The John Wort Hannam pictured on this album cover looks like a man who might have some life experiences to impart. That indeed is the case on LONG HAUL, wherein, over several songs, he states that he is taking a look at the bigger picture and what it shows us. Produced by Canadian roots music stalwart Steve Dawson, it has a warm, aged but not always rosy view of live, love and the pursuit of happiness (or something that might pass for that). The title track is the introductory affirmation of his stance taken, obviously, in later life, that it is now not “all about the chase / not the finish line / but babe that ain’t the case / no not this time.” There is also a lot of love expressed throughout in such songs as Wonderful Things, as well as the opposite side of the coin in Beautiful Mess, where the spoils of a relationship are divided “keep the Lou Reed record and the god-damn cat,” while acknowledging that they had loved each other with their beautiful mess.
Old Friend is a testament to the life of a long-time friend and partner in crime, what they got up to and how the memories are both sad and good. Hurry Up Kid is about waiting for a birth to happen “hurry up kid … I quit smoking … your Mama is showing / boy she’s glowing.” Hannam is an observer in the wings for these, essentially, small town vignettes of how we all deal with the cards dealt to us. In this case without bitterness but rather with to learn. Meat Draw is about a “small town legion Friday night meat draw” that has the observation that can only come from being there,“there’s an old gal in the corner / showing off her legs / but the old boys just ignore her / they came for bacon and eggs.” There are a couple of solid country moments in here that fit in the overall scheme with the pedal steel on Beautiful Mess and Young At Heart. The former a delightful duet with Keri Latimer. Elsewhere the folk/roots axis of the songs are perfectly delivered by the producer and players, including the contributions of multi-instrumentalists Fats Kaplin, keyboardist Chris Gestrin and Dawson own multi-guitar skills. They all bring enough variation to the tracks in that they never seem samey but rather mines a richer seam of Canadian life.
However, obviously, all this requires the focal point of Hannam’s rich wordsmithing and his aged, warm vocals. It fits and feels like a pair of well worn and loved jeans. Perhaps the title and the sentiment expressed in the closing song Young At Heart best sum up John Wort Hannam’s philosophy and outlook in say “may you die young at heart at a ripe old age.” There’s something of old wisdom in that saying. It’s a heartfelt and sincere wish that brings to close the latest album from the Lethbridge based performer who is undoubtedly in it for the long haul himself. Enjoy the journey.