{"id":29938,"date":"2019-09-19T12:27:52","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T16:27:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=29938"},"modified":"2019-09-19T12:28:01","modified_gmt":"2019-09-19T16:28:01","slug":"on-stage-the-long-ryders-roll-out-new-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=29938","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: The Long Ryders roll out new album"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, <\/span>Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Long Ryders<\/p><\/div>\n

The Long Ryders, who are headlining a show on September 19 at The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com<\/a>), could actually be called the \u201cLong Riders.\u201d
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The Long Ryders — Sid Griffin, vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica; Stephen McCarthy,\u00a0 vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel guitar, Mellotron, bass; Tom Stevens, vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, lead guitar; Greg Sowders, drums, percussion — had their start in Los Angeles in 1983 and have been on a long \u2013 and at time interrupted \u2013 ride ever since.<\/span><\/p>\n

The four musicians could also earn the name based on the long ride between the band members\u2019 residences.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re hoping to make a new album soon but it\u2019s tough because we don\u2019t live near each other anymore,\u201d said Griffin, during a phone interview Wednesday morning from Brooklyn, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTom, our bass player, lives in Indiana Our guitarist Steve lives in Richmond, Virginia. Greg, our drummer, is from L.A. and I live in England.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been living here in London for 27 years. I have a British wife and my kids go to a state school. I grew up in Kentucky \u2013 in Louisville. I moved to L.A. in the early 1980s and stumbled into the Long Ryders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Long Ryders were formed Thanksgiving 1981 in west Los Angeles. Griffin left his 60s punk band The Unclaimed after having bonded musically with former Boxboys drummer Greg Sowders at a jam session in the notorious ON Klub in Silverlake. The other guitar player was Steve Wynn, but he left to form the Dream Syndicate and was replaced by McCarthy, who answered a \u201cMusician\u2019s Wanted\u201d ad in a local Korean free newspaper.<\/span><\/p>\n

The original bass player was Barry Shank who quit to return to graduate school and was replaced by Englishman Des Brewer. This lineup recorded and released an EP in 1983 called \u201c10-5-60\u201d and it was so well received they decided to tour the states. Brewer dropped out at this point to continue his career as a longshoreman in San Pedro and was replaced by Stevens, a former candidate in the NASA \u201cRight Stuff\u201d space program in Houston.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band recorded its debut LP \u201cNative Sons\u201d with the late Henry Lewy producing. Lewy had worked with the Flying Burrito Brothers on their classic \u201cGilded Palace of Sin\u201d LP as well as with the Association, Barbara Streisand, Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell. Together the Long Ryders and Lewy came up with an album called \u201ca modern American classic\u201d by Melody Maker and soon found themselves on the cover of the London\u2019s New Musical Express as well as playing live on the BBC\u2019s Whistle Test TV show.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Long Ryders released the album \u201cState Of Our Union\u201d and their single \u201cLooking For Lewis & Clark\u201d stormed up the charts and became their signature song. In 1987, the quartet released \u201cTwo-Fisted Tales,\u201d which was produced by Ed Stasium (Ramones\/Smithereens) and yielded a radio hit with \u201cI Want You Bad.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

The group disbanded in 1987 when Stevens left to be with his young family and McCarthy left to write musicals. The band reunited to perform at the 2004 Glastonbury Festival and several other major events. The Long Ryders played their first live dates in the U.S. in more than 20 years when they headlined in 2009 at The Earl in Atlanta, Georgia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter those two shows in Atlanta, I thought we\u2019d never play together again,\u201d said Griffin. \u201cBut we did a short tour in Europe in 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn January 2015, John Ferriter offered us $1000 a song to play a show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.We were headlining the show. It was great. That got us going on the West Coast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, Cherry Red Records asked us to put together a box set. Cherry Red\u2019s Steve Hammonds and I hit it off and he wanted to release a Long Ryders box set. I got our bass player to work with Steve on the project.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In January 2016, Cherry Red Records released a Long Ryders box set, \u201cFinal Wild Songs,\u201d composed of all the material from their three full-length albums, their one EP, various demos and rarities, and a previously unavailable 15-song performance from a Benelux radio appearance in March 1985. In 2016, England\u2019s Mojo magazine, gave the collection a lead review, saying, \u201cThey unwittingly invented Americana, but seldom receive credit for it. This four-CD box set puts the record straight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMojo and Uncut, England\u2019s other major music magazine, had re-issue reviews and full-color photographs of our band,\u201d said Griffin. \u201cThey were ejaculating about how good the box set was. Soon after, BBC started calling, Young DJs were worshipping the Long Ryders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe did two more box sets with Cherry Red Records. Now, we\u2019re getting tons of offers to play around the world. There is more interest in the Long Ryders, and it keeps increasing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On February 15, 2019 The Long Ryders released \u201cPsychedelic Country Soul,\u201d the band\u2019s first album of new material in 33 years. Once again, the Long Ryders used Ed Stasium as their producer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the album in November 2016 at Dr. Dre\u2019s studio in L.A.,\u201d said Griffin. \u201cIt got great reviews when it came out and was Number One on the U.K. Americana chart. Now, we\u2019re touring again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for the Long Ryders \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/P1_jpWxwzZo<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at The Locks at Sona, which has Joe Nolan as the opener, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at The Locks at Sona are The End of America and Matt Duke on September 20 and Chris Smither on September 21.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Kennedys<\/p><\/div>\n

The Kennedys are closing in on the silver anniversary of the release of their debut album, \u201cRiver of Stars,\u201d which came out in 1995 on Green Linnet Records. In 25 years, they have put out 24 albums including several solo releases each.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kennedys — husband-and-wife Pete and Maura Kennedy — are rockers, folkies, troubadours and out-and-out road warriors.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a quarter-century of touring under their belt, the Kennedys have played more than 2500 shows and travelled close to a million miles bringing their music to their fans around the world.\u00a0 They have also toured frequently as Nanci Griffith\u2019s backing musicians in her Blue Moon Orchestra.<\/span><\/p>\n

The New York-based duo has performed at venues all around the Delaware Valley including the World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen in Wilmington, The Point in Bryn Mawr, the World Caf\u00e9 Live in Philadelphia, Jamey\u2019s House of Music in Lansdowne, and PSALM Salon in Overbrook.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kennedys also have played several venues in Chester County including Longwood Gardens in Chadds Ford, Eagleview Town Center in Lionville, Kennett Flash in Kennett Square, Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville, and The Art Scene at Caf\u00e9 Menta in West Chester.<\/span><\/p>\n

On September 20, the Kennedys will be back in the area to play a return show at Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com).<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re on the road a lot,\u201d said Maura Kennedy during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from the couple\u2019s home in New York. \u201cRight now, we\u2019re busier than usual. We\u2019re touring as much as ever — and writing as much as ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad, who is 90, has Parkinson\u2019s Disease and he\u2019s been up and down. We cancelled a U.K. tour to be with him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kennedys, who <\/span>are known nationwide as the hosts of the late lamented \u201cDharma Caf\u00e9\u201d program on Sirius Satellite Radio, are touring behind their most recent album, \u201cSafe Until Tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Life on the road and time spent in the creative ecosystem of the Village have informed their songwriting over the course of 14 duo albums and half a dozen side projects, and \u201cSafe Until Tomorrow\u201d is true to that tradition. What sets the album apart is the inclusion of several anthemic, rocking songs of social consciousness that convey a strong message best summed up in one of the song titles — \u201cBe Silent No More.\u201d The Kennedys’ music has been described as uplifting, empowering and encouraging.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe album came out last year in in May and we\u2019ve been writing ever since,\u201d said Kennedy. \u201cA lot of the tracks on the album deal with what we\u2019re going through now \u2013 especially with my dad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s more about responsibility. With age, you have more responsibilities with which you\u2019re charged. The theme is about responding to responsibilities \u2013 responsibilities to the truth, responsibilities to the globe. Pete and I are a couple, so we face things together\u201d<\/p>\n

A good example of the album\u2019s vibe is the LP\u2019s opening track \u2013 which is also the title track. According to the band\u2019s press release, the song is \u201can <\/span>impassioned call to support caregivers, the self-sacrificing ones who put aside their own lives to help others. For baby boomers who\u2019ve reached the age when their parents need the kind of help that they once gave their children, this song resonates strongly.\u201d<\/p>\n

With such an ambitious touring schedule, the Kennedys long ago mastered the art of recording music while on the road. And, they have the home front covered too.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have our own studio space in Manhattan,\u201d said Kennedy. \u201cWith the new technology, there are so many different recording devices and they\u2019re all useful. We started recording like that a long time ago. We\u2019ve done all our records in our home studio. It\u2019s easy and you don\u2019t have to worry about the clock or a budget. We can work until we\u2019re finished.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the studio, we\u2019ll play other instruments like bass and drums. But we like just playing our guitars in the live shows. We like the energy of two guitars. It forces us to a whole different energy level.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kennedys have another connection to Chester County.<\/span><\/p>\n

Three of their albums — \u201cHalf a Million Miles,\u201d \u201cSongs of the Open Road,\u201d and \u201cBetter Dreams\u201d \u2013 were released on the Appleseed Recordings label \u2013 a small record company that is owned by Jim Musselman and located here in West Chester.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for the Kennedys — https:\/\/youtu.be\/BUkqxKuTyxA<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Jamey\u2019s House of Music will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Jamey\u2019s House of Music are Lisa Chavous on September 21 and a tent with a \u201cBlues Boulevard\u201d theme at the Lansdowne Arts Festival on September 22.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Now through October 13, the Bristol Riverside Theatre (120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, https:\/\/www.brtstage.org\/<\/a>) is presenting \u201cAn Act of God\u201d starring film and television star Kim Wayans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn Act of God\u201d is a play by 13-time Emmy winner David Javerbaum. It was adapted for stage from Javerbaum\u2019s \u201cThe Last Testament: A Memoir By God.\u201d The play began as a \u201cseries of tweets\u201d and a book before being written as a play.<\/span><\/p>\n

The play began previews for its initial run on Broadway at Studio 54 in May 2015 and opened officially on May 28 for a limited run through August 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim Parsons of \u201cBig Bang Theory\u201d fame starred as God in the production directed by Joe Mantello and produced by Jeffrey Finn. The play featured Tim Kazurinsky as archangel Gabriel, and Christopher Fitzgerald as archangel Michael. The show returned to Broadway at the Booth Theatre for a limited engagement starring Sean Hayes in May 2016 and closed on September 4, 2016 after 90 performances.<\/span><\/p>\n

The play, which was a smash hit on Broadway, was based on Javerbaum\u2019s Twitter persona @TheTweetofGod, which now boasts six million followers.\u201d An Act of God\u201d is directed by BRT Founding Director Susan D. Atkinson. The show will run for 28 performances, from September 17 to October 13, 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kim Wayans is an American actress, director, and writer who became popular after appearing in the family comedy series \u201cIn Living Color.\u201d She started off by appearing in a string of TV series in guest roles before joining the cast of the family show \u201cIn Living Color,\u201d which proved to be her breakthrough.<\/span><\/p>\n

After appearing in more than 100 episodes of the comedy series, Wayans started getting more roles in both TV series and movies. Her most notable performances include that of Tonia Harris in \u201cIn the House,\u201d Mrs. Johnson in \u201cDon\u2019t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood,\u201d Audrey in \u201cPariah,\u201d and Vi Briggs in \u201cReckless.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her performance in the movie \u201cPariah\u201d earned her several award nominations. She is also known for her one-woman show, which has received great reviews all over the country. Now, she is playing God.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI believe this is the first production of the show with a woman as God,\u201d said Wayans, during a recent phone interview during a break from rehearsals in Bristol. \u201cI can\u2019t think of another show that has God as a female.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s quite a massive undertaking for a play and this is a one-run special show at the theater in Bristol. I never played God before. In real life, my husband would probably say less.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy agent got a call making an offer. I read the script and it was hilarious. It seemed like a real good show. I never saw it or looked at videos of other productions. I wanted to keep it fresh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

God is back and she has a lot to say. After many millennia, and in just 90 minutes, God (assisted by her devoted angels Gabriel and Michael) will answer some of the deepest questions that have plagued mankind since Creation. The \u201cOne\u201d will give the first and last word on everything from monotheism to masturbation.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn Act of God\u201d is a mental romp around the Old and New Testaments, with a dissatisfied God who, having grown weary of the original 10 Commandments, has arrived in the theater to offer new version — a fresh set of commandments for a modern world. This sinfully funny comedy delivers a new meaning to the phrase divine intervention.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope audiences see that the self-absorbed, tantrum-prone character introduced was not the true manifestation of God, but rather the collective version of how humans envision God,\u201d said Atkinson. \u201cIt has an irreverence, the deity on stage is not the commander of the cosmos per se, but rather the naturally imperfect version of what humankind has tried to make God for eons.\u00a0 I know through the laughter we will see some truths.\u201d
\nWhen casting for the greater than life role of God, Atkinson looked far and wide across the country for the \u201choly\u201d match. Atkinson knew that God was created for a celebrity to fill the greater than life role — and she knew she wanted to have a woman play God.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Atkinson, \u201cI thought previous actors did an amazing job playing God. It was obvious to me we wanted a celebrity to play the part. But when I visualized God being played by a woman, I was inspired to bring the show to the next level. We didn\u2019t want to recreate what had been done, but instead step out of the box to make something really special. We couldn\u2019t be more thrilled with our choice.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wayans was impressed with the play\u2019s humor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very funny \u2013 very irreverent and very funny,\u201d said Wayans, who, in addition to her acting, has written a series of children\u2019s novels. \u201cIt\u2019s like \u2018The Book of Mormon.\u2019 If you have a sense of humor, you should have a good time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGod comes down to earth with 10 new commandments. She comes down to converse with the audience and talk about humanity. She\u2019s like a modern-day Moses to present 10 commandments and set the record straight about things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Charles Isherwood, reviewing the Broadway production in The New York Times, called the play \u201ca gut-busting-funny riff on the never-ending folly of mankind\u2019s attempts to fathom God\u2019s wishes through the words of the Bible and use them to their own ends.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s thought-provoking and makes you think about ways you conceive God,\u201d said Wayans. \u201cEverybody who sees it will have a different take.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cAn Act of God\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/jtPxsyukDZI<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn Act of God\u201d is running now through October 13 at the Bristol Riverside Theatre. Tickets are $43 and $50.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) \u00a0is presenting Emily Scott Robinson with Lauren Kuhne on September 20, Mark Unruh with special guest Maxwell Brown on September 21, and YOU MIGHT THINK \u2013 A Tribute to The Cars on September 22.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) will host Joe Miralles Trio with special guest Matt Vantine on September 21.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) is hosting Space Donkey & The Moonbouncers, Merchant Copy, and The Easily Fooled on September 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will present Steal Your Peach on September 19, Louis Cole on September 20, Damn the Torpedoes: Tom Petty Tribute with special guest Lennon Live on September 21, Beatles for Kids on September 22, Lee \u201cScratch\u201d Perry on September 22 and Grateful Dread on September 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com<\/a>) will host Pink Cadillac Club on September 19, Dead Friends on September 20, Professor Louie And The Crowmatix on September 21, and Brian Collins on September 22.<\/span><\/p>\n

Annenberg Center (3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, https:\/\/annenbergcenter.org\/events<\/a>) will host 47Soul on September 19 and Sweet Honey in the Rock on September 21.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) will present Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors Ft. Dean Shot w\/ James Day And The Fish Fry on September 19, The High Kings on September 20, Sun Kil Moon on September 21, Spin Doctors on September 22, River Whyless with The Dead Tongues on September 23, Courtney Patton & Jason Eady on September 24, and Los Lonely Boys with James Pace Band on September 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grand Opera House <\/span>(818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, <\/span>www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a>) will host Lucinda Williams on September 22.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is presenting its \u201cCandlelight Comedy Club\u201d on September 19 featuring Coleman Green as the headliner and Chipps Cooney as the opening act. The dinner theater\u2019s main production \u2013 the hit musical comedy \u201cCatch Me If You Can\u201d \u2013 is running weekends now through October 20.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Long Ryders, who are headlining a show on September 19 at The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com), could actually be called the \u201cLong Riders.\u201d The Long Ryders — Sid Griffin, vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica; Stephen McCarthy,\u00a0 vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7441],"tags":[11811,6269,11810,3527,11809],"class_list":["post-29938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-an-act-of-god","tag-featured","tag-kim-wayans","tag-the-kennedys","tag-the-long-ryders"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29938"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29938\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29939,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29938\/revisions\/29939"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}