Phil plays his original songs that are grounded in Tidewater, Virginia. The emphasis is kept on good time music and energetic playing. You can feel influences such as Lovin' Spoonful, Tom Rush, and Trini Lopez, who would take acoustic blues, folk and pop and blend them together into a happy original sound. The lyrics tell stories from Tidewater and comment on life in general in wry language. Occasionally, Phil performs songs for which his sister, the poet Maryanne Hannan, contributed the lyrics. The instrumental texture starts with acoustic guitar or cigar box guitar, topped by mandolin and electric guitar riffs, with occasional color commentary by a harmonica or banjo ukulele.