Wild Mountain Mystics

https://americanahighways.org/2025/07/29/review-wild-mountain-mystics-fire-honey/

July 29, 2025
John Apice 

Wild Mountain Mystics – Fire & Honey

This is the duo’s debut, where, according to their press, Appalachia meets Woodstock – that’s a cool concept. A blending of folk, some blues & harmonies. The songs are optimistic. 10 delightful original tunes (1 written by some guys named Lennon & McCartney) herein produced by Ed Tree (bass/electric guitars) & the Wild Mountain Mystics recorded at The Treehouse in San Gabriel, CA.

It’s a culmination of over 10 years of musical partnership that shapes Fire & Honey (Drops Aug 1/Blackbird Record Label/38:58) from Rick Deering (vocals/guitars/bass/drums/percussion) & Lisa Miller (vocals/mandolin/keys/banjo/”pipes”/electric sitar).

While the performances are nothing that absolutely hasn’t been heard before, they do present themselves with musical richness, which is rare. This is a refreshing pairing. Few artists today outside of Americana & roots music record with this type of soothing charm & engaging latitude. The title track “Fire & Honey” is in a light Fairport Convention/Pentangle style. It maintains its American melodic style rather than an old-English tradition. This particular tune is led by Rick’s voice, but Lisa’s backup is spirited. The acoustic guitars — pristine.

Falling back to a more rural upbeat mode is “If You Can Bluff,” where instead of playing in an old style, the duo keeps it rooted in clarity. What’s amazing is some are performed with a thin group of musicians – yet the showcase sparkles musically, with full sound & energy. These are the types of songs that maintained the careers of bands like the Oyster Band, Spirit of the West, Decameron & the Bo Deans.

Some songs by Rick are surprisingly rooted vocally in the medieval folk prevalent in the eccentric English band with Eddie Baird — Amazing Blondell from their “Inspiration” album (“Sitting By the Window,” “On a Night Like This”). Wild Mountain Mystics aren’t as antiquated as Blondel, but the voice has that cultivation at times. “Love Is the Law” — not a cover of the classic Suburbs song of the same title has a good vocal contrast between Rick & Lisa. Excellent instrumentation shared by the two & a superb lead guitar at the end by Mr. Deering.

Lisa shines on “Take My Love Forever” with her near-deep June Tabor/Christine Collister/Linda McRae tone. Impressive. The Beatles’ dated hit “All You Need Is Love” is revived & suddenly becomes less silly & more resolute (the mandolin certainly was an update). Look forward to album #2.

Highlights – “Fire & Honey,” “If You Can Bluff,” “Love Takes Over the Night,” “Hangin’ On a Star,” “Love Is the Law,” “Take My Love Forever,” “All You Need Is Love,” & “May We All Meet Again.”

Musicians – Chad Watson (bass), Debbie Dobkin (percussion/drums), Marty Axelrod (keyboards/”sitar”/vocals), Jime Van Booven (bass) Severin Browne, John Stowers, Raspin Stuwart, Chauncy Bowers, Deborah Presley Brando, Corinna Carter, Lisa Johnson, Coddy Nuckols, Pat Quinn, Dolly Ramirez, & J.J. Schoch (Chorus Vocals).

https://wildmountainmystics.com/

https://americana-uk.com/wild-mountain-mystics-fire-honey

July 29, 2025
Peter Thompson

Duo turn noodling into an art form, resulting in a record that rejoices in being different to the run of the mill.

Southern California duo Wild Mountain Mystics, comprising Rick Deering and Lisa Miller, blend folk, blues, gospel and americana; featuring tight harmonies, rich instrumentation and what the blurb describes as “front-porch intimacy”. Since forming in 2013, the Mystics’ story has included years of playing open mic events, street fairs, and songwriter circles, honing their craft as songwriters, performers, and collaborators. Their music is described as “Appalachia meets Woodstock“, and their stated list of influences goes on forever; from The Carter Family, to Maria Callas and Led Zeppelin; Hank Williams, Pink Floyd, The Carpenters, Lynyrd Skynyrd, to The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, to mention just a few of them.

“Fire & Honey” represents the duo’s debut full-length release, and it contains ten original songs and one cover version (which you’ll recognise immediately). The ten originals were all penned by Deering and Miller. Although both Deering (vocals, guitars, bass and drums) and Miller (vocals, mandolin and keyboard) are multi-instrumentalists, they are joined by numerous musicians across the record. The album was produced by Ed Tree along with the Mystics pair at Tree’s studio, The Treehouse, in San Gabriel, California. In addition to being a noted producer, Tree is a musician and songwriter, who has been in the music business for more than 40 years; having been a member of The Spencer Davis Group (USA version) in the early 2000s, Tree has also worked with artists such as Al Stewart, Juice Newton, Rita Coolidge and Booker T. Jones.

The album opens with the title track, which kicks off proceedings in bright style with a mandolin introduction before settling into a neat melody; Deering handling much of the lead vocal, with Miller contributing harmonies at times. The lyrics, in common with many of the songs on the record, talk about love: “The road is long, the time is short, And we just cannot see the end, But love don’t let a heart give in“.

‘If You Can Bluff‘ is a standout cut on the record, beginning with a nice introduction featuring interplay between guitar and mandolin. Deering’s guitar playing on this track is delicious. There’s sound life advice on offer, too “Hey, you wanna save the world, You gotta save yourself, You gotta play whatever, Cards you’re dealt, You gotta place your bet, See what you get“. Then to end the song “No matter what your hand, If you can bluff you ain’t lost yet“. You can’t argue with that. ‘Love Takes Over the Night‘ starts with mandolin but soon settles in to to joint harmony vocals, while the anthemic ‘What Our Love Can Do‘ features Miller on lead vocals; this song features a really good guitar solo, while the words include “So let’s engage in some reflection, Decide on our direction, We gotta find a better point of view, We need to give it some attention, Forget about convention, We’re gonna find out, What our love can do”.

Another standout cut, and probably the pick of songs on the record, is ‘Love Is the Law‘, which has a different vibe to it, with more of a 1970s melodic rock sound; it features electric guitars and Miller on electric sitar. Lyrically, we get “What we believe is what we see, What we think is who we’ll be, What we do is what we say, We never need to be unkind, And you can always change your mind, If you find a better way“. While ‘Just Lay It Down‘, featuring Debra Dobkin on percussion, has a definite Latin feel to it.

The sole cover version on the LP is ‘All You Need Is Love‘, a song that needs no introduction. This song was one of the singles released in advance of the album. Although the Mystics have applied their own sound to it, and the sentiment of the lyrics may fit with their take on life, you can’t help feeling that it’s a bit of an awkward fit with the rest of the album. The record reaches its conclusion with ‘May We All Meet Again‘ which come across as a modern take on ‘Auld Lang Syne‘, with lyrics such as “Oh, our tears fall for love of the ones, Who were here and gone too soon, And our prayers rise for those who remain, As our hearts put our tears to a tune. May we all meet again“. The main part of the song finishes, but then, after a short lull, we get around 20 seconds of percussion; it’s not immediately obvious why.

There’s a definite charm to Wild Mountain Mystics, their songs and their playing, typified by a quote from Miller about the way their songs tend to be created; “We don’t try to write songs, they just sort of arrive while we’re playing. One moment you’re noodling, and the next, a song is forming”. As you listen to the album, there’s a sense of warmth, and you get the feeling that the performers are really enjoying their work. The approach and the sound are refreshingly at odds with much of what is produced nowadays.

6/10

https://twangville.com/2025/07/24/wild-mountain-mystics-fire-honey/

Thursday, July 24, 2025
By Shawn Underwood

I was reading the other day about the Horseshoe Theory, which suggests that the extreme right and extreme left have surprisingly similar points of view on many things. I won’t comment on the political validity of that, but I discovered a musical version of the idea. Imagine combining the DIY aesthetic of punk rock and the acoustic, spiritual elements of Appalachian folk music. Turns out that combination exists in the form of Southern California duo, Wild Mountain Mystics. Comprised of multi-instrumentalists Lisa Miller and Rick Deering, their new album, Fire & Honey, covers a lot of ground under a broad Americana umbrella.

Aside from a few guests on bass, eight of the record’s ten songs feature just the two of them on everything from drums and guitars to mandolin and electric sitar. Having said that, the star of the show is their vocal harmonies. Love Takes Over the Night has a bit of gypsy sound and plenty of key changes to maximize the opportunities for their voices to weave together in a basket of sound. Rick’s vocals lend a 70’s English folk rock flair to Hangin’ On A Star. He goes more old-timey on If You Can Bluff, with a super-catchy rhythm in the beat. It has a nice tongue-in-cheek piece of advice that “if you can bluff, you ain’t lost yet.” Lisa takes a turn leading on the bluesy folk of What Our Love Can Do.

Just Lay It Down marks the transition to a larger cast of players. There’s a little Caribbean feel to the percussion and rhythm and a reminder “there’s no meeting in the middle if you won’t come halfway.” That’s followed by All You Need Is Love, a boot-scootin’ Beatles cover. I’d have bet money that wouldn’t work, but I’ll be damned if doesn’t make you wonder why more bands haven’t tried it. The album closer is May We All Meet Again. Like a musical moment at the end of the evening on the front porch with everyone hugging and waving, there’s joy with just a slight touch of sadness bringing things to a perfect close.

Wild Mountain Mystics is an apropos name for Lisa Miller and Rick Deering’s musical journey. The gentle transcendence of their lyrics and vocals tie together a broad range of instrumental styles, from folk to rock, and leave you with a smile inside. So when you’re ready to turn down the sharpness of the day, or just sit and reflect on some of its finer moments, I recommend hitting play on Fire & Honey.

https://www.liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk/2025/07/18/wild-mountain-mystics-fire-honey-album-review

July 18, 2025
Ian D. Hall

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

The Appalachian Mountains hold a kind of mystery, a force of enigma that is not found anywhere else within the contiguous states of America, the folklore and superstitions, the sense that there is something unworldly that gives the area its chilling respect and leaves the unwary visitor clutching at anything they hold dear as if it will offer protection, offer a guard against the legends and the creatures of myth and illusion.

Whilst imbedded an entire continent away, the roots of story-telling of Wild Mountain Mystics offers an insight into the often-missed beauty that some eagerly explore with anticipation and an open soul, and in the pairing’s debut album, Fire & Honey, the partnership between Rick and Lisa  is wonderfully emotionally complex and filled with entrancing authentic persuasion.

An album of original songs and one exceptionally conceived cover, the tantalising arrangement that comes with reading in a distinctive way the lessons offered in The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love, is the result of the pair’s union with the L.A. Americana-roots label Blackbird Records, and in its delivery the delight of the listener will be unbound, will be devilishly uncontrollable, as the sincerity of uniqueness, of embracing the multi-instrumentalists' view point of Appalachian mythos and Woodstock groove.

It is a joining of two worlds which works magically, two very different approaches to life, the west coast buzz and a place of innovation and its own strange voyage of self-discovery, and that of the old world, of initial exploration and the darkness that hides itself in deep forests, only surfacing to add further tales to the mystery and lore, and as tracks such as If You Can Bluff, Love Takes Over The Night, What Our Love Can Do, Love Is The Law, and the connection of memory and hope in May We All Meet Again are taken to heart, so the relative truth of Wild Mountain Mystics’ debut reveals itself.

An album of high intense appeal, a lore of its own making, and one that is considerable and entertaining.

https://groovercity.com/wild-mountain-mystics-released-the-fire-honey-single/

July 11, 2025
Written by: Flav

A Spark Caught in a Song: “Fire & Honey”

Some songs arrive the way summer storms do. Charged, sudden, and full of feeling. Fire & Honey, the latest single from Southern California duo Wild Mountain Mystics, caught me right between memory and motion. It begins with a shimmer: “Off she goes higher and brighter / Lightnin’ in the sky…” And just like that, I was there – watching someone shed the weight of the world at the edge of the water.

Rick and Lisa know how to start a fire. And they know how to keep it burning – gently, but with heart. The single is the title track from their upcoming album Fire & Honey, out August 1st. An album built on more than a decade of musical trust between them. But this piece stands alone with its own gravity. It’s part confession, part ignition, and maybe part dare.

Every Line Knows Where It Belongs

The lyrics feel lived, like something that came out in the middle of a real moment. Lines like “I came in lookin’ for shelter / Someplace to lay my head / I found love holdin’ together / Everything she said…” hold their ground with quiet strength. Listening to it reminded me of moments I thought were quiet at the time but turned out to be seismic later. The ones where you say something, or don’t, and it changes everything.

Rick’s voice brings the Appalachian dust, and Lisa’s voice, somehow both velvet and oak, carries the flame. Together, they hold a mirror to all the soft chaos that is falling into love while trying to make peace with the wreckage that came before. Nothing feels forced, they just let the song breathe the way it needs to.

A Song That Moves With Its Own Breath

This single was recorded at The Treehouse in San Gabriel, California, with Ed Tree joining the Mystics in production. The warmth in the mix feels real and strong. Like a front porch with mismatched chairs and stories out from the wood grain.

The chorus swells with: “So wild and free, fire and honey / Burnin’ through the night into the day.” That refrain opens the track outward. The melody stretches, the lyrics glow, and everything stays gently aloft. I’ve had the privilege of hearing the full album already – and yeah, it’s full of gems. But this title track holds the core. It’s the one that sets the compass and points the way forward.

Where It Lands for Me

Fire & Honey has a quiet way of getting close. No need to lean in, because it’s already there. And once it finds you, it stays. Rick and Lisa created this with care, and you can feel that care in every breath of it. A track built from memory, heartache, and the kind of trust that only comes from years of making music with someone who listens as much as they play.

Me? I’ll be watching for that album drop on August 1st. But until then, I’ll keep Fire & Honey close. Not as background music, but as a reminder that joy can still sound like strings, and every now and then, someone still writes songs that matter.

Dive into Fire & Honey and follow Wild Mountain Mystics where the music lives:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Bandcamp | Spotify

https://americana-uk.com/track-premiere-wild-mountain-mystics-fire-honey

July 10, 2025
Jonathan Aird

Wild Mountain Mystics is the Southern California duo of Rick and Lisa, who have been active on the California roots music scene since 2013, with their signature sound a blend of Appalachian folk viewed through the prism of the free spirit of Woodstock.  Today’s premiere really digs into that latter part – it’s also the title track of their upcoming debut album on Blackbird Record Label, 2025, produced by Ed Tree and the duo themselves.   There’s a strong Seventies feel to it – not so very far from the likes of Seals & Crofts if we’re really looking for a touchstone.

Lisa brings a lifetime of musical experience as a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, choral conductor, and classical composer. She’s performed internationally and at the Hollywood Bowl, playing everything from guitar and violin to folk harp and bandura.  Rick’s journey has taken him from California to the U.S. Navy and back, shaped by the influence of Hank Williams, the Beatles, and his West Virginia roots. A skilled songwriter, drummer, and guitarist, he’s played in numerous bands and was praised by Freddie Edwards (Charlie Daniels Band) as “the best guitarist I’ve ever played with.”

https://wildfiremusic.net/2025/07/08/song-premier-wild-mountain-mystics-take-a-journey-toward-love-with-fire-honey/

July 8, 2025
Hannah Means-Shannon

Wild Mountain Mystics are the duo of Rick & Lisa who began working together in 2013 in the Cailfornia Roots music scene. Combining a joyful spirit and a diversity of sounds in their music, they build on Appalachian and Classic Rock traditions.

Their life experiences have been captured on their debut album release, Fire & Honey, which arrives on August 1st, 2025. The album was produced by Ed Tree and Wild Mountain Mystics, and will arrive via Blackbird Record Label. 

Today, we’re very pleased to premier the title track to the new album, “Fire & Honey”, which arrives this Friday, July 11th, 2025. The track stands out on their upcoming album for its carefree tone and sense of an unencumbered life thanks to the power of love. Rick & Lisa often craft layered and intricate tracks, but “Fire and Honey” is intentionally built around spaciousness, giving the instruments and the vocals room to breath, and also suggesting the wide passage of time in a meaningful relationship. This is a song that feels like it ought to be played out of doors. Lyrics take on an almost stream-of-consciousness dive into all the associations that the speaker has for their beloved, including all the things they’ve added to their life’s experiences. Rather than take on a detailed narrative, the song quickly moves over the surface of emotions and reactions, and while its prevailing tone is appreciation and gratefulness, it does convey some realistic moments of doubt and rescue.

These are the moments that clarify just how meaningful the influence of another person can be during the times when we all feel “lost.” While there are many love songs celebrating the saving grace that others can be in our lives, it’s always refreshing to come across one that suggests love’s endurance through life’s difficulties and the grounding influence it offers. This song encourages us to celebrate the fact that love doesn’t just make our heart flutter, it is there for us, rain or shine. That’s something that Wild Mountain Mystics know is worth singing about.

Recorded at The Treehouse in San Gabriel, CA, Fire & Honey was mastered by Mark Dann, and the album features performances by a wide-ranging community of musicians, including Chad Watson, Debra Dobkin, Marty Axelrod, and a host of vocal collaborators.

But the core of the album is built around the partnership of Rick and Lisa, who are both multi-instrumentalists, vocalists, and songwriters focused on “channeling stories of love, loss, joy, and perseverance”. They describe their musical accent as “Appalachia-meets-Woodstock.”