Wayne Hancock

If not for his cantankerous personality and eccentric behavior, it would be easy to label Wayne “The Train” Hancock’s complete approximation of Hank Williams as simply the work of a gifted impersonator. Yet over the course of more than a decade, Hancock has released some of the most authentic and intense music to fall under the Americana label. His 1995 debut, Thunderstorms and Neon Signs, still evokes awe as Hancock’s nasal wail and detailed songwriting convey a deep understanding of the rural experience that eludes so many current roots artists. Tulsa, Hancock’s first studio effort in five years, finds none of his skills diminished. Mixing hard-core honky-tonk and retro rockabilly with a keen appreciation of pre-war jazz and blues, Hancock remains a singular figure, a dedicated and uncompromising eccentric whose skill and sincerity are ever present. When Hancock relies less on his classic influences and more on his lost-in-the-wrong-time persona, he is definitely a roots Renaissance man.