John Wort Hannam premiered his hot new CD “Acres of Elbow Room for a packed and sweltering Geomatic Attic, to open their new season on Sunday, Sept. 9.

 Hannam and his tight band of upright bassist Jason Valleau, drummer Jon May and keyboardist Steve Fletcher, played several  tracks from the new CD including the new single “ Key of D minor” and the title track. I missed the first couple of songs and the opening set from Skinny Dyck and Carter Felker.

The ever so earnest Hannam joked and told stories. Jon May’s piano playing was just right especially on the outstanding “Key of D Minor.” they picked up the pace and the humour with “Wild Young Things.”

 Another highlight was his Kasey Chambers cover “The Quiet Life.”

 Hannam dug deep into his repertoire with the more country rock stylings of “Meat Draw,” which was a highlight. Another  old song “poor man” was another more countryish highlight which featured drummer Jon May coming to the front of the stage to play tambourine.

They introduced a new song called “I Believe” which was inspired by the mass shooting at the big country concert in las Vegas earlier this year.

 Hannam picked pretty acoustic guitar licks throughout.

 He noted he wasn’t going to do the fake leaving the stage and returning  for an encore bit that most bands do, and so ended an uplifting show with “ That’s life” from the new CD and sent everyone home with “Ain’t Enough.”