New Riders of the Purple Sage –  Lonesome L.A. Cowboy

This is a band I’ve read about and I’ve liked most of what I’ve heard. They have a long history and are still going now. The membership is fluid in this band. Many have performed with them including Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Spencer Dryden, Robert Hunter, and more.

This band grew out of jam sessions between Jerry Garcia and John “Marmaduke” Dawson in 1969. Their name was based on a band that included Foy Willing and The Riders of the Purple Sage…yea they just added the “new” and off they went…it worked. Jerry Garcia was learning the pedal steel guitar and they played a few small clubs initially. The two soon picked up Peter Grant on banjo, David Nelson on lead guitar, Bob Mathews on bass, and Mickey Hart on drums and that was the beginning of  The New Riders of the Purple Sage.

They would often open for the Grateful Dead. Garcia would leave in 1971 but he would go back to them from time to time and play with them live and on albums. Garcia had many side projects going on when the Dead were not touring and recording.

From what I’ve heard of this band…I think of the Flying Burrito Brothers. I love name-dropping songs and this one has them. Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, and Martin Mull was mentioned. Along with L.A.’s music hangouts like Barney’s Beanery and the Troubadour. The song was on the album The Adventures of Panama Red and was written by Peter Rowan. It peaked at #55 on the Billboard 100.

And off of their website: The New Riders of the Purple Sage received a Lifetime Achievement Award from High Times magazine at their Doobie Awards in September 2002 and performed a brief set (which included “Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” and “Panama Red” with Peter Rowan) at the festivities at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York City.

Henry’s taken the brakes off and 2006 finds the New Riders of the Purple Sage back on the road with a revived and inspired lineup, bringing the songs of John Dawson back to the ears of adoring crowds nationwide as well as taking those songs to places they’ve never been before musically. Led by David Nelson and Buddy Cage, the current touring lineup includes Michael Falzarano (Hot Tuna) on guitar and vocals, Ronnie Penque on bass and vocals and Johnny Markowski on drums and vocals. John Dawson passed away on July 21 2009 but before he passed he had given the guys his blessing and was excited to know his music is being heard live again by a whole new generation of fans. The new lineup vows to keep the NRPS spirit and tunes alive by taking them to fans everywhere.  In 2009 the band released its first studio album in 20 years called Where I Come From on Woodstock Records. It features new songs written by David Nelson and Robert Hunter, Michael Falzarano, Johnny Markowski, and Ronnie Penque. The band continues to grow breaking out new songs on every tour while staying true to the legacy that was started over 40 years ago by John Dawson and Jerry Garcia.

Lonesome L.A. Cowboy

I’m just a lonesome l.a. cowboy,Hangin’ out, hangin’ onTo your window ledge, callin’ your nameFrom midnight until dawnI been smokin’ dope, snortin’ coke,Tryin’ to write a songForgettin’ everything I know‘Til the next line comes alongForgettin’ everything I know‘Til the next line comes alongThere’s so many pretty people in the city,I swear some of them are girlsI meet’em down at Barney’s beaneryWith their platform heels and spit curlsI buy’em drinks, we smoke our hopesTry to make it one more nightBut when I’m left all alone at lastI feel like I’ll die from frightRepeat Well, I know Kris and Rita, and Marty MullAre meeting at the troubadourWe’ll get it on with the joy of cookingWhile the crowd crys out for more‘Round six o’clock this morningI’ll be gettin’ kind of slowWhen all the shows are over, honey,Tell me, where do you think I go?Repeat

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

33 thoughts on “New Riders of the Purple Sage –  Lonesome L.A. Cowboy”

  1. I was never a big fan of Marmaduke’s voice but regret that I never saw them when Garcia played pedal steel and they opened for the Dead. I liked their combination of original tunes, often with tongue in cheek, and traditional western music. “Henry”, about the trials of trying to drive home with a truckload of Acapulco Gold while way too stoned, was a favorite, but they also did “Long Black Veil”.

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  2. This is the one and only song Ive heard from them and that is the extent of my knowledge. Interesting history and connection with Jerry and the Dead. Pretty cool tune I hear what you are saying about the connection to the FBB.

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    1. I really like their music…it’s been an interesting week so far to go in cold with these bands. The next two I an pretty much promise you heard of.

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  3. Interesting history of this band – I did know they had an “association” with the Dead. I have liked those handful of songs I have heard of theirs, including this one featured here. Nice to hear they are still making music. 😀

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  4. a side project that’s run for 50 years or more – that’s something! Not a bad, very countryish sound, though from this song not one I’d especially gravitate to. Still, with so many interesting and well-known people passing through it, I’d be interested to hear a few more.

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    1. I like the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Country Byrds so they are a fit for me….I like that rock-country sound. Yea for a side project it’s stood the test of time.

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      1. yeah, overall I do like that sort of style of music – early Blue rodeo fit the category well, and what I’ve heard of your Jayhawks pretty much too.

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  5. I saw the New Riders about a half dozen times, but it was always with Buddy Cage playing pedal steel, not Jerry Garcia.  My good friend Cliff went to art school and he painted the back of my bluejean jacket with the cover to the Weir album Ace and we went to see the May 8, 1975, show at Montclair State University, which was a teacher’ college, so it was mostly girls.  We got there early and we were standing out front and someone inside looked at my jacket and assumed that we were with the band, so they let us in and asked us if we needed anything.  It was pretty cool as we got to walk around backstage, but we never bothered anyone in the band.

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    1. That is a really cool story Jim. It’s cool that you got to walk around freely like that. I’m liking what I’ve heard so far. I just picked this one out…it was either this one or Panama Red…I like both but I haven’t listened to a whole lot yet.

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      1. Cliff made decorated wallets, belts and painted shirts. He made me a joint holder that held ten joints in different holes, so they wouldn’t get crushed. One time I dropped it in the road and a car ran over it and all of my joints remained in tack. I had this Jerry Garcia shirt where his guitar was plugged into a wall outlet that was the pocket on my shirt. Cliff made this painting for me of a red barn with a spaceship landing in a field near by and the Grateful Dead were walking toward the barn dressed in their costumes from their Mar’s Hotel album and on the barn, it said Mickey Hart’s barn. Thanks for the good memories Obbverse.

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  8. Seems like the kind of music I’d like to listen to while stoned out of my mind. The lyrics are subtle and powerful and remind me of Bob Dylan. A personalized tale that makes me think of the singer as a real person out there in the world. I know a lot more about them now than I did before reading your post, Max.

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  9. I’m sure I heard the name The New Riders of the Purple Sage before but cannot remember the context. “Lonesome LA Cowboy” is nice-sounding country rock, as far as I’m concerned. Comparing them to the Flying Burrito Brothers sounds like a great comparison.

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