Simon Copeland

WHEN the Long Ryders emerged in LA in 1981, they had a mixed reception.

Many thought a band that dressed like the Byrds and came on like the Clash covering Gram Parsons were a gimmicky throwback. Others dubbed them the saviours of rock ’n’ roll.

The truth lies in between, naturally. The Long Ryders made three albums and lasted just six years yet without them today’s alt country would be unthinkable.

They never made it big, though, as self-mocking frontman Sid Griffin acknowledged to the Concorde crowd: “That was two singles by the legendary Long Ryders … the missing word in that sentence is hit.”

Opening with the storming Run Dusty Run, the reunited quartet’s tight 90-minute, 20-song set was effectively a greatest NON-hits show.

Griffin, dressed now as then in braces and white jeans, is the band’s engine room, providing the stage presence and that retro jangly Rickenbacker sound. But the more reserved Stephen McCarthy’s melodic vocals and guitar playing on Ivory Tower and I Want You Bad are equally vital.

A triumphant show closed with a singalong to their best-known song, Looking for Lewis And Clark.

Rock reunions aren’t always welcome but the affection from the audience of 50-somethings showed this one was special. Long may they Ryde.