Album Notes

"There has always been folk music, ever since prehistoric hunters imitated the sounds of animals. We constantly shape and share our individual interpretations of reality. I can't think of anything more gratifying than hearing another person hum something that I just played."

Typically touring as a solo entertainer with a DIY approach to music, Max brings charisma and light-hearted banter to the stage. With a weathered guitar and a voice like a muscle car, Hay plays honestly and from the heart. It is his mission to bring music of substance, quality, and brutal honesty to his records and shows. The performance uses tidbits of personal travelogue to showcase political injustice, exalted criminals, seductive women, and whiskey. You can expect to find a rotating cast of stellar performers lending a hand at select gigs. Since the release of this album, Max has been on the road sharing music with people all over the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and China.

Through African, Jamaican, Irish, Appalachian, and Blues rhythms, Max's music is a spicy departure from the traditional acoustic sound. The product is something left of reggae and north of bluegrass that has been described by the Missoula Independent as "hillbilly reggae." Drawing from influences like The Clash, Johnny Clegg, Tom Waits, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Victor Ruggiero, Ween, John Hartford, Sean Paul, The Band, Lyle Lovett, and Bruce Springsteen, Max's delivery is uniquely satisfying.