NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE
Instant Armadillo Blues: Best of 1971-1975
Raven 345

Raven Records Web Site
 

NEW RIDERS of the PURPLE SAGE
17 Pine Avenue
Woodstock 0037

Woodstock Records Web Site
New Riders Web Site
 

The San Francisco hippie-era New Riders were initially a vehicle for Jerry Garcia’s pedal steel guitar interests and singer John (Marmaduke) Dawson’s songs. After one LP, Buddy Cage’s wonderfully bubbly pedal steel replaced Garcia’s. Naysayers called the band weedheads doing puerile love songs, overlooking their 1950s honky-tonk revivalism and early recognition of Peter Rowan (“Panama Red,” “Lonesome LA Cowboy”). Dawson’s “Last Lonely Eagle” is poetic environmentalism. Too bad that chronological 42-track Instant Armadillo loses steam as it rides along.

Looking to today’s New Riders, lead guitarist David Nelson and Cage are the sole survivors of the Riders’ 1970s line-up. Songs of truth and freedom bookend their new 2012-released 17 Pine Ave. Nelson now shoulders lead vocals and he co-wrote seven of the twelve cuts with Garcia’s long-time collaborator, Robert Hunter. Guitarist Michael Falzarano penned the CD’s closer, “Truth Is Dead,” sagely viewing dogmatism and lack of common sense on both sides of the fence. — Bruce Sylvester