In the glory days of big-time pro wrestling, a brute by the name of Black Jack Mulligan was famous for his finisher, a convincing little piece of theatrics known as the “heart punch.” At least I think it was Black Jack. What I am sure of, however, is that John Casey has delivered the sonic equivalent on Hannah Rose Suite.
Named after his daughter, this disc is the second full-length effort from Minneapolis -singer/songwriter Casey. The first (and title) track, an Astral Weeks-like ode to the baby girl, draws you in like the smell of your old flame’s cologne. From there, Casey delivers a cinema-sharp series of stories that resonate with a tenderness borne of some of life’s more, uh, un-tender moments. “On The Road” (which contains the should-be classic line, “Well the truck broke down in San Joaquin/It needed oil like they need each other”) and “Juanita” track the exquisite ironies of longing, loss, and renewal. “Waitress”, “Let’s Stay Home Today” and “Angel” provide guidelines for would-be songwriters seeking to master the delicate balance of evoking domestic bliss while avoiding an uncontrollable flow of sap. Even the vengeful “Get Your Shit Out Of My Place” leaves you with the impression that Casey would probably buy the hated ex-lover a drink if by chance they met in some warm tavern on a cold Minnesota night.
Casey’s band, the Old Possums, a collection of Twin Cities session heavies including Trip Shakespeare’s Elaine Harris (drums), Buck-Fifty Boys fiddle whiz Eric Christopher, Jim Anton (bass) and John Einweck (piano and glorious Hammond B3), provide an agile and sympathetic instrumental foil to his comfortable, rough-hewn voice and virtuoso wordplay.