Hurray for the Riff Raff

Hurray for the Riff Raff is a band from New Orleans formed by Alynda Segarra, a singer-songwriter from the Bronx, New York, after they had moved to New Orleans in 2007.

Hurray for the Riff Raff
Alynda Segarra, the band's frontperson, in 2016
Background information
OriginNew Orleans, Louisiana, United States
GenresAmericana
Years active2007-present
Labels
Associated acts
  • Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship
  • Dead Man Street Orchestra
  • Sam Doores
  • The Deslondes
Websitehurrayfortheriffraff.com
MembersAlynda Segarra

As Segarra's project, the group originally performed different styles of folk music while releasing several albums independently.

Background

Alynda Segarra

Alynda Mariposa Segarra (Formerly known as alynda lee) was raised by their aunt and uncle in the Bronx where they developed an early appreciation for doo-wop and Motown. They are an American rock musician of Puerto Rican heritage.[1]

Segarra became a regular attendee of hardcore punk shows at ABC No Rio when they were young.[2] They left their home in the Bronx at age 17, spending time crossing North America, hopping freight trains.[2]

In late 2018, Segarra joined organizers of Newport Folk Festival to travel to Puerto Rico and deliver instruments to various public schools.[3] During that visit, Segarra played their first concert on the island at La Respuesta in Santurce.[4]

Dead Man Street Orchestra

Around 2007, Segarra became a part of the Dead Man Street Orchestra, a hobo band that was documented in a photo essay by Time Magazine in 2007.[5] Segarra traveled with the group for two years, releasing two independent albums and embarking on freight train tours across the country.

Musical career
Hurray for the Riff Raff at Haldern Pop Festival 2017.

After two self-released albums, 2008's It Don't Mean I Don't Love You and 2010's Young Blood Blues, Hurray for the Riff Raff released a self-titled CD composed of Segarra's favorite songs from those records on Loose Music in Europe on March 21, 2011. Tracks from the band's debut release received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music.

In February 2011, the band were featured in an article in The Times, based around the HBO TV series, Treme, with their track "Daniella" being listed in their selection of New Orleans' essential songs.[6]

In May 2012, Hurray for the Riff Raff released Look Out Mama on their own label, Born to Win Records and on Loose Music in Europe. No Depression said it "sounds like something The Band would’ve had playing on a Victorola while making Music From Big Pink in Woodstock.".[7] The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at The Bomb Shelter Studios and produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes).[8] The record features "End of the Line,"My Dearest Darkest Neighbor on July 1, 2013 through Mod Mobilian Records and This Is American Music. The album was previously available only as a Kickstarter reward and in limited local release and featured handmade covers.[9][10] Tracks on the record include songs by Townes Van Zandt, Billie Holiday, Gillian Welch, Leadbelly, John Lennon, Lucinda Williams, Joni Mitchell, Hank Williams, and George Harrison—and features Segarra's interpretation of Gillian Welch's "Ruination Day."

Wall Street Journal describes Segarra's singing: "She has a subtle, expressive voice that she wraps around songs that draw on the sounds and styles of the American South, and her lyrics often take unconventional tack on traditional subjects."[11]

Spin previewed a video of their song "St. Roch Blues".[12]

In February 2014, Hurray for the Riff Raff had their ATO Records debut, Small Town Heroes.[13] The record featured “The Body Electric,” a song that NPR’s Ann Powers called “The Political Song of the Year” in 2014 and says the album, "sweeps across eras and genres with grace and grit."

Describing Segarra's music, NPR says "Segarra's morning-after alto might be the least showy great voice to hit the national scene this year."[14]

In early July 2016, the band played the Danish festival of Roskilde, to an enthusiastic audience.[15] In December 2016, they announced a new record, The Navigator on Pitchfork with the first single "Rican Beach." The album was released on March 10, 2017 on ATO Records.[16]

In 2019 'Pa'lante' won 'Best Music Video' at the SXSW Film Festival Jury and Specials Awards.[17]

In 2021, Nonesuch Records announced Hurray for the Riff Raff's debut album on the label, "LIFE ON EARTH" would be released on February 18, 2022. Its eleven new “nature punk” tracks on the theme of survival are music for a world in flux—songs about thriving, not just surviving, while disaster is happening.[18] Leading up to its release, Stereogum made it their album of the week, noting that the album's "sonic backdrop is fluid yet unmistakable no matter what form it takes. Even at their most synthetic, these tracks come across as earthy and alive — an extension of their environment. Even at their smallest and quietest, they feel huge."[19]

Personal life

Alynda lives in New Orleans.

Discography
YearTitleLabel
2007Crossing the Rubicon (EP)Out of Print
2008It Don't Mean I Don't Love Youself-released
2010Young Blood Bluesself-released
2011Hurray for the Riff RaffLoose Music
2012Live at 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
2012Look Out MamaBorn to Win Records / Loose Music
2013My Dearest Darkest NeighborMod Mobilian Records/This Is American Music
2014Small Town HeroesATO Records
2017The NavigatorATO Records
2022Life on EarthNonesuch Records

References
  1. Swenson, John (February 1, 2014). "Radio Zeitgeist: Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Lee Segarra". OffBeat. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  2. Keyes, J. Edward. "eMusic Selects Q&A: Hurray For the Riff Raff". eMusic. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  3. "Hurray For the Riff Raff On Her Energizing Visit to Puerto Rico: Musicians 'Keep the Resistance Alive'". Billboard.
  4. "Hurray for the Riff Raff Goes Home to Puerto Rico". Latino Rebels. December 4, 2018.
  5. Heil, James (January 19, 2007). "Time Photo Essay: The Ballad of the Hobo". Time. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  6. "Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Times". Loose Music. February 1, 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  7. Gibson, Donald (April 16, 2012). "Hurray for the Riff Raff". No Depression.
  8. Schlansky, Evan (April 23, 2012). "Hurray for the Riff Raff". American Songwriter.
  9. Hurrayfortheriffraff. "Help Hurray for the Riff Raff Release Our New Album". Kickstarter. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  10. Fensterstock, Alison (June 12, 2013). "A take on John Lennon's 'Jealous Guy' heralds Hurray for the Riff Raff's new cover CD, due July 1". Times-Picayune. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  11. Danton, Eric R. (November 26, 2013). "Hurray for the Riff Raff Streams 'I Know It's Wrong (But That's Alright)'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  12. McGovern, Kyle (January 14, 2014). "Watch Hurray for the Riff Raff Honor New Orleans in 'St. Roch Blues' Video". Spin. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  13. "ATO Welcomes Hurray for the Riff Raff". ATO Records. June 30, 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  14. Powers, Ann (January 23, 2014). "Hurray For The Riff Raff's New Political Folk". NPR. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  15. "Slik husker vi Roskilde 2016". Dagsavisen.no. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  16. "Watch Hurray for the Riff Raff's Video for New Song "Rican Beach"". Pitchfork. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  17. "Announcing the 2019 SXSW Film Festival Jury and Special Awards". SXSW. 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  18. "Hurray for the Riff Raff, aka Alynda Segarra, Makes Nonesuch Debut with 'LIFE ON EARTH,' February 18". NonesuchRecords. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  19. "Album Of The Week: Hurray For The Riff Raff Life On Earth" by Chris DeVille. Stereogum. February 15, 2022. Accessed February 19, 2022.

Further reading
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