New Riders of the Purple Sage: Where I Come From
CD365
- 1 CD
Woodstock
Productions,
2009
B001W1Z3T4
The
New Riders Return with a Fine New Album
(By Blair Jackson)
One of the most satisfying comebacks of recent years is the righteous return of the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Of course, the New Riders (or NRPS…many even pronounce that “Nerps”) have a long lineage with the Grateful Dead—in fact one of the group’s early lineups consisted of John “Marmaduke” Dawson as lead singer/songwriter and rhythm guitarist, David Nelson on lead guitar, Garcia on pedal steel guitar (an instrument he was still learning), Phil Lesh on bass and Mickey Hart on drums.
Phil was replaced by David Torbert in mid-1970, and by the end of that year, ex-Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden had replaced Mickey. Garcia stuck with the Riders until the fall of 1971, when Buddy Cage took over on pedal steel. The NRPS opened many Dead shows in the early ’70s, but also managed to establish a large following apart from their Dead connection. Still, they’ve always been “family.”
The New Riders’ history through the late ’70s and early ’80s is spotty, as there were many personnel changes and the group clearly lost its early momentum for stretches. By ’82, Nelson had split and John Dawson later picked up the mantle without his former partner. Nelson eventually went on to play for a spell in the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band and then formed one of the best jam bands in the Bay Area, the David Nelson Band (who continue to play amazing music to this day). Marmaduke had been limited by health issues for a number of years and, sad to say, passed away on July 21 in Mexico. (This story was completed long before that.)
A new version of the New Riders—with Nelson and Buddy Cage from the old band, joined by bassist Ronnie Penque, drummer Johnny Markowski and longtime Hot Tuna associate Michael Falzarano on guitar and vocals—took its first steps back into the limelight in late 2005, and has been picking up steam ever since. Just recently, however, the group put out its first album of new material in two decades, Where I Come From, and it’s a gem:
The disc contains seven strong new originals co-written by David Nelson and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter (including the propulsive title track), plus excellent tunes by the other members—in keeping with Riders tradition, there’s even a doper song, Markowski and Bobby Driscoll’s grower’s anthem, “Higher.” The album was cut mostly live in the studio, and the playing is hot—Cage and Nelson play together beautifully, and they’re not afraid to stretch out and jam a bit, either. Indeed, this incarnation of the Riders is more in the jam band mold than the original country-rock “cosmic cowboys” of four decades ago. It’s a NRPS for a new day, still with a rich catalog of great songs, but also a group pointed forward, eager to create a modern legacy, as well.
1. Where
I Come From 7:40
2. Big Six 4:19
3. Barracuda
Moon 7:58
4. Higher 6:04
5. Down The Middle 5:36
6. Them Old Minglewood Blues 5:05
7. Something In The Air Tonight 4:00
8. Olivia Rosa 5:26
9. Blues Barrel 6:00
10. Ghost Train Blues 10:37
11. Carl Perkins
Wears The Crown 4:34
12. Rockin' With Nona 5:58
.