Hannan's musical 'hobby' brings him to Red Butte

Chasing his musical dreams has moved him from rigged-up big trucks to a cramped and battered van.

Not that Jerry Hannan is complaining, since he has also progressed from Bay Area coffee shops to amphitheater stages shared with such musicians as Huey Lewis — and John Hiatt, for whom he will open during Sunday's Red Butte Gardens concert.

Nor is it completely unexpected for someone who started performing in a high school rock band . . . except that high school happened two decades ago.

After high school, Hannan started an auto-detailing business in northern California, a successful enough venture to keep music as a hobby. Until, that is, he went into a small studio and recorded a surprisingly well-received album in the early '90s. "We went into the studio just for the fun of it," Hannan said. "I never really dreamed of being a musician."

Since then, Hannan has sold his business and become a full-time musician, splitting gigs between solo performances and playing with a full band, the Mad Hannans. While he cites such Irish musicians as The Clancy Brothers or folk singer Cat Stevens as influences, he struggles with songwriting if he tries to mimic another artist or draw acclaim because of musical knowledge.

"I've noticed that the more people I try to impress, the more difficult it is for the songs to come out," Hannan said. "It seems fake, and the song doesn't get written."

Instead, he writes songs such as "Truck" or "The ABCs of Love," which put a comedic spin on everyday life or, in a song like "Recycle," which offer a sarcastic take on social causes. Primarily, his writing inspiration can be found in the world around him, as opposed to mining fields already stripped by other musicians.

"I get accused of not listening to a lot of other bands," Hannan said, noting that it is not uncommon for him to have to track down the music of artists to which people compare his sound. "I write songs about my friends and about funny things that happen to me."

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If you go

What: John Hiatt, Jerry Hannan

Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

When: Sunday, 7 p.m.

How much: $23

Phone: 325-7328

Web: www.ticketmaster.com

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com