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The Fabulous Ripcords have performed across the northeast to crowds in New York City and Boston as well as their home in Central New York for just about twenty years. Some of the many stages they've graced include: the New York State Blues Festival, Taste of Syracuse, Central New York Jazz Fest, the Inner Harbor Block Party, Performance Harlee Davidson, Stage of Nations Blue Rain ECOfest and the Ganondagan Native American Festival. Outside of New York The Ripcords have played Saratoga Race Track, Brockton Blues Festival - MA & EarthDance - Napa Valley, CA. The band and its members have opened for and played on bills with such noted musicians as Santana, Steve Miller, Blues Traveler, Ry Cooder, Rick Derringer, Phish, John Lee Hooker, Edgar Winter, Leon Russell, Kim Simmonds, Terrance Simien, Gene Taylor, Bill Kirchen, and Chip Taylor over the years.
The Fabulous Ripcords began as a project put together by Rex Lyons to explore some of his favorite music using some of his collaborators in The Roustabouts, another renowned roots band in CNY fronted by Dugan Henhawk. Dugan and Rex go way back to CNY’s seminal punk and roll band, Whiteboy and the Wagonburners, that set CNY afire in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Rex’s cousin, Irv Lyons Jr. was brought in to play guitar and sing along with Whiteboy alumni Phil Regan on the drums. Jay Gould, who holds down the bass, (also a Roustabout) and Tom Witkowski on keyboards round out the lineup. Both are veterans of the local music scene.
Steve Palumbo joined the group November 2016 as the new drummer. See THE BAND link for his band history.
The Fabulous Ripcords began as a project put together by Rex Lyons to explore some of his favorite music using some of his collaborators in The Roustabouts, another renowned roots band in CNY fronted by Dugan Henhawk. Dugan and Rex go way back to CNY’s seminal punk and roll band, Whiteboy and the Wagonburners, that set CNY afire in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Rex’s cousin, Irv Lyons Jr. was brought in to play guitar and sing along with Whiteboy alumni Phil Regan on the drums. Jay Gould, who holds down the bass, (also a Roustabout) and Tom Witkowski on keyboards round out the lineup. Both are veterans of the local music scene.
Steve Palumbo joined the group November 2016 as the new drummer. See THE BAND link for his band history.
Live videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC8DJ1tPlTw
The Ripcords
By John Tierney
The Ripcords have been ripping it up on stages around here for a while now and have become one of the region’s best live acts. The kind of music that makes you want to drink from a long neck bottle and for one blessed night just rip it up along side them. It’s pretty hard to feel bad when the Ripcords are on stage. Their mixture of Blues, Latin, Tex-Mex and other ingredients results in a musical bouillabaisse that feeds the soul.
What makes them stand out is the musicianship of the players, the word “tight” is thrown around in music a lot. Too much. But these guys are tight!
The Ripcords recent release Unmasked, recorded live at Syracuse’s Sub Cat Studios show the band in exceptional form, featuring Rex Lyons and Irv Lyons on guitar and vocals, bassist Jay Gould, Steve Palumbo on Drums and Tom Witkowski on Keys along with the Boneyard Horns (Jeff Stockham, Nick Fields, Dunham Hall, Rick Huyge & Bill Palange) are an all-star team of accomplished players in CNY and beyond.
“Take a Chance on Romance” a cover of the Billy Joe Shaver Tex-Mex classic is one of those cover songs that outperforms the original. A late-night song of romance and courting that will have you looking for the tequila and the blender on a hot summer night.
“Knee Deep in the Blues” features a boogie woogie barrel house piano run worthy of The Killer himself, a slamming blues jumper that will make you want to tip over the table.
Truly beautiful is the romantic original “Last Dance” a wistful, longing song for the end of the night that features a fanatic sax solo that lets the song soar like it was meant to.
Look, there isn’t a bad song on the album and taken as a follow up the earlier The Ripcords Live at Subcat Studioswhat we have here is maybe a resume as we look ahead to warmer months soon. The days when music moves outside to our festivals and outdoor venues. The Ripcords are a party and as the dark couple years we have all gone through have given us the blues, maybe it’s time to get up off the couch and get up on your feet. It’s going to be a great summer and I for one am looking forward to the next time I get to see The Ripcords. See you there?
Good Press!
Table Hopping , Fabulous Ripcord Article
SAMMY award winner! Best Americana Album
Congratulations to the 2014 Blues Archive Hall of Famers!
Fabulous recognition: Local band nominated for Native American Music Award
Local groups nominated for Native American Music Awards
Fabulous Ripcords up for Native American Music Awards
RIPCORDS EARN NAMMY NOD
Fabulous Native American Music Award Nomination Goes To Local Band
Six Nations Day will bring Iroquois culture and music to the NYS Fair
"If You Love Me" Featured in Crooked Arrows movie 2012
Table Hopping , Fabulous Ripcord Article
SAMMY award winner! Best Americana Album
Congratulations to the 2014 Blues Archive Hall of Famers!
Fabulous recognition: Local band nominated for Native American Music Award
Local groups nominated for Native American Music Awards
Fabulous Ripcords up for Native American Music Awards
RIPCORDS EARN NAMMY NOD
Fabulous Native American Music Award Nomination Goes To Local Band
Six Nations Day will bring Iroquois culture and music to the NYS Fair
"If You Love Me" Featured in Crooked Arrows movie 2012