If you’re looking for a band that will get your engine revved up on a Saturday night or one that will carry you through the whole damn weekend, local legends the Martini Brothers may be just what the doctor ordered to hype your hip swing and help you get a groove on.

For four years now, the Martini Brothers have been bringing their rare, charismatic breed of roots driven rock ‘n’ roll to the local stage and satisfying audiences with an unforgettable show. Showmen, musicians, rockers—the Martini Brothers are back and it seems that they aren’t the only ones that feel they are better than ever. The packed and rabid Courtyard crowd at their searing performance during last month’s Millenium would have been enough proof for any band that they are indeed loved.

After the tragic, accidental death of drummer and founding member Chad Matson last October, no one was sure if the Martini Brothers would ride again. Most of all, remaining members Deuce Gibb and Mike Mead.

"There were so many questions like ‘should we continue?’" Gibb said. "What should we do, should we keep the name, should we ever perform again?"

"We thought a lot about changing the name." Mead said.

"Yeah, to Johnny Casino & the Gamblers," Gibb quipped. "I’d be Johnny Casino of course."

"A lot of people thought we should change the name," Gibb added on a more serious note. "But we decided not to because, when people see Mike and I up front they think ‘the Martini Brothers’ no matter what we call ourselves."

Once they came to terms with Matson’s passing in December, they recruited Rej Troup, formerly of Underground Cartoons. Now, with the dark shadows of last fall’s loss behind them, the Martini Brothers are looking toward the future of the new lineup and making sure that everyone knows that they are still in business.

"After four years of the Martini’s, it was getting funky," Gibb said, emphasizing that long before Matson’s death things were not going well within the band. "Now it’s a breath of fresh air. Last summer I got a vibe that it was over—and I was right, it was over, but now it is born again."

"This is a basic reorganization period for us," Gibb said. "We’ve been together since December and we’ve learned about forty songs since then. Rej is learning them for the first time and we’re learning them for the second. I really mean that, they’re songs we’ve played before, but I play things different now."

"Everything’s different now." Mead added. "I think the band is more powerful now."

"I don’t think the band is more powerful," Gibb added. "But I feel more comfortable in the fact that I don’t have to worry about whether Rej is going to make it through the night."

"I do," Troup joked.

The new lineup seems to be working well together and in only three months they seem to be back to where they were, if not well beyond that.

"It’s just weird, Chad’s the only drummer I played with for seven years, but it didn’t take that long for us to regroup," Gibb said. "Of course, I’ve known Rej for twelve years so we’re comfortable with him. It’s important to be comfortable, socially, with the people you play with."

"I think the three of us gel just as well as the three of us before." Mead said.

"It was hard for me at first because I didn’t want to cop Chad’s style." Troup said.

"We didn’t want Rej to fill Chad’s shoes," Mead said. "Because that’s ridiculous."

"We were just worried that people were going to come up to Rej with comments like ‘hey, you’re all right’ or ‘you’re doing a good job, rock on," Gibb explained. "But people have been really cool about it."

The Martini Brothers seem enlivened and revitalized by the line up change. An atmosphere of excitement surrounds them like a cloud of cigarette smoke. Currently the band is concentrating on practicing, playing out and following their instincts on what they will do next.

"Right now we’re just getting a feel for where each other is at," Troup said.

"I’ve noticed our feel has changed quite a bit," Gibb said. "I think that it’s naturally happening and I don’t care, because it’s flowing and it’s great."

"Yeah, it’s the only natural thing, to just feel things out," Mead added. "We know what we’ve got to do, but we’re not racing to get there. We’re taking our time. We’re ready to start writing."

"We should have a half dozen new songs by summer," Gibb added.

"Rej has a cabin, so we’re going to go up there, get to know each other better," Gibb said. "Have a few overnights, do some drinking, shoot some stuff and write some songs."

"Yeah, guns and liquor—hey there’s a new song right there," Mead laughed.

"Right now, we’re just playing a bunch, practicing once a week," Mead said. "Playing out, probably too much, actually—but we’re back and people know that."

"We really haven’t gotten out of the area now," Gibb said. "With the old lineup, we had a thing in Philly, Baltimore, New York—we’ve got to get back out there."

Last year saw the release of the Martini Brothers first full-length album, Portable. A brilliant blend of styles and standards that have made the Martini’s what they are.

"It’s great! People are still buying the album," Gibb said. "It really surprises me. We thought that everyone that would buy it, would have gotten it by now, but we’re still getting checks—nice ones."

From their classic originals like "Up All Night," "Let’s Have a Party," and "Martini Stomp" to such catchy covers as "Can’t Judge a Book" and "Strychnine," the album is a definitive portrait of the original Martini Brothers. Despite the album’s depth and variety of material, the band still finds it difficult to escape the trappings of the term "rockabilly," which follows them wherever they go.

"I don’t like the term rockabilly. We’re not rockabilly at all," Gibb said. "I’d be embarrassed if a real rockabilly band saw us and we were presented as rockabilly. Don’t get me wrong though, that early rock ‘n’ roll style is where I am most comfortable."

"We’re just a rock ‘n’ roll band, that’s it," Mead said.

And a rock ‘n’ roll band that is known for serious partying, staying up late, smoking and drinking.

"The thing is, yeah, that’s what happens," Mead grinned. "It’s just what happens, we’re a rock ‘n’ roll band."

"We’re not trying to be rebels," Gibb added.

Looking at the future of the Martini Brothers, the band is hopeful toward releasing some new material in the next year. They are pondering an EP, possibly another album by December and musing over label interest.

"A dream for me would be releasing another CD," Gibb said. "If that happens, I would be really happy. We’ve got to record a whole other album, but it’s hard for me to disconnect—to write lyrics after a day of work and children."

As far as being signed to a label, the Martini Brothers would like that, but it’s not something that they are in serious pursuit of attaining.

"It’s funny we’re not signed and a lot of people say that," Gibb said. "I mean, we deserve it—We’re fun."