Inimitable Rockers Tesla at Irving Plaza Sept. 19

Tesla is bringing its inimitable brand of hard rock back on the road, to the delight of fans new and old alike. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the group’s first album, “Mechanical Resonance.” The disc was followed by the heavy-hitting sophomore effort, “The Great Radio Controversy,” and the breakthrough “Five Man Acoustical Jam,” featuring a cover of the track “Signs” that the band truly made their own. The excellent “Psychotic Supper” and overlooked gem, “Bust a Nut,” came next.

Followed by a hiatus, the Tesla has been a constant on the scene since getting back together in 2000. The band’s latest album, “Shock,” was released in 2019. Tesla recently released a new single, “Cold Blue Steel,” which features huge riffs and choruses.

The band’s upcoming tour sees Tesla playing Irving Plaza on Sept. 19. An open air atmosphere is the perfect setting for a Tesla show, so be sure to arrive early.

Tesla consists of singer Jeff Keith, guitarists Frank Hannon and Dave Rude, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta.

More info at https://teslatheband.com/

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Frank Hannon.

Q. As a touring musician were you going stir crazy over the past two years?

A. Yes and no. It was an unforeseen event obviously for the entire world. For us it was really time to take a break. Since 2000 we’d been going non-stop. Touring here and in Europe, making albums, just one thing after another since we reunited. So a break was really good. I got to be home and actually see what it looks like to have leaves fall on the ground. But the flipside was being in the studio and working with some other musicians. Some young guys in the capacity of producing some albums by young artists. So I kept really busy. And so a break was really good. But I also kept really busy. And Tesla recorded a new single that’s ready to come out.

Q. Let’s talk about that song, “Cold Blue Steel.”

A. It really means a lot because we produced it ourselves and kept it really raw and it just happened magically. I was in my garage and playing and writing the riff waiting for Jeff and he pulls up blasting (Lynyrd Skynryd song) “Saturday Night Special.” He even used some of the lyrics from the song in “Cold Blue Steel.”

Q. Was Lynyrd Skynryd an influence on you?

A. Heck yeah, as a guitarist and a songwriter. When you think that they were really only putting out albums for three years and you think how many great songs they had. Whenever people ask the reason for our longevity I always say it’s because of the songs and the songwriting.

Q. It’s been 35 years since the release of your debut album, “Mechanical Resonance.” How do you compare your ambitions then as opposed to now?

A. We have the sane ambitions as far as writing great songs even though we’re 35 years older. I know I keep repeating it, but songwriting is what it comes down to. You listen to classic bands like Foreigner, Def Leppard, the Stones and Aerosmith and it’s all about the songs from start to finish.

Q. What is it about Tesla that the band works so well acoustically, from “Five Man Acoustical Jam” to “Twisted Wires” to “Five Man London Jam.”

A. We've always kind of mixed acoustic in with electric. It’s always been an element in experimenting with music. If the song sounds good acoustically it will sound good electrically. It’s really nothing new. Led Zeppelin, the Stones and the Grateful Dead had already discovered this.

Q. Are there plans for a new Tesla album?

A. What our last album “Shock” taught us is that we could write and record on the road, which we hadn’t done before. So I’m sure we’ll be doing that again while touring.