Richie Reinholdt | Shelf Life

Published: May 28, 2010

Prolific Missoula songwriter and guitarist Richie Reinhold is at it again. Pumping out his umpteenth disk of original songs, Reinholdt once more manages to embed thoughtful lyrics into danceable tunes. He says this is a more reflective effort, and “I’ve just let the emo out.”

Indeed. The Americana-influenced numbers brim with energy, and are quite expressive. Engineered impeccably in Reinholdt’s home studio, the pieces should pack the dance floor.

He’s backed by a cast of who’s-who in the Montana music world, too. There’s Al Cantrell, fiddle; Dan Funsch, accordion; David Horgan and Larry Chung, pedal steel; Jim Rogers, keyboards; and a trio of drummers: Bruce Threlkeld, Ryan Vetos and Marc Clarke.

With his plaintive vocal style and hard-rockin’ pickin’ (he plays bass

and guitars, natch), Reinholdt takes us through songs of heartbreak, hard livin’, fantasy and humor.

There’s cool twangy guitar and nice duet singing with Threlkeld on “The Wind,” co-written with Nicole Reinholdt; echo-y vocal delay and deep Ventures-sounding guitar punctuates “Cold Moon.” “Overboard” is a country shoulder-shaker with cool chord ideas and silvery pedal steel, and Reinholdt provides some smooth pickin’ while reflecting on “Everywhere.”

“Vacuum” is a riot! “Life in a vacuum, hepa-filter style … see the doggy run for cover, watch those cats collide with each other … there’s always so much to do.” A great rock-steady sound mixed with 21st century technology. And we can relate!

Reinholdt can be reached at http://www.myspace.com/richieandtherocketdogs.

– Mariss McTucker