Hurray For The Riff Raff is an Americana group from New Orleans, Louisiana, led by Alynda Mariposa Segarra, a Puerto Rican singer-songwriter from the Bronx, New York. The act forms in 2007, after Segarra moves to New Orleans following an early departure from home and begins performing and recording there with a changing line-up of musicians. Its core member is Segarra, and the group remains active.

Early releases

The band’s early records include It Don't Mean I Don't Love You and Young Blood Blues, both issued in 2008 and 2010 respectively. These recordings focus mainly on folk and country material.

Compilation and recognition

In 2011, the UK label Loose Music releases a self-titled album that gathers the strongest songs from those early records. That album is named one of the Top Ten Albums of 2011 by The Times of London. Around the same period, Mojo magazine’s Phil Alexander says the group has “immense potential and seductive power” and places it second among the best bands at SXSW 2011.

Line-up and sound expansion

Back in the United States, Segarra works with a young honky-tonk band called the Tumbleweeds, whose sound widens to include rock and roll, pop and soul. Segarra then brings the Tumbleweeds in as a touring band, changing the group’s sound in the manner of Bob Dylan with the Band or Neil Young with Crazy Horse.

Look Out Mama

Look Out Mama comes from nearly two years of Segarra and the Tumbleweeds touring across the United States and playing more than 100 shows in small bars and clubs. It is recorded in Nashville by producer Andrija Tokic, who also works with Alabama Shakes. The album ranges across swamp pop, classic country, psychedelia and surf rock, while remaining unified by Segarra’s vocals and songwriting.