Ironton's Jon Malone, Gary Murnahan, Jeff Leach and Tommy Woods, also known as Nite Shift, love that old time rock and roll. They also love new rock and roll. They'll even mix in some country and bluegrass if time permits.
"There's only so much you can do in one night," joked Murnahan, a vocalist and guitarist for the popular local band.
Nite Shift has been rocking the Tri-State for a dozen years. "I've been in the band since about 1994," Murnahan explained, "but it was together before that.
Jon was one of the original members. Jeff and Tommy joined us later on."
Malone, a guitarist and vocalist, helped organize the band in 1994.
Murnahan was added a short time later. With the additions of Leach and Woods, Nite Shift became a well-oiled machine.
"For me, it's perfect," Malone said.
"Everybody in the band is great. It's hard to find four guys who always get along, but we do."
Malone stated that two popular members of the original Nite Shift, guitarist Rich Blankenship and drummer Darren Webb, had family and career pursuits that limited their abilities to play.
"Darren became an Ohio State Highway Patrolman and Rich just needed more time with his family," Malone said.
But not before the foursome experienced some memorable moments.
In the mid to late 1990s, Murnahan and Malone, along with Webb and Blankenship, opened for some very popular country music performers.
"We opened for Holly Dunn, T. Graham Brown, The Bellamy Brothers and quite a few more that I just can't recall," Murnahan said. "Holly Dunn was wonderful.
Of all the superstars I've ever met, she was the best. She treated us like gold."
Malone recalled an opening appearance for Jerry Clower at the Lawrence County Fair.
"Clower was having mike problems," Malone recalled, laughing, "so Gary took one of our mikes, walked right out on stage and tapped him on the shoulder. It scared him to death."
Another time, Murnahan and Blankenship encountered a young, skinny guy who was doing a sound check on his guitar.
"You see that all the time before people perform," Murnahan said. "We thought this guy was a roadie for somebody so we went to talk to him."
That young, skinny guy turned out to be Ty England, the former lead guitarist for country megastar Garth Brooks.
"He was very cool, very down to Earth," Murnahan remembered.
Woods, who started playing drums as a 14-year-old, landed in the band at the recommendation of Leach and Murnahan. "Jeff and Gary kept bragging about how good Tommy was, so he came and auditioned," Malone recalled.
"He is such a good singer. I didn't even know he could sing at the time. Tommy opened up a new horizon for us because he can sing really high.
..like Journey songs and stuff most people can't sing.
"
Woods, who is not on his barber's Christmas card list, jokingly said, "When I started with these guys I was bald. You can tell how long I've been in this band by the length of my hair."
Leach, a lead guitarist and vocalist for three years, joined Nite Shift just before Woods.
"They needed a guitar player so I auditioned for them one evening," Leach recalled, noting that he and Murnahan had crossed musical paths several times prior. "After a few songs they said, 'yep, you're the one.'" Leach, who cut his teeth as a 13-year-old on Van Halen songs, jokingly said, "They couldn't pay me what I was worth, but I liked them, so I stuck around.
"
As the responsibilities of fatherhood have increased, the band's playing time has decreased. "Jeff and I coach basketball and Tommy works shift work," Murnahan said. "It's hard to get together for a strong weekend.
" Woods, sporting scarlet-and-gray tennis shoes, added another restriction to the band's performances this time of year. "We don't play when The Buckeyes are playing."
Nite Shift still plays a monthly gig at The End Zone in Ironton and has performed at The Rally on the River the past two years.
The band will perform at The End Zone on New Year's Eve. "We try to make ourselves available for special occasions," Murnahan said, "because we all still love to play."
Leach mentioned the End Zone as one of his favorite places to play.
"I have more fun there with a smaller crowd than any of the bigger shows we've done. The best part of being in a live band is the crowd reaction. To me, it's more fun with a smaller crowd.
"
Malone, whose wife Brenda also occasionally sings with the band, agreed with Leach. "It's fun there because (owners) Rick and Ann treat us great."
"The main thing about this band is that we aren't doing it for money or fame or anything like that," Leach said.
"We are doing it because we are having fun. It's what we love to do."
To schedule Nite Shift, contact Malone at (740) 532-9118.
But check the Buckeyes' football schedule before you make the call.
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