The Long Ryders
ABOUT
Few bands have bridged the gap between rock & roll, country, folk, and psychedelia as naturally as The Long Ryders.
Emerging from the extraordinarily prolific Los Angeles club scene in the early 1980s, the quartet occupied a unique place between two of the city’s most exciting musical movements. They shared the roots-rock spirit of artists like Los Lobos, The Blasters, Dwight Yoakam, and X, while also standing at the forefront of the Paisley Underground alongside Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, and The Bangles. Drawing equally from The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Gram Parsons, and The Clash, The Long Ryders helped create a sound that would later become known as Americana, long before the term entered the musical lexicon.
Their debut EP, 10-5-60 (1983), and the groundbreaking album Native Sons (1984) quickly established the band’s reputation. This led to the group signing with Island Records in London. They next released the now-classic State of Our Union (1985), which featured their signature song, Looking for Lewis and Clark, and followed it up with Two-Fisted Tales (1987). These albums cemented their place among the pioneers of alternative country and Americana.
An invitation to perform at England’s Glastonbury Festival in 2004 brought the band back together after a lengthy hiatus that had begun in 1988. What began as a one-off performance evolved into an unexpected second act. In 2018, The Long Ryders returned to the studio with producer Ed Stasium—known for his work with the Ramones, Talking Heads, and the Smithereens—to record Psychedelic Country Soul. Released the following year, it was the band’s first album of new material in more than three decades and earned widespread international acclaim. Critics hailed the comeback. The Los Angeles Times declared, “The record sounds fantastic.” MOJO wrote it “puts them right back at the top of a world they helped create,” while PopMatters observed that “it sounds like The Long Ryders never left us to begin with.” Other reviewers praised the album as “a masterful return” (Maverick), “a glorious tunefest” (Country Music Magazine), and proof that the band “still has the fire and spark of their youth” (Ink 19).
A new chapter began in 2022 when Murry Hammond of the old 97s joined the group. His melodic bass playing, rich harmonies and kindred musical spirit blended seamlessly with the band’s sound. Hammond also contributed to the last two studio albums.
The momentum continued with September November (2023), and at the same time, the band was honored with inclusion in the Western Edge exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The show which ran for three years, explored the origins and evolution of country-rock in Los Angeles and its lasting influence on subsequent generations.
Their latest release, High Noon Hymns (2026) on Cherry Red Records has continued that remarkable resurgence. Named Americana Album of the Month by Uncut magazine, the
album was praised as evidence of the band’s “indomitable spirit and righteous vigour,” confirming that more than four decades after they first emerged from the clubs of Los Angeles, they remain a vital creative force. Original members Sid Griffin, Greg Sowders, and Stephen McCarthy continue to draw inspiration from the world around them, writing songs that reflect uncertain times, shifting currents, and the enduring resilience of everyday people.
With acclaimed new recordings, sold-out performances, and regular tours throughout Europe and the United Kingdom, The Long Ryders continue to demonstrate why they are regarded as one of the founding voices of modern Americana—not simply a band with a storied past, but one that continues to make a righteous racket.
Few bands have bridged the gap between rock & roll, country, folk, and psychedelia as naturally as The Long Ryders.
Emerging from the extraordinarily prolific Los Angeles club scene in the early 1980s, the quartet occupied a unique place between two of the city’s most exciting musical movements. They shared the roots-rock spirit of artists like Los Lobos, The Blasters, Dwight Yoakam, and X, while also standing at the forefront of the Paisley Underground alongside Dream Syndicate, Rain Parade, and The Bangles. Drawing equally from The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Gram Parsons, and The Clash, The Long Ryders helped create a sound that would later become known as Americana, long before the term entered the musical lexicon.
Their debut EP, 10-5-60 (1983), and the groundbreaking album Native Sons (1984) quickly established the band’s reputation. This led to the group signing with Island Records in London. They next released the now-classic State of Our Union (1985), which featured their signature song, Looking for Lewis and Clark, and followed it up with Two-Fisted Tales (1987). These albums cemented their place among the pioneers of alternative country and Americana.
An invitation to perform at England’s Glastonbury Festival in 2004 brought the band back together after a lengthy hiatus that had begun in 1988. What began as a one-off performance evolved into an unexpected second act. In 2018, The Long Ryders returned to the studio with producer Ed Stasium—known for his work with the Ramones, Talking Heads, and the Smithereens—to record Psychedelic Country Soul. Released the following year, it was the band’s first album of new material in more than three decades and earned widespread international acclaim. Critics hailed the comeback. The Los Angeles Times declared, “The record sounds fantastic.” MOJO wrote it “puts them right back at the top of a world they helped create,” while PopMatters observed that “it sounds like The Long Ryders never left us to begin with.” Other reviewers praised the album as “a masterful return” (Maverick), “a glorious tunefest” (Country Music Magazine), and proof that the band “still has the fire and spark of their youth” (Ink 19).
A new chapter began in 2022 when Murry Hammond of the old 97s joined the group. His melodic bass playing, rich harmonies and kindred musical spirit blended seamlessly with the band’s sound. Hammond also contributed to the last two studio albums.
The momentum continued with September November (2023), and at the same time, the band was honored with inclusion in the Western Edge exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The show which ran for three years, explored the origins and evolution of country-rock in Los Angeles and its lasting influence on subsequent generations.
Their latest release, High Noon Hymns (2026) on Cherry Red Records has continued that remarkable resurgence. Named Americana Album of the Month by Uncut magazine, the
album was praised as evidence of the band’s “indomitable spirit and righteous vigour,” confirming that more than four decades after they first emerged from the clubs of Los Angeles, they remain a vital creative force. Original members Sid Griffin, Greg Sowders, and Stephen McCarthy continue to draw inspiration from the world around them, writing songs that reflect uncertain times, shifting currents, and the enduring resilience of everyday people.
With acclaimed new recordings, sold-out performances, and regular tours throughout Europe and the United Kingdom, The Long Ryders continue to demonstrate why they are regarded as one of the founding voices of modern Americana—not simply a band with a storied past, but one that continues to make a righteous racket.
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