Wesley Hanna – Magnolia
This country-solid 11-song set is firmly rooted in traditional country. Not pop country. Closer to George Strait, Randy Travis & that family of vocalists. Is it twangy? Yeah. So what? There have been classic country-influenced duets all down the pike – Johnny Cash & June Carter, as well as Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood. Each team hit with the classic “Jackson.” When Wesley Hanna duets with Courtney Patton (“Life In Three Quarter Time”), it’s equally compelling & memorable.
Wesley (vocals/acoustic guitar) does a fine job on this set because, although he has a campy old-style country vocal tone, his skill with his voice has pizzazz & he’s confident. In a word, he’s good, entertaining & is in control of his program. The upbeat “Thomas B. O’Hara” is a danceable turn fried in driving music dipped in fiddle butter. By the end, Wesley speeds up the tune into an Irish jig sprinkled with Texas pedal steel guitar to Americanize it. The Pogues could’ve done this – that’s how energetic & lively it gets.
Magnolia is a little town in Texas that was settled in the early 1900s. This is where Wesley is from & the song itself from Magnolia (Drops Sept 5/Hanna Music Group/40:38) is similar to The Beatles’ “Penny Lane.” How, you may ask? Wesley narrates as Paul McCartney when he takes listeners for a musical walk through his hometown – “Magnolia.” A nice touch produced by Pat Manske & co-produced by Scrappy Jud Newcomb (electric & Resonator guitar/mandolin/Nylon-string guitar).
The songs were recorded in Dripping Springs, TX. The final folkier mandolin-defining version of “Magnolia (Charlie’s Version)” has the sepia of Levon Helm & The Band. This was recorded in Stephenville, TX. “The Right Thing” has some outlaw country shadings. But the musicians don’t leave out the danceability factor. Excellent guitar work throughout with rock-oriented potential & steady beat. Wesley’s vocal is pleasantly rural, prairie spacious & Country dignified – a bit Merle Haggard, a pinch of Waylon Jennings & lots of Country inspiration.
Rockier is “Behind the Pine Curtain” which cooks in a Billy Ray Cyrus tradition, if not the late Eddie Rabbitt. A good display of musical muscle. Showboating? None. Politics? Nope. Raunchy? No. Just good ole boy & gal music that anyone with rhythm in their hips would shake their bluejeaned ass to.
Highlights – “Life In Three Quarter Time,” “Thomas B. O’Hara,” “Magnolia,” “The Right Thing,” “Unkept Leather,” “Behind the Pine Curtain,” &“Magnolia (Charlie’s Version).”
Musicians – Cody Braun & Michael Durkan (fiddles), Conrad Choucroun (drums/electric bass), Pat Manske (drums), Lloyd Maines (dobro), Pablo Trujillo (pedal steel guitar), Riley Gilbreath (banjo/harmony), Stacie Hanna (upright bass/barroom choir) & the barroom choir: Conner Hanna, Jake Morris & Courtney Patton (harmony).
A 6-panel folded lyric insert is included. Color image courtesy of Wesley’s website gallery. CD @ Apple & Amazon + https://wesleyhannamusic.com/
