THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505180371
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
IN MONTE HOOKER'S comfortable home in the Kitty Hawk woods, four of the five members of his band, Hooker's Nite Out, discuss the group.
``We don't try to be anything but what we are,'' Hooker says. ``Our purpose is to play fun music.''
Carolyn Hatch, Tom Stevenson and Rob Bittle nod their heads in agreement.
Hooker put the band together in late 1993. He had played in other bands with 27-year-old lead guitarist Bittle. Bassist Stevenson, 42, moved to the Outer Banks after a two-year gig with The Box Tops. Anthony Moore, 35, played drums with a variety of bands in eastern North Carolina. And singer/guitarist Carolyn Hatch was looking for a change after a couple of years in Los Angeles.
``Some people that I wanted to play with became available,'' says the 31-year-old Hooker.
Hatch, 31, had the biggest adjustment. She had never played in a band.
``It was a change,'' she says. ``I had always been alone on stage. Now I feel like I have four brothers.''
Hatch also writes songs, although most of what the band does onstage are cover tunes. What kind of songs does Hatch write for this party band?
``Nothing too heavy,'' Hatch says. ``I pick up on snatches of peoples' conversations. Then, when I sing them, people say, `I know what she's talking about.'
Hooker's Nite Out plays about seven originals. The rest of the material is a veritable party platter of classic rock 'n' roll: Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Hootie and The Blowfish, Pink Floyd and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
And although the band posts a song list on the stage, there is always room for improvization.
Check out this recent song cycle: ``The Peter Gunn Theme'' into The Commodores' ``Brickhouse,'' followed by Iron Butterfly's ``In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.''
``We only have one rule,'' Hooker says. ``That is to keep the energy going.''
Hooker's Nite Out is getting a lot of work these days. And the band feels that that's a signal that times may be a-changing, again.
``Most of us musicians had a slump a few years ago,'' Stevenson says. ``Clubs were using karaoke or some guy with a synthesizer. Now they want real bands.''
The band has about 20 confirmed dates over the next couple of months. And that's enough for now. All the members have day gigs.
One thing the band wants to do is record. That may come this winter. Hooker works in the Sound To Sea recording studio in Manteo.
``We already have a few songs on tape,'' Hooker says. ``But we really feel like we have enough material for an album.''
For now, it's party on. And this band means that in the best sense of the word. But they also challenge their audiences to be sensible.
``We say it over and over while we're on stage,'' Hooker says. ``If you drink, don't drive.''
You gotta love it. A party band with a conscience. MEMO: John Harper covers entertainment for The Carolina Coast. Write to him at
P.O. Box 10, Nags Head, N.C. 27959.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
The members of Hooker's Nite Out are, clockwise from right, Bob
Bittle, Monte Hooker, Anthony Moore, Tom Stephenson and Carolyn
Hatch.
by CNB