April (Remastered) The Riflebirds of Portland

• 1 Pieces of Time 03:50
• 2 Memory Street 03:29
• 3 Dreaming of a Kiss (Alternate Mix) 03:03
• 4 Michael 03:55
• 5 The Rain 02:50
• 6 After Today 02:56
• 7 All I Know 03:15
• 8 And Your Bird Can Sing 01:59
• 9 Might As Well Stay 03:36
• Total Runtime 28:53

Info for April (Remastered)

Nearly four decades after first taking flight, The Riflebirds of Portland return to their origins with the release of ‘April’ their long-out-of-print debut album, set for and April 3, 2026 release on Regional Records.

Produced in 1988 and newly re-imagined in 2025 by Marvin Etzioni (Grammy winner and founder of Lone Justice), ‘April’ captures a young band at full emtional stride, its folk-rooted melodies, literate songwriting, and understated power sounding as vital now as they did at the dawn of their story.

Originally released only on cassette in 1989 and mastered by Brian Gardner at Bernie Grundman Mastering, ‘April’ has long been a whispered cult favorite among those who encountered it during the band’s brief but promising late-80s run. Now fully restored and reintroduced, the album stands as both a time capsule and a revelation…

You’d think listening to the songs on The Riflebirds of Portland’s April would amount to a trip down what one song calls Memory Street. And for those of us lucky enough to have known them when the album emerged in 1989, these songs can bring back some fond memories of long-gone days. But what really matters here is how timeless it all sounds. The sweet, deceptively simple melodies, the complexity of feeling, the spare but effective production, all sound perfectly contemporary. Springtime, like youth, may be fleeting. But the joys of The Riflebirds of Portland’s April persist. Listen. – Peter Ames Carlin, author of New York Times bestseller Tonight in Jungleland: The Making of Born to Run (January 2025)

“36 years on, a belated second album from a band clearly with unfinished business.” – AMERICANA UK

“‘Windmills on The Moon’ is a refreshingly original record that sounds familiar in all the right ways.” – FOLK AND TUMBLE “The sound is still rooted in late 60s West Coast folk rock… [a] throwback to those 60s West Coast pop days of acts like The Mamas and The Papas and The Sunshine Company.” – FATEA RECORDS

“An album that reaches out from a different era and absolutely nails the responsibility of the modern point of view.” – LIVERPOOL SOUNDS AND VISION

“In 2025, the group presents new and courageous music. If the scandals and lies are getting to be a bit much, ‘Windmills on the Moon’ is the perfect antidote.” – REAL ROOTS CAFÉ

“A sound that is brilliant and decidedly fun.” – PLANET COUNTRY

Kate Lieuallen Oser, vocals
Lee Oser, bass, rhythm guitar
Kevin Kraft, lead guitar
Kevin Jarvis, drums, percussion

Digitally remastered

The Riflebirds
formed in 1985 in Portland, Oregon. The nucleus was bass player Lee Oser and guitarist Kevin Kraft, who played together in The Van Goghs and The Cry! When singer Kate Lieuallen joined them, along with temporary drummer Jeff Minick, The Riflebirds were born.

Minnick was succeeded by Kevin Jarvis. The band’s heyday, from 1985 to 1989, saw the release of two singles and a cassette LP, “April,” produced by Marvin Etzioni. Lee and Kate married in 1988, and soon after moved east.

Lee found a job teaching college, and Kate became a children’s librarian. Kevin Kraft ended up working in Silicon Valley. Kevin Jarvis went on to enjoy a successful career in Los Angeles as a session drummer, engineer, and producer.

The Mermaids, who sing backup on multiple tracks, are Grace Kraft, Branigan Lieuallen, and Briana Oser. Grace is Kevin’s daughter, Branigan is Kate’s niece, and Briana is Lee and Kate’s daughter.

The band regrouped in 2024 as The Riflebirds of Portland.

This album contains no booklet.