Fire & Honey, the long-awaited debut album from Wild Mountain Mystics, will be released August 1st, 2025 via L.A.’s Americana-roots label Blackbird Record Label. A heartfelt and joy-filled collection of original songs, the album is a culmination of over a decade of musical partnership between Rick and Lisa, the duo behind the name.
Produced by Ed Tree and Wild Mountain Mystics and recorded at The Treehouse in San Gabriel, CA, Fire & Honey captures the spirit of American roots music with warmth, intention, and authenticity. Mastered by Mark Dann, 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 at its heart, Fire & Honey is Rick and Lisa, multi-instrumentalists, vocalists, and songwriters who are channeling stories of love, loss, joy, and perseverance through their uniquely Appalachian-meets-Woodstock lens.
“Say the name Wild Mountain Mystics anywhere that musicians and music lovers congregate, and warm, knowing smiles invariably abound,” says author and music journalist Paul Zollo. “It’s because it conjures up the infectious spirit of real-time joy which lives in their music and transforms their shows into celebrations.”
Rooted in the front porch traditions of Appalachian storytellers and inspired by the ethos of Woodstock Nation, Wild Mountain Mystics carry forward a legacy of music that is both timeless and inclusive. Since forming in 2013, they have become a beloved presence in California’s Americana circuit, enchanting audiences of all ages with their rich harmonies, spontaneous energy, and genre-spanning sound.
Their origin story includes years of playing open mics, street fairs, and songwriter circles, where they honed their voice not just as performers, but as generous collaborators with a knack for backing others, often at the last minute. That communal spirit shines throughout Fire & Honey, particularly on the exuberant, “All You Need Is Love,” a rollicking, folk-infused take on the Beatles classic that turned into a party in the studio.
Each of the album’s ten tracks speaks to life’s emotional complexity while keeping a firm hand on the joy of making music. The album opens with the uplifting groove of “Fire & Honey,” a joyful anthem about the journey toward love. The rollicking “If You Can Bluff” channels Piedmont-style blues with a message of resilience—an ode to trusting the light, even in uncertain times. “Love Takes Over the Night” offers a hopeful reminder to focus on the brightness ahead, while “Just Lay It Down” delivers a deceptively cheerful melody born from a divided moment. Closing the set is “May We All Meet Again,” a tender, Irish-tinged farewell steeped in grace and gratitude.
The songs were fully written and road-tested before recording began, giving the album a natural cohesion and lived-in feel. “We don’t try to write songs,” says Lisa. “They just sort of arrive while we’re playing. One moment you’re noodling, and the next, a song is forming.”
Lisa brings an extraordinary depth of experience to the band. A classically trained vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, she has performed at the Hollywood Bowl with The Chieftains and at the Olympic Arts Festival under Christopher Hogwood. She plays a wide variety of instruments from mandolin, violin, and piano to ethnic folk instruments like the bandura and tamburitza. Her musical journey spans orchestras, Gypsy taverns, and impromptu jam sessions.
Rick, whose musical journey was shaped by both the mountains of West Virginia and the soul of Southern California, is a gifted guitarist and songwriter with a background in drumming and a deep love of Hank Williams and The Beatles. A Navy veteran and seasoned live performer, Rick’s intuitive musicianship and open-hearted storytelling are at the core of the Mystics’ sound.
Their chemistry, both musical and personal, is palpable on stage and in the studio, and their music invites listeners to feel connected, lifted, and seen.
Following their Beatles cover in December 2024, the album’s second single, If You Can Bluff, encapsulates the duo’s spirit: “No matter what your hand, if you can bluff you ain’t lost yet.” It’s a foot-stomping celebration of grit, guided by tight harmonies and a driving blues groove.
Veteran singer-songwriter Steve Noonan puts it plainly: “In my 58 years of performing and my many years of inviting friends to join me on stage, these two were my finest discovery. No one else even came close.”
With Fire & Honey, Wild Mountain Mystics offer an album that resonates with joy, craft, and a reverence for the roots of American music. It’s a debut that feels like a homecoming—for the artists and their audience alike.
