Dave Christman – “The Mill River Flood” [Song Review]

New York City-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Christman releases his new single/music video, “The Mill River Flood,” inspired by the collapse of the Mill River dam in western Massachusetts in 1874, resulting in the deaths of 139 people, primarily women and children.

After the tragedy, the investigation concluded the mill owners had cut corners in the dam’s planning and construction.

Christman explains, “I wanted to balance the hard facts with a personal narrative that conveys the sense of loss I got looking at photos of the aftermath of the flood.”

Christman was a founding member and songwriter for Delroy Rebop (Archive Records), a powerhouse Rochester, NY, band that shared the stage with The Motels, The Rockats, Blotto, and others. After a break to pursue a career in media and help raise his daughter, Christman returned to serious songwriting a few years ago.

In 2021, Christman composed and performed music for the PBS film Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten, directed by Jonathan Silver. Most recently, he released his EP, Afterimage, a collection of rock and country-rock songs. Later this year, he will release a long player featuring Tony Coniff, Fred Pratt, Robbie Kondor, Karen Lloyd, and Larry Saltzman.

Dave Christman, photo by Jordan Ansberry

Opening on a lightly gleaming guitar, “The Mill River Flood” flows into a folk-Americana melody laced with hints of heartbreaking melancholy provided by the accordion of Charlie Giordano and the fiddle of Kenny Kosek. Christman’s twangy, evocative vocals conjure up suggestions of Bob Dylan, imbuing the lyrics with tones at once poignant and elegiac.

Despite the woeful subject matter, with “The Mill River Flood,” Dave Christman delivers an imaginative meditation on calamity.

Run Time: 3:48
Release Date: May 3, 2024
Record Label: Independent