If you're not one of those multi-platinum musicians who've been anointed by media or corporate money-people or nepotism-happy power brokers - you listening, Bieber and LMFAO, you goofballs? - it can be a competitive business.

That's why a little peer cred never hurts.

Consider Americana songwriter/producer David Allen Hammond. A veteran tunesmith who spent decades in the Arizona desert, the New Mexico high country and musically-fertile West Texas, Hammond has a stellar reputation. After all, his running buddies and collaborators include Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Jimmie LaFave. (In fact, Hammond's been nominated for two Grammys for his work with Gilmore.)

It's in a solo guise that Hammond appears Friday at the Blue Collar Happy Hour at Cilantro's in New London. His latest album, "Sapphire Sun," includes 14 new originals, but also count on tunes from across his career. The Hoolios - in an acoustic format - also appear.

- RICK KOSTER

David Allen Hammond, 7-10 p.m. Friday, Cilantro's, 639 Bank St., New London; Blue Collar Happy Hour; free; (860) 574-9214.