Hempsteader features the New Riders' 1976 to 1977 lineup of John Dawson on guitar and vocals, David Nelson on guitar and vocals, Buddy Cage on pedal steel guitar, Stephen Love on bass and vocals, and Spencer Dryden on drums. At the time of the Hempstead concert, the band was touring behind their album New Riders, which had been released about two months earlier.
Critical reception
In Goldmine, Ray Chelstowski wrote, "[The album] captures an act performing at their musical peak. Always known for their remarkable musicianship across every chair in the band, this record presents their abilities with remarkable clarity and sonic depth.... This is a group in top form, playing a room at its rock height, to an audience that clearly got more than they bargained for..."[4]
In Americana Highways, Jeff Burger said, "The 18-song, nearly 80-minute set includes energized readings of a few of the group’s best-known early numbers, such as "Glendale Train", "Henry", "Portland Woman", and "Panama Red". You’ll also find a motley assortment of party-ready covers drawn from the group's then-recent studio albums..."[5]
Also in Americana Highways, John Apice wrote, "The sound for a live recording from 1976 is quite good & gets better as it progresses. It’s especially fine since the performance is always energetic & that comes through.... The band does manage to mix up the repertoire with a balanced set of tunes, some pure country, country-rock, folky elements, bluegrass & an excellent 12-minute plus jam "Portland Woman"."[6]
In Glide Magazine Doug Collette said, "Circa America's centennial, this NRPS fivesome remained tightly knit as a performing unit. As such, they were well able to proffer a broad range of material over these eighty-some minutes, which is Hempsteader.... NRPS thus exhibited an array of virtues by which they elicited rightful acclamation from a rowdy crowd."[7]
