Lil Muddy - “Leavin’ If You Find Me Gone Lil Muddy is a three piece heavy blues band from northwestern Wisconsin. They previously released a pair of EPs on cd, “Close To The Ground” and “1928”, both well worth checking out and both available at their website, www.lilmuddywisconsin.com. Consider them appetizers for the feast found here on this, their first full length release, “Leavin’ If You Find Me Gone”. This platter contains 8 tasty slices of high intensity blues-rock that immediately bring to mind ZZ Top’s “Eliminator” era brand of electric boogie music, (without the synthesizers). The comparison is inescapable, given that both bands are three piece outfits, the members all playing with similar virtuosity, both guitarists favoring vintage Gibson SG model instruments, and Lil Muddy frontman Bob “DK” has often professed his deep respect for Billy Gibbons’ nimble fretwork and songwriting sensibilities. That’s where the similarities end, however. The first cut, “No Way Out” hits just like a lost Top track, and it rocks! Once the vocals begin, though, you know you’re in different territory. Bob DK is the band’s principal vocalist and he sings with a deep, raspy, guttural kind of Tom Waits thing that fits the music. He has decades of experience playing in all kinds of bands, blues, punk, crust and now he’s come back full circle to his first love, blues, but he’s seasoned it with flavorings from his earlier days playing other genres. Just listen to “Missin’ the Better Days”. It’s blues, but it’s salted with echoes of punk sensibilities. Drummer Jody is well miked and definitely knows his way around the skins. I don’t think he could lose time if he tried. Bassist Robert holds down the low end, never too busy but making every note count. Some tasty slide work on tunes “Cut Out and Run” (written by Bob and band) and “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” (yep, that one!) fill out side one. Yeah, I said side one. That’s because this is a vinyl record-only release. This record has that warm sound you can only get from analog on vinyl, and it’s on orange/peach splatter colored vinyl too. It looks great spinning on my turntable. Side two starts out with the title track, “Leavin’ If You Find Me Gone”, a mid-tempo rocker which would not sound out of place on a Black Keys record. “Been a Long Time” picks up the pace a bit and jumps out of the speakers at you, and if your ears don’t prick up when the lead guitar comes in, well, I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe go see somebody. “Passin’ Thru” is another one of those ZZ Top-like tracks that grabs you and won’t let go. And what better way to wind up a blues album than with a song called “Goin’ to Chicago”? It’s a straight ahead kickass road tune you’ll want to set your needle down into a couple extra times before you put the record back in its sleeve. If you’re a fan of Billy G. and his band, it’s hard to see how you wouldn’t love this album. All bands are influenced by other artists and Lil Muddy’s influences are felt all through this recording. All songs written by Bob DK & Lil Muddy except “Rollin’ and Tumblin” (traditional) and “Passin’ Thru”.

Clench yer bullwhips, brimmed hats and bowie blades, as LIL MUDDY have returned from the bog with their signature branding of Motör-blues and ZZ Tarpit rock’n’thunder. Leavin’ If You Find Me Gone is an easy sip of whisky with Dis-punk roots and veteran musician attitude. Parts hypnotic psyche rock and equally gravelly and grisly fluid roadside bungalow groove. Songs are lengthy yet never tire on fire. At times upbeat and irreverent, at others down-trodden and vitriol viper-biting. Percussion is a constant heavy trample of punk rock beats, the smooth guitar hits like a low-end harmonica meets distortion pedalled classic rock riffage. Bass grumbles and moves this entire runaway train along. These three bandits from Wisconsin delivery another hit collection of tunes that ironically cheer you up while being full of life’s lawless trials that come with hard rock tundran experience. Eight tracks here, each with their own personality, this album practically plays like a country bluegrass doom-like sunset riders’ theatrical play. LIL MUDDY would be a fantastic night of live music to forget your worries. The vultures circle, sure, but so would the busted-board dance floor. Each track that starts I figure will be my favorite… and I don’t want any of them to be my last. I’d probably go with Missin’ the Better Days and Been A Long Time as personal tops. I can relate to these. LIL MUDDY are relatable as they are rebellious.

-Jason Ryan (MRR reviewer)

Recorded on 4/20/2023 with Chilli-Bob

Mastered by Jack Control

Review by Jason Ryan, long time review of Maximum Rock N’ Roll zine. You can find Jason @jasonryandraws

Thank you for the kind words Jason!

Gritty and thick, Lil Muddy return from the ramble with a three track sampler of stump-kickin’ grease-fueled blues punk rock n’ roll. DK delivers wallowing course raspy vocals that equally howl and growl with warmth. Melodic as well as morose but carelessly optimistic. Olson delivers an even almost D-beat kick and snare drive that hits like heavy rain on canvas. Merker grooves under it all like an autumn tundra. 1928 is addictive and soulful. It speaks to the heart and days past as you sit in these present times nodding along and feeling understood. Lil Muddy has an ugly sound you feel embraced by. A good twenty minutes of delicate and smooth weathering like the finest whisky and damnedest road trip you just felt destined to take. 1928 will rock you and roll with the punches like a good friend who just walked in. Motorblues as hell. I want a collection of these guys, but at the same time this understated release leaves me wanting more, in a good way, so I play it again. That’s what I did when I got it, and that’s what I’m doing to formulate that feeling into words.