Hard Working Americans
NewMusicforOldFolks says …
You don't hear the term "super group" much anymore. There's probably a good reason for that. It calls to mind Cream or Blind Faith, groups that didn't last long and ended up with clashing egos. The Hard Working Americans hope to make you forget all of that. Made up of solo artist Todd Snider and members of Widespread Panic and other jam/alt. country groups, the band seems to be on solid footing after a studio album and a live effort. It appears to be a side project for all the members so albums might not come very consistently, but they'll be welcomed when they do.
Artist's info
Record company: Melvin
See Also: Todd Snider, Widespread Panic
Genre: Roots, Rock
If you like this, look into: Jason Isbell, Royal Southern Brotherhood, The Old 97s
Bio (From AllMusic.com)
When Todd Snider decided it was time to work with musicians his own age for a change, he ended up forming an all-star group of jam band and alt-country veterans known as the Hard Working Americans. In 2012, after Snider had wrapped up touring behind his album Agnostic Hymns & Stoner Fables, he had a conversation with his friend Chad Staehly, keyboard man with the group Great American Taxi, about his working methods. "One day Chad Staehly pointed out to me that I spend a lot of time with my heroes and avoid my peers," Snider told reporter Jonathan Bernstein. "He was like, 'I always see you with Jerry Jeff (Walker), or John Prine, or Kris Kristofferson. Who do you like that's your age?'" With that in mind, for his next project Snider put together a band of like-minded musicians of similar vintage, including Staehly on keys, guitarist Neal Casal (of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood and Ryan Adams & the Cardinals), bassist Dave Schools (of Widespread Panic), and drummer Duane Trucks (of King Lincoln and Col. Bruce Hampton's School of Music). The new group adopted the name the Hard Working Americans, and despite Snider's pedigree as a songwriter, for their debut album they recorded a set of cover tunes about the frustrations of working life. The band made its live debut in December 2013 at a benefit concert in Denver, Colorado. The Hard Working Americans was released in early 2014, followed by a short tour.
Spotify sampler
Recordings
Most Recent
THE FIRST WALTZ (2014): Formed in late 2013, Hard Working Americans features acclaimed singer/songwriter Todd Snider, Dave Schools (Widespread Panic), Neal Casal (Chris Robinson Brotherhood), Chad Staehly (Great American Taxi), Duane Trucks and Jesse Aycock. The new celebrated musicians' collective released Hard Working Americans, the self-titled debut album in January 2014, garnering high praise from Rolling Stone, Relix, American Songwriter, Huffington Post, USA Today, and NPR's Fresh Air. The First Waltz is a 2-disc CD / DVD set including 11 live recordings, a brand new studio track with Rosanne Cash, and a full-length feature film capturing the formation of Hard Working Americans and their first performances together in late 2013. The set comes encased in special packaging, which includes a beautiful 3-D pop out of the Boulder Theatre.
OTHERS
Hard Working Americans (2014)
