What do you get when you take a batch of incredible songs, five veteran players who have never played together, with an arsenal of five musical minds working in unison to reinvent them?  Call it a concept album with psychedelic artwork, filled with political contempt and pleads. The Hard Working Americans are a brand new super group for the twenty-first century.  

The Hard Working Americans band is led by Todd Snider’s extra believable and personal vocals and backed by a band of ace players including Dave Schools (widespread Panic), Neal Cashal (Chris Robinson Brotherhood), Chad Staehly (Great American Taxi) and rounded out by Duane Trucks on drums (Col. Bruce Hampton’s School of music).

The HWA chose to cover songs which fit the overall mood of the album, and songs which both Schools and Snider already had an affinity for. The idea was to give them fresh, sometimes stripped down or  new arrangements. The songs that were chosen represent the everyday man. The beaten down frustrated minimum wagers, and of course the blue-collar hard working folks that give this country a backbone.

Produced by Dave Schools and Todd Snider, the album was recorded at Bob Weir’s TRI Studios is San Rafael, CA, and mixed by John Keane (R.E.M., Indigo Girls, Widespread Panic). Special guests include John Popper (Blues Traveller) and John Keane.

This one is a Rocker that sounds incredible on Vinyl turned all the way up to 11. Two Thumbs way Up!