By Kyle Christen
I loved Randy Lee Riviere’s last release, “Concrete Blues” back in 2024, so it was thrilling to receive his new one titled “Farmhand Blues.” This is my kind of music. And I think this one is just as good, maybe better, so here’s my take on some cuts. 15 tunes, all written by Randy, or co-wiitten by him with the producer/drummer extraordinaire, Mr. Tom Hambridge! Batting leadoff is “Downtown,” which begins with some loud crunchy guitar chords. Don’t you love it? Tom on drums and Robert Kearns on bass sound like they’ve been a rhythm section for decades. The story of a mountain man who comes out of the woods into town to play his music. This song is an attention-getter for sure. “Big On A Bender” is blues rock, the kind where you notice the gutbucket has an electrical cord coming out of it. A real workin’ man’s tune. “I feel a bender coming down, dark cloud be hanging around. Sometimes the devil can’t make a sound, oh, I feel a bender coming down.” Randy splits guitar duties with Doug Lancio, Michael St. Leon and Bob Britt all throughout this whole disc. Excellent track. The spacey “Bird Watchin” is an great cornucopia of sound. Streamy, dreamy guitars, with Mike Rojas adding some cool keys. In real life, Randy’s day job was as a wildlife biologist, so lay down on a summer day underneath a tree and chew on a blade of grass. You’ll get it. On “Alabama,” Randy and company make a case for Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s title of “World’s Best Garage Band.” Yes, it is that good. The balladeer style of “Linden Lane” is a tribute to his grandparents, who were down home, hard working people of the land they worked. Brought back some great memories of my own maternal side of the family, complete with farmhands! Randy’s vocals are spot-on with feeling, and I really like it. “Moonlight” starts off with Indian-style tom toms a beating into this rockin’ rumblin’ tune, about a mystery lady who shows up at your door late at night. “She has prison tats that I don’t really get, and metal things I’m not liking one bit. But in the moonlight, they’re quite a sight, now I’m feeling everything will be alright.”
“December 1980” is the story of a road ragged musician in a Tucson roadhouse, who turned on the radio and heard that John Lennon had been shot, The slide guitar is slow, and the music is mystifying. A bluesy beat on this shuffle, which is an homage, but not sad. Maybe the best tune on the disc. This dude’s new horse is taking him for quite a ride on “Pecos, and that “Randy Lee Riviere Guitar Sound” that I think should be patented by him and Tom is quite evident for you right here. Great stuff. Remember that 70’s rock feel that first grabbed you and hasn’t let go? “On My Way Down” is just that. The rhythm chords are stomping on your head, as the lead guitar solo burns your brain. There’s a tinge of Indian guitar …. almost Sitar-like, that freaked me out. “Dovetail Joints” is Randy’s tribute to hard working, overlooked folk everywhere. And he identifies with them. I loved this one as well, and next time you see someone like this, tell them they are appreciated. This song is hauntingly beautiful, and it’s thought provoking. Randy at his best.
He’s another artist where I am now working backward to find his back releases, There’s at least two more solo, plus a few of his work in the band “Mad Buffalo”, But this is where he’s at today. Every album improves, even though he doesn’t stray far from his style. And that style is right down our alley. So walk down that alley and believe me when I say you need to get “Farmhand Blues” in order to experience the best of Randy Lee Riviere.