Frank Hannon – co-founder and lead guitarist of multi-platinum rock band Tesla – releases Plank Spankin’, a high-spirited instrumental and one-take live video captured in a field near his Northern California home. The track previews Hannon’s forthcoming all-guitar album Reflections, arriving September 12th on all platforms.
“Plank Spankin’ is a feel-good track…my nod to rockabilly guitar,” says Hannon. “Plank Spankin’ is British slang for a guitar player – it was given to me by Rick Allen of Def Leppard after he heard me jamming in my dressing room years ago. He stuck his head in and yelled, ‘Hey! You’re a Bloody Plank Spanker!’”
Filmed in one continuous take with no edits, the video finds Hannon set up beside his neighbor Ed’s vintage 1940s tractor, running Gretsch Electromatic guitar → Fender Deluxe Reverb amp, and recording to cell phone with the Audigo wireless mic + mobile app. “This version was the first of five – I kept the first take because it flowed best. The song is a jam; apart from the opening riff, I never play it the same twice.”
Just as with the rest of Reflections, performance leads the production: the Audigo mic was placed in front of the small amp, signal straight into the app for simple multitrack capture. “Audigo’s stripped-down workflow lets me grab inspired takes fast without getting lost in DAW options,” Hannon adds. The feel and tone tip the hat to Brian Setzer, Luther Perkins (Johnny Cash), and Don Rich (Buck Owens & The Buckaroos) and a local guitar hero of Frank’s named Charlie Baty of Little Charlie the Nightcats, who played a jumping, rootsy style Hannon calls “a rare sound to hear these days.”
“When I was 10 years old my mom would take me out to hear Little Charlie play guitar outside the blues clubs in Sac,” Hannon shares. “Man he could swing, jump and boogie.”
Reflections is Hannon’s most intimate, Western-tinged statement yet – raw first takes recorded on his phone during a season of loss, return, and renewal. It places the guitar as the sole voice, moving through cinematic melodies, soulful slide, intricate fingerpicking, and moody chord progressions. Recent singles include the bluesy One More Time (with a ranch-shot video) and the contemplative Our Father’s Love (which can be seen here). Raised in rural Sacramento among horses, chickens, and goats, Hannon’s lifelong connection to the land and Americana spirit courses through the album’s wide-open feel.
“Plank Spankin’ lands just hours before Hannon’s performance at The Cutting Room in New York City tomorrow night, September 9th (tickets here). The show starts off a short Reflections run that also includes Daryl’s House (Pawling, NY, Sept 10th) and an appearance at the Horseshoe Festival in Jackson Hole (Sept 12th–13th).
“I almost titled the album Plank Spankin’, but Reflections fit the record’s diverse nature,” Hannon adds. “Being coined a ‘Plank Spanker’ by my buddy Rick Allen was an honor – it ranks up there with being called a ‘cowboy’ by Bill Riddle. This album is all about guitar expression as the main focus.”
Frank Hannon – Tour Dates
Tuesday, September 9th – The Cutting Room – New York, NY (Tickets here)
Wednesday, September 10th – Daryl’s House – Pawling, NY (Tickets here)
Friday–Saturday, September 12th–13th – Horseshoe Festival – Jackson Hole, WY (Tickets here)
Reflections by Frank Hannon:
1. Walk In The Rain
2. Our Father’s Love
3. San Francisco
4. A Hundred Miles
5. Poncho’s Song
6. Joy And Pain
7. Sunrise
8. Plank Spankin’
9. Into The Blue
10. One More Time
11. Monkey Kitty
12. This Is Goodbye
13. Reflections (Bonus)
Follow online: frankhannon.com, Youtube, Apple Music, Instagram, Facebook and X/Twitter.