".

OK, I gotta speed this up, and here's the track to get me to do just that - another rocket called "Mess Around". With lightning fast rhythm coming from Tim & Paul and lightning fast guitar - this time by Tommy, this one's a race...a frantic one at that.

If you want to rock till you drop, then "Do The 45". This is musical mayhem at it's best. Take it from someone who likes slow, low down dirty blues - this is not it. And yet I'm loving it...excuse me while I hit replay - again. The guys are all over this style of funky, rockin', rhythm filled hybrid blues. Definitely the disc's best with everyone at disc's best. Before I move on, I'm going back for another listen.

OK, there's still a lot of music left, but I gotta end this before the disc totally kicks my fat ass. I think I've made my point - there is one heck of a lot of rhythm rockin' boogie to be heard on..."Rhythm Rockin' Boogie".

The rest of the tracks I'm just too damn exhausted to mention are: "Back To Her Heart", "Mr. Lincoln", "Georgia Slop", "Let It Show", "The Girl From Nogales", "My Destiny", "She Never Would Forget", "The L&N", Crash Into Love", something I always love doing, going "Back To Memphis" and something this band does not know how to do..."Back Off".

Having just recently picked the winner of the 2010 BLEWZZY AWARD, it's a long time till the 2011 crowning. However, if ya wanna win it, this is the disc ya gotta beat.

To find out how to get your hands on a copy of "Rhythm Rockin' Boogie", check Midnight Shift out at www.mnightshift.com and if there was ever a CD you bought just on my recommendation, let it be this one. And don't forget to tell the guys who sent you...the Blewzzman.