Frank Hannon collaborates with Chris Samardizch on music video

Few guitarists carry a legacy as deeply etched into rock history as Frank Hannon, best known as the co-founder and lead guitarist of the legendary band Tesla. Frank has spent more than four decades crafting a sound that balances force with finesse; his playing has always lived in that tension where hard-driving riffs meet moments of quiet intricacy, where virtuoso performance dances with emotional impact.

His contribution to Tesla helped define a particular kind of rock identity, with tracks like “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi” carrying a sense of scale and energy, while the delicate, Bach-inspired acoustic introduction to “Love Song” revealed something more nuanced. Beyond the band, Frank’s solo work has followed a more exploratory path with albums such as Six String Soldiers earning recognition including an LA Music Awards nomination.

Across his catalogue, there’s always been a sense of curiosity, a drive to move between genres rather than settle into one. Collaborations with artists like Rick Derringer, Pat Travers, Dave Meniketti and Dickey Betts further reflect that openness, connecting him to a wider lineage of guitar-driven music. In 2020, that legacy was recognised in a more tangible form when Gibson honoured him with the Frank Hannon “Love Dove” acoustic, a model that captures the melodic and expressive qualities that define his style. It’s a fitting tribute to a player whose work has always prioritised feel as much as form.

Now, with the release of “San Francisco” from his instrumental album Reflections, Frank turns his attention toward something more atmospheric. The track arrives as both a remix and a visual experience, shaped by collaboration with Chris Samardizch of the Brotherhood of Light Show. Known for their analogue, oil-based light projections, the collective’s work becomes an integral part of the piece, transforming it into something immersive rather than purely auditory.

Their history stretches back to the Summer of Love, when liquid light shows became synonymous with the psychedelic explosion of the San Francisco Bay Area. From the Monterey Pop Festival to decades of performances at venues like Fillmore, their visuals have long existed alongside groundbreaking music. Frank’s connection to that world feels natural, particularly given his own origins in Northern California.

Beginning with a live bass performance, the track expands through one-take guitar overdubs, allowing each layer to develop organically, resulting in a fluid and open-ended sound, moving through hypnotic basslines, flowing electric leads and swelling acoustic textures. There’s a nod to the early psychedelic sound of the city, before the track shifts into a flamenco-inspired passage, reflecting the broader cultural influences stitched into Northern California’s identity.

That sense of place runs deep in Frank’s work and he cites the influence of Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Santana and It’s a Beautiful Day, along with musicians like Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady and David LaFlamme, as central to his musical vocabulary. With “San Francisco,” delivers another compelling musical moment using improvisation, texture and visual collaboration to reflect a city that’s long stood as a meeting point for ideas.

Watch the music video San Francisco below

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