"You know something special is going on when a grizzled, jaded rock critic is introduced to a band and immediately seeks out it's back catalog- even going online to buy its out-of-print debut. San Francisco's Little Muddy centers on guitarist Rich Goldstein, the only member still onboard from its self-titled 1999 debut. The instrumentalists' current CD Door 15 returns to a trio format, after 2008's The Road to Bodie- a solo collection of Goldstein's atmospheric vignettes.
On outings one and two (the second titled Mayan Mud), the group tackled covers from such varied sources as Stevie Wonder, AC/DC, Charlie Rich, Jimmy Webb ("Wichita Lineman, cut around the same time as Friends Of Dean Martinez's similar version), and film scorers Henry Mancini, Elmer Bernstein, and Lalo Schifrin. This time, the eclectics tap soundtracks by Nino Rota, ("The Godfather"), Quincy Jones ("Sanford and Son"), and John Barry ("Midnight Cowboy"), as well as tunes by Van Halen ("Jamie's Cryin'"), Lulu ("To Sir With Love"), and Neil Diamond ("Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon").
But the covers are like familiar little oases in between Goldstein's noir-ish compositions. His playing reveals influences from nearly every corner of the stylistic spectrum-from country to blues, rock, jazz, funk, and folk. Utilizing a '69 Telecaster or a late 50's "Jimmy Page" model Danelectro (for open tunings and slide) through a '65 blackface Fender Deluxe Reverb, his tone typically has some distortion, but also plenty of definition.
Martinez friends (and fans of other surf-noir artists like John Blakely and Terry "Buffalo " Ware) should gravitate to this, but so should followers of tone masters like Buchanan, Beck and Santana."
--Vintage Guitar Magazine (Dan Forte) May 2010
Little Muddy has forged a unique niche in modern instrumental music, with a combination of evocative and rocking original instrumentals, great interpretations of classic movie and tv themes, R+B, country and rock classics. Starting with the first cd release in 1999 entitled Little Muddy, 2003's Mayan Mud, 2008's solo release The Road to Bodie, 2009's Door 15, 2016's Future City, and 2022's upcoming Chain Link.
Chain Link, the latest new release (Jan. 2022) by Little Muddy, finds the instrumental band's sound veering towards more modern territory, yet continuing to channel the gritty moods and textures of the past. Besides Rich Goldstein (writer, engineer, and co-producer) on all guitars, is Mark Abbott on drums, Kevin White (Chuck Prophet, Shelby Lynne) on bass guitar, and Adam Rossi on assorted keys, percussion, and engineer/mix/co-producer.
Soundtrack placements include a wide variety of shows on VH-1, The History Channel, ESPN, The Discovery Channel networks, among many other international tv placements. The Little Muddy catalog is ASCAP affiliated.
The band has also contributed music to the soundtracks of Camerado film productions: the award winning documentary Book Wars, and 2007's Lost in New Mexico. Guitarist and founder Rich Goldstein has been a part of the northern California music scene since 1990. Having spent his early years in rural southern illinois, he was exposed to the best music of the 50's, 60's, and 70's, especially the country music of the day. The daily bus ride home on gravel roads was often accompanied by whatever was playing on driver's Bud Hiller or Norris Haglers 8-track player.
As well as writing, playing, recording and producing Little Muddy, Goldstein has recorded 4 albums and toured with Jeffrey Halford and the Healers, and with The Fall Risk (as lead/rhythm guitarist with singer/songwriter Jeff Pehrson, a member of Further with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh).
LITTLE MUDDY MUSIC IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON ITUNES, AMAZON, LITTLEMUDDY.COM.
Streaming radio is available at Pandora, and Spotify.
For more information, licensing requests and booking, contact muddy@littlemuddy.com.