Wow, what a destructive weather year this was. There are houses to be built in the wake of the wildfires in Texas, New Mexico, and California. There are dwellings to be repaired from the flooding in Vermont. This has been a year with extreme tornado damage in Tuscaloosa, Joplin, and Springfield, Mass. There is much to repair this year. If you can help, donations are always welcome at the Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and The United Way, just to name a few agencies.
Today, we celebrate the striving for accomplishment. It is a wonderful thing to find a handy guy (or girl, for that matter), and it is a most awesome thing to rebuild, whether it is as a weekend warrior or doing it as a full time job. The song we bring you is “Construction Man,” from Denver’s Hickman-Dalton Gang, Volume 2 CD which came out earlier this year. Allow me to introduce you; Johnny Hickman is best known for being the co-founder and lead guitarist of the alt-rock band Cracker. Partner Jim Dalton is the lead guitarist for Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, and is also the lead singer of The Railbenders. HDG is a long-term side project for Hickman and Dalton. Joining them are Jeremy Lawton on bass, from Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Tony Asnicar on guitar, Chris Helvey on drums, and a guest contribution from Jimmy Stelling, formerly of the Hackensaw Boys, on banjo. Here is a video debut: “Construction Man” doing it all, from framing to roofing to curb-and-gutter, accompanied by friends, cold beer, live music, and fun. The Hickman-Dalton Gang.
- Jessie Scott
