Long Ryders return with 'September November' on March 10th

Sid Griffin and crew reunited with producer Ed Stasium for September November out March 10 via Cherry Red Records. 

Here's the scoop...

The Long Ryders new release September November (out March 10th via Cherry Red Records) is their first studio album in four years from the Paisley Underground band who inadvertently helped set off the 90s alt-country scare which became the Americana movement. 

The follow-up 2019's critically acclaimed Psychedelic Country Soul (Omnivore Recordings), September November's  songs are all originals by guitarist/mandolinist Sid Griffin (author of the Bob Dylan “Basement Tapes” book Million Dollar Bash), guitarist /pedal step player Stephen McCarthy – who also plays with the Jayhawks and the Dream Syndicate – with help from longtime Long Ryders drummer Greg Sowders. It's also the first Long Ryders album since the passing of the group's longtime bassist Tom Stevens who died in January, 2021.  

Produced by Ed Stasium, best known for his long relationship as producer and engineer for the Ramones. Ed has also produced two previous Long Ryders’ records and worked with Smithereens, Soul Asylum, Motörhead, Marshall Crenshaw, Living Colour, the Hoodoo Gurus and Julian Cope.

Long Ryder Sid Griffin states September November is “two thirds the distilled alt-country genre we helped found back in the 1980s, one third Paisley Underground adventurism yet seasoned with a dash of our own crazed soulfulness thrown in.”

Due to the unexpected passing of Tom Stevens, bass duties on the new album were shared by Murry Hammond of Americana stalwarts the Old 97s and the Long Ryders’ own Stephen McCarthy. Guests appearing in the album include D. J. Bonebrake of Los Angeles’s punk legends X and Royal Academy of Music violinist Kerenza Peacock (Coal Porters) who is now a popular L.A. session player for Disney and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Pre-order a copy of The Long Ryders' September November from Cherry Red right here. Check out the title track, "Seasons Change" and "Tom Tom," their tribute to bassist Tom Stevens, following the track listing and their upcoming UK/European tour dates below. 

The Long Ryders - September November

1 September November Sometime

2 Seasons Change

3 Flying Down

4 Elmer Gantry Is Alive And Well

5 Hand Of Fate

6 Song For Ukraine

7 To The Manor Born

8 That’s What They Say About Love

9 Country Blues (Kitchen)

10 Tom Tom

11 Until God Takes Me Away

12 Flying Out Of London In The Rain

Carla Olson & Stephen McCarthy share "We've Gotta Split This Town"

The roots rave-up "We've Gotta Split This Town" is off Stephen & Carla's new album Night Comes Falling available here.

The Dream Syndicate previews The Universe Inside with trippy videos

"The Regulator" (shot by David Dalglish) is off Dream Syndicate's new album, The Universe Inside – out April 10th – see all the clips below.

Here's the scoop...

The Dream Syndicate - The Universe Inside 

When The Dream Syndicate emerged in the early 80s, frontman Steve Wynn declared that “we’re playing music we want to hear because nobody else is doing it” – he added, “I’ll comprise on what I eat or where I sleep, but I won’t compromise on what music I play.”

Both were true, and although their template of Velvet Underground meets Crazy Horse may seem commonplace today (and let’s not forget, the Syndicate spawned many imitators), their raw twin guitar, bass and drums approach was not common during an era when slick polished MTV bands ruled. The band were uncompromising. But before MTV switched to reality shows, they were no more.

After 23 years, they reemerged in 2012 with a slight change in lineup - guitarist Jason Victor replaced Paul B. Cutler - and after a blaze of touring, they recorded their first album in decades, How Did I Find Myself Here? The album was surprisingly fresh. The addition of former Green on Red keyboardist Chris Cacavas provided lush textures previously unknown in their guitar-based music but maybe even more surprising was a vocal cameo from co-founding member, Kendra Smith.

More touring (joined by now official member Cacavas) followed quickly by another album These Times – which refined the sonic landscapes explored on How Did I Find Myself Here?
This band is not regurgitating old albums and previous glories, but developing with the same urgency that a pack of youngsters would.

Which brings us to the band's 7th album, The Universe Inside, slated for release via ANTI- on April 10th. Every press release ever written will claim “this is new and different” – well, damn it, it is! Just look at the song lengths: 20:27, 7:36, 8:56, 9:55 and 10:53. Ok, sure – the Syndicate have occasionally committed a long song to vinyl, “John Coltrane Stereo Blues” was 9 minutes with live versions over the ten-minute mark.

However, when one thinks of the Dream Syndicate, it’s not just the wild abandon with which singer/guitarist Wynn, drummer Dennis Duck, bassist Mark Walton, and lead guitarist Jason Victor perform – it’s the carefully constructed songwriting of Wynn that comes to mind. By now every rock critic in the country has predetermined who he or she feels Wynn reminds them of and what they think of that style of songs. This time, don’t!

For the first time, every song is a group songwriting effort. What seeps in are Dennis Duck’s knowledge of European avantgarde music, Jason Victor’s passion for 70s prog, Mark Walton’s experience in Southern-fried music collectives and Wynn’s love of vintage electric jazz. The dazzling display of album cover artwork alone should clue you into the changes.

Watch the suitably trippy David Dalglish videos for "The Regulator," "The Longing," "Apropos Of Nothing" and "Dusting Off The Rust" right after an onscreen discussion between Steve Wynn and the other people involved in making The Universe Inside.