Search - The Long Ryders :: Live 2004: State Of Our Re-Union

{Gasp!} Martha, They've brought along a Horn Section!

PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 07/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"They were ready to return, and The United Kingdom was waiting at their feet. London, Bonny Scotland, Notingham and Bristol...Live Long Ryders on Tour in The UK in June/July 2004. Yes, it took 17 Years for the Fires that burned under Sid, Stephen, Tom and Greg to bring them back together but everything is as it should be. A Band of American Musicians that were almost ignored by their own country way back from 1982-1987, they had Chart Sucess in The UK and Toured venues in Europe and Britain to packed Venues of 1,500-2000 Crazy Fans. Upon the return to their Hometown, Los Angeles a Big Gig would be The Roxy in Hollywood to a few Hundred Lucky Souls.



Three Guitars, One Drummer & Three Voices. Give The Ryders a Stage and let them at you. Rock/Folk mixed with Punkabilly, that is what is Delivered in Spades. Forget about the "Paisley" Tag as it does not fit this Band, Give that Word to Prince.



With a nod to The Byrds [Rock 'N' Roll Star} the Reunion begins. The Sound is Expanded here with Three Horn Players {Trumpet, Saxophone and Trombone}. The Horn Section is present on Four Tracks out of the Nineteen featured here, and they sound cool and add but, don't over-power The Ryders Music. It's a Good Touch that works well, I can't say if the: Purists are gonna go for this though!



Twelve Strings and Tight Harmonies Rule here on: "State Of Our Reunion". This is a Multi-Track Recording that is of Great Quality. There is a Warmth to the Sound that you do not normally find in The Digital Age. The First Eleven Numbers from England are Locked-Down with a Fantastic Version of: "Capturing The Flag", then we are heading north to Glascow and a Wild Audience of Punters greet the Ryders arrival in Scotland {Got Ale?}. Bam...Right into: "I Had A Dream" and the energy level is Up a Few notches since leaving England, a frenzied Countried: "Final Wild Son" reminds you of Clarence White, just more than a little bit. This is Music that owes as much to the back porches as it does the countless Strip-Clubs that the Long Ryders have played.



It all raps up with; "Mental Revenge" & "State of Our Union" with Blazing Guitars from the Hippie Hoedown from Hell. This is as Fine as American Rock "N' Roll can get, just Timeless Music, you gotta Smile when you hear The Ryders, they are The Best.



The Encores are: {Of Course} "Looking For Lewis & Clark", the Tune that I heard on BBC Radio Scotland in 1986, and got me started as a fan of the Band. "Louisville" {For you Kentucky Boys} and 10-5-60 are the Closing Songs, and it all ends as it all began, with Fire and Energy. Right here, Right Now, you have a CD of Live Long Ryders from 2004. This is One of the best Live CD's of this Decade. For a brief moment, The Long Ryder's are back, and they are...Rockin'

Five Stars !!!

"