The Long Ryders - Native Sons
On this episode, we discuss one of the seminal bands of what would become the alternative country and Americana movement: the Long Ryders, and their 1984 debut LP Native Sons.
Formed in Los Angeles in the early 1980s, the Long Ryders were a counter to the synth-heavy music that was in vogue at the time. Drawing on their diverse musical backgrounds (punk and garage rock, ska, country, and hard rock), the band combined their broad musical pallet to create a sound that was guitar based, influenced by the American music of the 1960's (most notably the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers) and played with the raw energy of punk. Their EP 10-5-60 introduced the world to the band's take on the fusion of country and rock, but it is with Native Sons, a jangly, high octane ball of roots rock, folk, soul, psychedelia, and of course country, where the band staked their claim as standard bearers of Gram Parsons' vision of "Cosmic America Music" updated for the post-punk age.
Recommended on the episode: Night Comes Falling by Carla Olson and Stephen McCarthy.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
The Long Ryders (L to R) Stephen McCarthy, Tom Stevens, Greg Sowders, and Sid Griffin.
Before setting off to form the Long Ryders, Sid Griffin (pictured far right) played lead guitar for garage rock revivalists the Unclaimed.
Here’s a video of the Unclaimed performing “The Trouble with Cinderella.”
in 1979 Greg Sowders (pictured with the cigarette) co-founded the Box Boys, who were one of the first Los Angeles ska bands.
Before joining the Long Ryders on bass, Tom Stevens (pictured right) played bass in the Midwestern hard rock, Magi.
One of the first traditional country tunes the Long Ryders worked into their live sets was the Everly Brothers song “Brand New Heartache.” Here the are performing it at the Kit Kat Club, Hollywood in 1983.
For the cover of Native Sons, the Long Ryders paid homage to Buffalo Springfield’s unreleased 2nd album Stampede.
The Long Ryders got Henry Lewy (pictured left with Micky Dolenz of the Monkees) to produce Native Sons. Lewy produced many big names, including the Flying Burrito Brothers.
Former member of the Byrds, Gene Clark, sings vocals on “Ivory Tower.”
Pictured (L to R): Stephen McCarthy, Tom Stevens, Gene Clark, Sid Griffin, and Greg Sowders.
The Long Ryders filmed their first music video for “I Had a Dream” in March of 1985, just before their set off on their first tour of the UK and Europe.
The Long Ryders based their version of “(Sweet) Metal Revenge” on a version they heard on a Flying Burrito Brothers bootleg. You can listen to the Burritos’ studio version below.
Native Sons makes the indie charts in the UK, reaching number two. The popularity gets them on the cover of New Musical Express.
The band made a commercial for Miller Beer in 1986 as a way to gain exposure and help their bottom line. Unfortunately, the move backfired against the band in the U.S., branding them a “sellout” in some circles.
