2009 In Review

This past year has offered a lot of great new opportunities and experiences for the Riders that I want to share/reflect on.

Shows:
In 2009 the Riders played around 60 shows (the most we’ve played in a one year span). Some of these shows were played at little bars and some of these shows were played at very large venues. Some show highlights were performing as the opening act for guitarist Robin Trower at the House of Blues in San Diego and then opening for America at Humphrey’s By The Bay (also in San Diego). America were so generous during their performance and continually complimenting the Riders. America then gave us the ultimate compliment by inviting Devin and myself onstage for their encore of “Horse With No Name” during which Devin took a crowd roaring solo as I shook a tambourine and sang the “la’s” in the background. We were then invited to the front of the stage to take bows with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (the main guys from America) in front of the capacity crowd (around 1,400 people, the largest crowd we have ever played for).

Recording:
This year we concocted the craziest of recording plans, using a soon to be demolished one-bedroom house on Coronado Island (off the coast of San Diego) we recorded a new album a la “The Band” style (for those unfamiliar with the band, “The Band” – they recorded such hits as “The Weight” & “Up On Cripple Creek” in houses on mobile recording rigs, not studios). Using not much more than a hammer, nails and free carpet and insulation found on craigslist I converted the entire house into a relatively soundproof studio. As a full band we then spent about 7 days tracking the basics for all the songs together, this was complete with a full Hammond Organ (which took up about 1/4 of the house) and a small control room set up in what was once the kitchen. After the initial recording and over the course of the next few months we did vocal, guitar, saxophone and violin overdubs. We were very fortunate to have Buddy Leach who plays saxophone for George Thorogood and the Detroyers perform on a track. Buddy is a San Diego resident and all around nice guy who was kind enough to help out a band in need.
It was at the end of this entire process that we were very surprised/impressed with what we had made, initially having thought we would come out with decent “live” recordings we in fact had a very well recorded studio album. At this point we realized that mixing it on our own wasn’t really an option as we were all “too close” to the project. Given the situation I sent a random email to Guy Fletcher (pianist/producer/sometimes engineer) for one of my personal musical hero’s Mark Knopfler and asked if he did any mixing for acts he wasn’t performing with. He immediately wrote back saying he did and thus began another highlight of the year. Working with Guy. Guy was extremely generous with his time and skills, he took what we had thought was already a great record and cleaned it up a bit to make it even better. He also did some great post production, hence the reason we gave him a co-producer credit.
For a recording that started as a fun idea in May of 2009, six months later we had pressed CDs in hand and are again ready to take over the world! You can pick one up at http://www.theridersmusic.com/store

Albums:
2009 was another banner year for album sales for us; given the amount of shows we played we again sold out of our first album “200 Miles From Everywhere…” (we’ll restock soon) and are off to a great start with the initial sale of our new album “Crown City Sessions” (using all proceeds to help fund our trip to Memphis, TN in Feb 2010 to perform our showcases at the International Folk Alliance Conference)

The Movie:
As mentioned previously we recorded our new album in a small house under relatively strange circumstances. Because of this I though we might be able to get a few decent videos out of it, so I called my good friend Rob Henry (of Carriage House Media). Rob came down to San Diego with his trusty cohort Kelly Richard and the two of them captured the entire recording process and are currently editing the documentary. You can see a video (with interviews) for “Katie May I”at http://www.theridersmusic.com/store

Looking towards 2010:
2010 seems to be shaping up nicely, we are underway with getting the new album out to the world and already have a few shows lined up.
Personally, I am looking forward to trumping 2009 with bigger and better shows (hopefully some festivals), some live recordings, and seeing the Riders documentary on TV (Go Rob!).

On behalf of the Riders, I would like to thank you for all your love and support in 2009 and we look forward to seeing you in 2010.

Happy New Year!!
-Tom Cusimano

The Riders are excited to announce their new album:

Crown City Sessions
Co-Produced with Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris) and  featuring saxophonist Buddy Leach of George Thorogood & the Destroyers

You can hear samples, read more, and pick up a copy today at:
www.theridersmusic.com/store

We're doing a "pay what you can/donation" for the initial release of our new album as we raising money for the Riders to get to Memphis, TN to perform an official showcase at the 2010 Folk Alliance Conference in February.

Please check it out
See you soon!
-the Riders

WOW! Last Night was amazing!!
the Riders sent their "bandbassadors" (Devin and Tom) to open for hitmakers America ("Horse with no name", "Sister Golden Hair") at Humphrey's by the Bay in San Diego, CA.

For those of you unfamiliar with Humphrey's - it is basically the coolest outdoor venue in So Ca. It is in Point Loma right on the harbor, so while standing on the stage to the right of you is a ton of boats. Quite often (Friday night being no different) boaters and kayakers will paddle their way into that corner of the harbor and watch the show from their boats. Humphrey's holds about 1,400 people at capacity and offers a very intimate show.

Devin and Tom concluded a longer than scheduled set featuring new tunes (to be released on the upcoming album) "Storylines", "Summer Rain", "Katie May I" in addition to a few live favorites like "Coalinga", "Toby's Song", and "Someday Soon". "These Stones" also made its live debut and received a lovely "awwwwwww" in addition to applause from the crowd when Tom told the story of how the song was an engagement gift.

At the end of the set the Riders were greeted by guitarist/keyboardest (for America) Mike Woods who asked if Devin and Tom would like to join America for their finale encore of "Horse With no Name" at the end of the night.

A few hours later, Gerry, Dewey, Mike, and the whole gang from America invited the Riders up to perform with them. Tom singing and playing tambourine and Devin (fiddle in hand) took a solo that made the crowd roar. At the end of the song Gerry and Dewey invited Devin and Tom to the front of the stage for a bow in front of the great crowd!!

Thanks everybody for a great night!!

-the Riders

The Riders
200 Miles from Everywhere
Written by Mike Alvarez

If you can imagine U2's Bono fronting the E Street Band with a couple of the Heartbreakers sitting in, you might have some idea of what the Riders sound like. Their brand of rock is firmly rooted in Americana, but their excursions into other styles reveal their versatility and sense of musical adventure. Lead vocalist and primary songwriter Tom Cusimano has a way of savoring certain syllables that is right out of the U2 bag of tricks. His guitar playing is tasteful and melodic, fitting perfectly into the mood of each song. Keyboardist Rami Jaffee favors the Hammond B3 organ, giving many of the songs the same plaintive feel that can be found in the most famous Bruce Springsteen recordings. Equally at home on the piano, he can pull off crisp licks on the ivories that add another tonal color to their palette. Completing the lineup is bassist Lavalle Houser and Jimmy Olson on drums. They are as rock solid a rhythm section as anyone could ask for.

The album opens with "Someday Soon," a mid-tempo rocker with a rhythm similar to the Tom Petty hit "Free Falling." As the songs unfold, one can hear other influences. Bruce Springsteen's forte for storytelling is all over the place, notably in the tracks "Coalinga" and "Toby's Song." This latter tune features a piano solo that would have made Bruce Hornsby proud. "All I Ever Need to See" is a heavier guitar-based song with a sprinkling of the Stones thrown in for good measure. "Give Anything" starts off heavy but takes a surprising turn with its gospel-inflected verse. Things get quieter with "Too Far Away Tonight," a starkly emotional piano song with subtle accompaniment by accordion and mandolin. However, things don't stay that way for long. "Wasted Heart" starts as a beautiful acoustically driven song but it builds as it progresses. This is perhaps the launching pad for the album's latter half when the band really stretches its legs artistically.

After the country-rocker "Sunday Letter," they launch into "Annie's Charade," a song with roots in Alternative and New Wave rock. Its verse brings to mind the Clash classic "Rock the Casbah." Houser even throws in some funky slapping and popping on his bass, imparting an added measure of energy. Another surprise is their foray into reggae rhythms on "Cherry Sweet." Characterized by many dynamic shifts, this song develops into a "Freebird"-style guitar rave-up. I certainly didn't see that coming, but it works fabulously! The climax of this collection is "Angels Can't Carry Roses," a spirited alternative rocker with a shuffling beat that allows the Riders to display their turn-on-a-dime ensemble skills. It's very exciting and perfectly placed in the sequence of songs. They finish with "Take Away," a moving piano ballad that brings them back to their Americana roots after some very adventurous excursions into other styles. This is a band that has distilled its influences into a very coherent and focused musical statement.

Ladies and Gentlemen!
the Riders will be supporting the legendary guitarist Robin Trower (of Procol Harum) at the House of Blues (San Diego) on May 27th. Mark you calendars!

Robin Trower with The Riders....

Buy Robin Trower with The Riders concert tickets for the show at House of Blues San Diego http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventdetail.php?eventid=57258 .... Wednesday 05/27/2009 Doors 07:00 PM | Show 08:00 PM Price: $30.00 - $50.00 | Ages: 21+ House of Blues San Diego 1055 Fifth Avenue San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 299-BLUE (2583)

For your reading pleasure
 
http://nctimes.com/articles/2009/02/25/entertainment/music/zb7f0a4408f742ed7882575670068d9e3.txt
 
B+ "200 Miles From Everywhere ..."

The Riders

Self-released

Playing a gentle countrified folk-rock, L.A.'s the Riders sound nearly as if they stepped out of a time machine from the early '70s, fresh off opening for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band or Poco. The dozen songs on their recent release have the easy familiarity of an early Eagles album, and lead singer Tom Cusimano sounds more than a little like Jackson Browne.

Cusimano also shows a nice touch at writing. "Coalinga" is a classic bit of country-rock: catchy melody, perfect bridge, nice guitar solos. It'd be a huge hit if radio still cared about breaking new artists. "Toby's Song" is also a hit in waiting ---- an uptempo little rocker.

Keyboardist Rami Jaffee brings a bit of Southern boogie to his playing ---- a touch of Atlanta Rhythm Section or Widespread Panic, and the rhythm section (Jimmy Olson on drums and Lavalle Houser on bass) are as supple as a good jazz combo while still able to push things along.

The quality of the songs drops off fairly steeply on the second half of the album, and the band never really rocks out ---- everything is in that kind of Eagles/Poco mellow. But when it clicks, as on "Coalinga," the music here is awfully good.

The Riders play Thursday (2/25) at the 1st Street Bar in Encinitas and Friday (2/26) at the Little Italy Spaghetteria in San Diego.

---- JT (Jim Trageser)

Ok, so we don't normally do this, but the chance is too good to pass up...the Riders could win a new touring vehicle & trailer, tons of gear, and promotion/marketing money (a lot of money!) The competition just started and we are currently #57 out of 600+...we need to get to the top!
This could really help us out.
Thanks!

And sign up as a fan -
http://www.getroadworn.com/contest.php?sid=58&rid=1270&aid=25432&mid=23693&stage_search=riders

We are very pleased to announce that Paste Magazine has included our song "Coalinga" on their September 2008 sampler entitled "The Best Of What's Next"

Pick up your copy today!

Check it out folks, the Riders song 'Coalinga' is currently 7 Most Listened at pastemagazine.com
Go listen, tell all your friends!
You can access the most listened playlist from any page ..magazine.com (look at the tabs on the right).
You can also hear 'Toby's Song' and 'Coalinga' on the pastestation radio stream.
See you soon!
-Tom
The