Hackensaw Boys are back with their new self-titled album. Known for their energetic live shows, the band have been operating as a sort of musical collective for over two decades now, carving a songline that traverses all genres of American roots music.

‘Hackensaw Boys’ is chock full of classic, catchy Hackensaw sounds while achieving a new level of unapologetic honesty and vulnerability via Sickmen’s well-honed, salt-of-the-earth songwriting.

After a six year hiatus, and a battle with vocal polyps that resulted in surgery, founding member, songwriter, and guitarist David Sickmen assumed leadership of the band. He says “…after struggling internally for years to decide what was Hackensaw Boys material and what was not, I realized my life experiences are actually what makes the songs real for me, and therefore good Hackensaw material”.

David Sickmen- Vocals / Guitar / Songwriter
Jonah Sickmen – Charismo
Caleb Powers – Fiddle / banjo / mando
Chris Stevens – Upright Bass

Add’l
Sara Beck (duet vocals)
Parker Chisolm (bouzouki)

“I love spontaneous creativity!”

It’s really a pleasure to have you. How are you doing these days? It must have been a difficult period for you not being able to tour?

David Sickmen: It’s very nice to meet you too. I’m doing well and just returned from our first European tour in three years. So that’s a great thing.

I’m very excited about your new self-titled album. What’s the story behind it?

We are excited too! I was sitting on a batch of old songs that I presented to the fellas along with some newer material that we worked up. We are very pleased with the outcome and can’t wait to share it with the world.

Your songs are always full of interesting stories and anecdotes. What have you prepared this time around? Would you like to speak about some of the songs on it?

I appreciate that you find the songs interesting. This album has a little bit of everything from a straight up old school country song to several rockers. We’re proud of the variety of songs we’ve offered this time around.

Can you share some further words about how it was recorded and produced? You worked with producer Park Chisolm.

Yes it’s true we worked with our friend Park who did a fine job with the songs. He has an ear for details and I love the tone of the album and the mixes we ended up with. It was a very collaborative effort and a joyful experience.

<a href="https://hackensawboys.bandcamp.com/album/hackensaw-boys">Hackensaw Boys by Hackensaw Boys</a>

David (Sickmen), you had quite a lot of health issues with vocal polyps. Are you successfully recovered now?

Thank you for asking, yes I’m fully recovered and thankful for the doctors from the University of Virginia who operated on me.

The band went through various lineup changes, would you like to present the current one and what’s the energy between you?

Yes it’s true, the collective has had many members who all poured their heart and soul’s in the music and touring. The current line up is myself, my son Jonah, Caleb Powers, and our friend from Amsterdam Thomas Olivier. The chemistry is as strong as ever.

How is it to play with your son? That must be a dream come true for every father?

I love playing with my son. We have an unspoken sensibility within the songs and playing. I’d hail it up to DNA.

Would you like to elaborate on the early beginning of the band? How did you get together in 1999?

We started as four friends who got together over a shared love of traditional American music and songwriting. Within a year we blossomed to 12 members and have had many different numbers of members in between over the last 23 years.

How do you usually approach music making? What’s your creative process? Did it change when the members changed?

For me there are no hard and fast rules. Basically it starts with a melody or a chord progression that gets tied together. I also enjoy listening to peoples expressions and general conversations where often there’s a lyric lurking in there.

What would you say influenced you the most? Have influences changed during the years?

When I was little I was surrounded by the musicians in my family who all played music together. I suppose music was always there. For as long as I can remember.

How important is improvisation for you?

I love spontaneous creativity!

The whole music industry is struggling. Do you think there will be a fresh wave of excitement when all this is over and the live music will be stronger than ever?

I sure hope so. I know we’re excited.

There seems to be more interest in reissues lately than in new music.

I don’t know much about that trend?

I’m sure now that we all have a bit more time at home that we are listening to more music. To that end, who’s on your turntable right now?

The Kinks, Ronnie Lane, and Big Thief.

What are some of the most important players that influenced your own style and what in particular did they employ in their playing that you liked?

Bob Dylan and Guided by Voices. Just about everything they ever did!

Any plans to tour Europe?

We return to Europe in December!

Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

Big Thief’s new record.