Frank Hannon - Reflections
- porter724
- Dec 28, 2025
- 5 min read
by Todd Beebe
Guitarist Frank Hannon has maintained a steady and strong career since the mid-1980s. As co-founder and lead guitarist of the band Tesla, Hannon has seen all of the ups and downs of the music business. Tesla has kept a loyal following for 40 years now, with their unique brand of wide-ranging hard rock. Frank has released solo albums through the years that showcase his incredible diversity. While they have all been outstanding, none run as deep as his 2025 release Reflections. The album was inspired by many personal difficulties over the past few years, including the passing of his father in law, The Allman Brothers Dickey Betts.
Reflections consists of thirteen original instrumentals. His guitar playing sings out, front and center with a miraculous, vocal-like quality. Recorded entirely with the Audigo app and microphone on Hannon's iPhone, the sound quality is absolutely stunning and proves that high-tech equipment and state of the art studios aren't necessary when you are dealing with a top-notch musician. Hannon used multiple guitars to record Reflections, including a '58 reissue Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG's, a Flying V, Gibson J-50 and Dove and a Martin D-45. But the absolute show stealer instrument on the album is a Gretsch Brian Setzer Hot Rod model that was originally owned by Setzer. Frank was gifted the guitar from a friend who passed away.
The album kicks off with the up-tempo "Walk In The Rain." We're immediately struck with beautiful, clean chords that set the listener up for everything incredible that is to come about this album! Hannon digs in with the melody which immediately evokes thoughts of classic instrumental music ala Duane Eddy and The Ventures.
Track number two is "Our Father's Love." The incredible, haunting melody hits the listener right away and puts you in a very reflective mood.
Just when you think this track has everything it needs, Hannon shifts directions at the halfway point with some beautiful unaccompanied chord work that reminds everyone why he is one of the world's top-notch players.
The appropriately titled "San Francisco" sets things up with a Jack Casady/White Rabbit inspired bass line played by Hannon on a Gibson EB-O. The listener is immediately taken back to the 1960s San Francisco era, and we even get flamenco style playing from Hannon, all done on a Gibson Dove. Absolutely incredible! The tune winds down with some great seagull sounding effects which cap things off perfectly!
“A Hundred Miles” starts off with an acoustic groove right out of the '70s, and that's a great thing! When the electric guitar comes in with its melody, you can almost hear it singing words, reminding the listener that at the end of the day, a song's melody is the most important part.
“Poncho's Song” comes in with a beautiful, 50s style arpeggio which is immediately topped by a gorgeous melody that reminds us that the album is indeed called Reflections! Just when you think the reflective melody of this one can't be topped, Frank throws in a harmony guitar to go along with it. Simply incredible stuff!
“Joy and Pain” gives us another beautiful melody, and we're also reminded that Frank Hannon is indeed a student of the blues. Check out the lead playing on this one! The slides and bends are straight up old school playing and that's a good thing!
By the time “Sunrise” is played, you realize that beautiful melodies are not a coincidence here. Hannon set out to make the guitar his voice on this album and to say he receives an A+ is an understatement! Anyone wanting a lesson in beautiful, restrained playing with melody being the main focus needs to check out this entire album, and “Sunrise” is one of the definitive examples here.
Okay, it's time to do some serious blues and country inspired playing now, and there's plenty of that on “Plank Spankin'!” Hannon just tears it up here, all while keeping it melodic and soulful too. Check out the video for this one on Frank's YouTube channel! All played right next to one of his tractors. Great stuff!
We've already mentioned how Hannon's playing is indeed blues based and inspired. If you need any more proof of that, the next two tracks will do it! "Into The Blue" gives us massive tone and incredible singing, bent guitar notes which lead us right into "One More Time." This one shows Frank pulling out some awesome slide guitar playing! Let's not forget, when everyone was shred crazy in the 1980s, Hannon was showing the world that slide playing was indeed alive and well on his work with Tesla.
Speaking of Tesla, years back, many bands forgot all about the acoustic guitar. With the success of the band's Five Man Acoustical Jam, Hannon and company reminded the world that sometimes all you need is an acoustic guitar to get the job done! Check out "Monkey Kitty", as Hannon delivers a top-notch performance with country tinged playing throughout. Simply amazing!
I was fortunate enough to be friends with the late, great Duane Eddy. I can feel Duane smiling down when I am listening to “This Is Goodbye”. The beautiful melody evokes Duane and his twangy guitar. It's awesome to hear a player like Hannon continue this vein of playing in 2025.
The final tune on the album is the title track. By this time, the listener may feel they are going to get an assault of blues, country, acoustic, and melodic guitar, all in one, final track. And in a way you would be correct!
But here Frank Hannon throws one more style at the listener with a classical based tune that once again shows the world that Frank Hannon is one of the top players in 2025. An absolute master!
There is really no way to categorize this music and that's a good thing! It can only be described as "Frank Hannon." You've probably noticed the words "beautiful melody" in this review countless times, and there's a good reason for that. Considering everything you hear is played by Frank Hannon, even the bass, you will find yourself humming many of these tunes. They are all well crafted, with a purposeful emphasis on the song's melody being the hook. Other players have attempted this in the past, only to find themselves in an uncomfortable setting which seems contrived and forced. Not in this case! Hannon is a master player and puts his ego in the backseat, allowing the song and the melody to take center stage. Whether you're a hardcore blues fan, country listener, or a hard rock, heavy metal, or even classical music fan, do yourself a favor and check out Frank Hannon's Reflections! One of the finest releases to come out in quite some time. We can only hope we'll get more of this music from Frank down the road.
