{{Short description|American rock supergroup}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Hard Working Americans | image = ToddSnider.jpg | image_size = | landscape = Yes | caption = Vocalist Todd Snider | origin = Boulder, Colorado, United States | genre = Blues rock, Southern rock | years_active = 2013–present | label = Thirty Tigers/Melvin Records | spinoff_of = Widespread Panic | website = {{URL|https://www.thehardworkingamericans.com/|thehardworkingamericans.com}} | current_members = Dave Schools<br>Duane Trucks<br>Chad Staehly<br>Jesse Aycock | past_members = Todd Snider<br>Neal Casal | also known as = }} '''Hard Working Americans''' is an American rock supergroup formed in 2013. The band consists of bassist Dave Schools from Widespread Panic, Chad Staehly of Great American Taxi on keyboards and Duane Trucks, also from Widespread Panic, younger brother to Derek, on drums.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amazon.com: Hard Working Americans|website = Amazon|year = 2014|url=https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Working-Americans/dp/B00GV8B0FO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1391446474&sr=1-1}}</ref> Guitarist and vocalist Neal Casal died in 2019.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neal-casal-guitarist-obit-dead-877036/|title=Neal Casal, Guitarist Who Worked with Willie Nelson, Shooter Jennings, Dead at 50|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
==History==
Their debut performance was December 20, 2013 at a Boulder, Colorado benefit for Colorado Flood Relief.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boulder theater: Hard Working Americans|url=http://www.bouldertheater.com/event/hard-working-americans|access-date=2014-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221120151/http://www.bouldertheater.com/event/hard-working-americans|archive-date=2014-02-21|url-status=dead}}</ref> They embarked on a US Tour shortly thereafter.
Their self-titled debut album ''Hard Working Americans'' was recorded in 2013 at Bob Weir's TRI Studios in San Rafael, California. It is composed entirely of cover songs from artists ranging from Randy Newman to Drivin N Cryin. The album was produced by Schools and Snider, and was mixed by John Keane. John Popper guests on harmonica. ''Hard Working Americans'' was released on January 21, 2014, on Thirty Tigers/Melvin Records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hard Working Americans website|url=http://thehardworkingamericans.com/|access-date=2014-02-03|archive-date=2020-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108102616/https://www.thehardworkingamericans.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2016, the band released their second album, ''Rest in Chaos,'' which, unlike their previous record, is composed primarily of original songs written by the band themselves.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/hard-working-americans-opening-statement-premiere-7296254/|title = Hard Working Americans Premiere New Song 'Opening Statement': Exclusive|magazine = Billboard|access-date = 2016-05-18}}</ref> The exception is the track "The High Price of Inspiration", written by Guy Clark for his album ''My Favorite Picture of You''. Clark has a cameo speaking, and also plays guitar on the track. ''Rest in Chaos'' was written and recorded live as the band was finishing their first tour; using Snider's poetry to start the lyric, he finished the songs after principle recording was complete.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.jambase.com/article/hard-working-americans-announce-new-album-rest-in-chaos|title = Hard Working Americans Announce New Album 'Rest In Chaos'|date = 2016-02-23|website = JamBase|language = en-US|access-date = 2016-05-18}}</ref> The album was produced by band member Dave Schools, and also featured the addition of Jesse Aycock to the band's lineup. Longtime friend and collaborator Elizabeth Cook sings on the track "Massacre".
In 2019, founding guitarist Neal Casal died.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neal-casal-guitarist-obit-dead-877036/|title=Neal Casal, Guitarist Who Worked with Willie Nelson, Shooter Jennings, Dead at 50|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
In November 2025 vocalist Todd Snider died.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dunbar |first=Marina |date=14 November 2025 |title=Todd Snider, alt-country singer-songwriter of Alright Guy, dies aged 59 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/15/todd-snider-country-music-dies-aged-59 |access-date=15 November 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>
==Members==
===Current members=== [[File:Dave Schools.jpg |thumb|right|Bass guitarist Dave Schools.]] * Dave Schools - bass (2013-present) * Chad Staehly - keyboards (2013-present) * Duane Trucks - drums (2013-present) * Jesse Aycock - guitar (2016-present)
===Former members=== [[File:NealCasal.jpg |thumb|right|upright|Guitarist Neal Casal died in 2019.]] * Neal Casal - guitar, vocals (2013–2019; his death) * Todd Snider - vocals (2013-2025; his death)
==Releases==
===Studio albums=== * ''Hard Working Americans'' (2014, Thirty Tigers / Melvin Records) * ''Rest in Chaos'' (2016, Melvin Records)
===Live albums=== * ''The First Waltz'' (2014, Melvin Records) * ''We're All In This Together'' (2017, Thirty Tigers / Melvin Records)
===Singles=== * "Down to the Well" (2013, Thirty Tigers / Melvin Records) * "Stomp and Holler" (2014)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |title=Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations |publisher=All Access Music Group |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727124426/http://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |archivedate=2014-07-27 |access-date=2014-03-07 |url-status=live }}</ref> * "Opening Statement" (2016)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/hard-working-americans-rest-in-chaos/ |title=Hard Working Americans: Rest in Chaos |website=PopMatters |access-date=2016-05-18}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.thehardworkingamericans.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616093240/http://www.thehardworkingamericans.com/ |date=June 16, 2017 }} {{Widespread Panic}} {{Chris Robinson Brotherhood}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Rock music groups from California Category:American rock music supergroups Category:Musical groups established in 2013 Category:American organizations established in 2013 Category:Thirty Tigers artists