Month: October 2024

Live review: The Long Ryders 229 London – [16 Oct 2024]

On By markosgigarchiveIn gig reviewLeave a comment

40 years ago The Long Ryders released their 1st LP Native Sons, to critical acclaim, and apparently in the process unwittingly invented ‘Americana’.  I indeed bought said LP and treasure it to this day.  I really can’t remember how they came to my attention (at same time as Green On Red and REM I think) else they may have inexplicably passed me by.   When I saw they were touring and playing the LP in its entirety I just had to go reminisce and be part of rock ‘n’ roll history😊.  As it happens it’s not lost any of its lustre, is still a lovely and relevant piece of work that has stood the test of time.

Having seen them 18 months back I knew what to expect – The Long Ryders are a top live band led by the indomitable barmy Sid Griffin; Greg Sowders wearing a Stetson looking like a retired Texas Ranger and Stephen McCarthy erring on the accountant look.  They are supplemented by Murry Hammond (from the Old 97’s) and a 2nd drummer (not seen that since the Glitter band 😊) plus the occasional horn section.

The Long Ryders are:

  • Sid Griffin – Guitar/vocals
  • Murry Hammond (from the Old 97’s) – Bass/vocals
  • Stephen McCarthy – Guitar/vocals
  • Greg Sowders – Drums

So how to describe them?  60’s psychedelia, Alt.Country, slightly Monkees, Byrdsy – basically lots of twangy guitar riffs.  They come into their own live delivering songs with passion, energy and a sense of fun.

Sid Griffin is a consummate and witty performer – give them what they want!!  His energy levels are  undiminished and in-between songs he’s a funny fucker. The hair is now whiter but it’s still a shaggy sweaty mop from back in the day.

Setlist (Click on links to view YouTube videos)

  1. Gunslinger Man – (Two-Fisted Tales, 1987)
  2. Seasons Change – (September November, 2023)
  3. September November Sometime – (September November, 2023)
  4. Final Wild Son – (Native Sons, 1984)
  5. Still Get By – (Native Sons, 1984)
  6. Ivory Tower – (Native Sons, 1984)
  7. Run Dusty Run – (Native Sons, 1984)
  8. (Sweet) Mental Revenge – (Native Sons, 1984)
  9. Fair Game – (Native Sons, 1984)
  10. Tell It to the Judge on Sunday – (Native Sons, 1984)
  11. Wreck of the 809 – (Native Sons, 1984)
  12. Too Close to the Light – (Native Sons, 1984)
  13. Never Got To Meet The Mom – (Native Sons, 1984)
  14. I Had a Dream – (Native Sons, 1984)
  15. I Want You Bad (NRBQ cover)
  16. State of My Union – (State of Our Union, 1985)
  17. Greenville – (Psychedelic Country Soul, 2019)

Encore:

  1. White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane cover)
  2. Lights of Downtown – (State of Our Union, 1985)
  3. Looking for Lewis and Clark – (State of Our Union, 1985)

The lights dimmed, the near sell-out crowd roared, and the guitars twanged to ‘Gunslinger Man’.  They twanged even more on the Byrdsy ‘September November Sometime’ a quintessential Ryders song and a personal favourite of mine.  Then Sid announces they are playing the whole of ‘Native Sons’ in chronological order – perfect!  So from the off it’s all ass-kicking attitude, on ‘Final Wild Son’

Sid and Stephen regularly took turns for lead vocals and traded guitar solo’s respectfully.  Stephen is more sedate during his solos whereas Sid on the other hand (with trusty Rickenbacker) is in constant motion making machine gun shapes, wailing legs and striking poses.  Hell they all really look like they are enjoying themselves not surprising really given the enthusiastic audience and classic songs like ‘Run Dusty Run’, ‘(Sweet) Mental Revenge’, and ‘Tell It to the Judge on Sunday’ they get to play.

Tools down and off for the briefest of interludes and lots of hollering.  Upon returning Sid says “on a personal level thank you for making so much noise as I’ve a lot of family here tonight, and they weren’t so sure about the career path I took” – tee hee!!  At the start of their dreamy version of Jefferson Airplane’s ‘White Rabbit’ (sung by Murray) he says “kids there’s something to be learned here so pay attention”.  They finish off with the rousing audience participation sing-a-long that is ‘Waiting For Lewis and Clark’ the final icing on a class night. Catch them while you can folks, definitely worth the ride.

Morton Valance

The support act were a London band called Morton Valence, whom I’d never heard of but turned out to be a very fine band indeed with some beautifully eerie slow burning country style songs.  The 4 piece were fronted by a beanie wearing singer with acoustic guitar and a lovely Irish lady on keyboards.  Chatting with the band afterwards it turns out they have released quite a few albums already so I’ll have to check them out as they sounded interesting and different.  I felt obliged to buy something as let’s face it any band that gets to mention Hieronymus Bosch in a song has got to have some degree of intellect 😊 and wit. I enjoyed their set, they were engaging.

Marko [18 Oct 2024]