Max Creek

Max Creek
Background information
Origin	Connecticut, USA
Genres	Rock Jam band Progressive rock Psychedelic rock
Years active	1971–Present
Labels	One Of Nineteen Records Telefunken Relix Records Wranger Records
Members	John Rider Scott Murawski Mark Mercier Bill Carbone Jamemurrell Stanley
Past members	Dave Reed Bob Gosselin Amy Fazzano Rob Fried Greg DeGuglielmo Greg Vasso Scott Allshouse
Website	www.maxcreek.com

Max Creek is an American rock band formed in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1971. For over fifty years, Max Creek has been a mainstay in the New England music scene, recognized as a pioneering "jam band." They grace stages at various venues and music festivals, often sharing billboards with renowned touring acts, showcasing their live performances. Members of the band have performed with and supported acts such as, Leon Russell, The Allman Brothers Band, Phish, Bruce Hornsby, The Band, Talking Heads, and Grateful Dead.

History

Max Creek formed in the spring of 1971 by Hartt College of Music students Dave Reed and John Rider, who shared a liking for American folk music and original songwriting. Both musicians had backgrounds in musical instruments, especially trumpet, guitar, and bass guitar. Reed and Rider began rehearsing in the basement of John Rider's fraternity house in Hartford, Connecticut, before relocating to a rehearsal space in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. In late-1971, drummer Bob Gosselin joined the band, and began rehearsing with Reed and Rider. The trio originally played folk, singer-songwriter, and country rock music, shortly before coining the name of their band "Max Creek". The trio got its name from an area in Virginia where relative's of Virginia native and band member, John Rider, had lived. In 1972, founding member Dave Reed invited 15-year-old electric guitarist Scott Murawski, one of his music students, to a rehearsal. Scott Murawski eventually joined the band, however his early association with the band ended abruptly when he was banned from a Hartford, Connecticut club for being underage. After Murawski's departure, Max Creek played around the Hartford, Connecticut area. The following year in 1973, founder Dave Reed fell ill with appendicitis, leading to Mark Mercier being brought in on keyboards as a temporary replacement. Scott Murawski was also invited back to play lead guitar shortly thereafter. With Murawski's position as lead guitarist, Dave Reed resorted to rhythm guitar throughout late-1973 and mid-1974, before eventually leaving the band to pursue bluegrass, country rock, and acoustic ragtime music as a solo artist and later on with the Hatchett Hill String Band. Keyboardist Mark Mercier maintained his position throughout the final years of Dave Reed's involvement with Max Creek and eventually became a permanent member. During this time, the band's sound evolved to incorporate more improvisation, influenced by the Grateful Dead, resulting in a more electrified sound. This alteration in musical expression resulted after members of the band experienced the Grateful Dead, The Band, and The Allman Brothers Band live in concert at what was dubbed "Summer Jam" live at Watkins Glen, New York, in the summer of 1973.As a result of their experience at Watkin's Glen, psychedelic music heavily influenced Max Creek, especially shaping their sound and style to resemble that of the Grateful Dead and the San Francisco Bay scene.

Max Creek reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s, performing over 250 shows a year. However, in the early 1990s, they chose to significantly reduce their touring schedule to focus on their families. The band faced a significant setback due to the departure of sound engineer John Archer and what was dubbed by band members as his "Crystal Clear" sound system in the early 1990s. This led to a decision for Max Creek to stop touring at a time when the jam band scene was gaining momentum.

The band influenced a new generation of touring musicians. Mike Gordon once sent his dad to record a Max Creek show with his gear while he was in college in the early 1980s before forming Phish. Gordon then annotated and transcribed a guitar solo of Scott Murawski's from the live recording and presented it to Murawski. Guster drummer Brian Rosenworcel was an outspoken fan growing up.

Max Creek notably put on an annual music festival at Indian Lookout Country Club in upstate New York, dubbed "Camp Creek", and was one of the longest running festivals on the East Coast when it took a hiatus in 2008. Camp Creek was held in Maine in 2011, and returned to Indian Lookout Country Club in 2014. After another hiatus, Camp Creek was held in 2019 at Odetah Camping Resort in Bozrah, Connecticut.

Max Creek fosters a close-knit community among their fans, known as "Creek Freaks". Their concerts are likened to family gatherings, with a palpable energy and profound sense of connection between the band and audience. Max Creek's lasting impact and loyal fan base have cemented their status as a regional musical phenomenon. Their music serves as a soundtrack to their fans' most cherished memories. Through their music, Max Creek has forged an enduring bond with their audience.

As of 2024, Max Creek is still actively playing shows, celebrating their 40th anniversary in Costa Rica with Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead in a series of shows dubbed "Jungle Jam 2011" and their 50th anniversary at Rosedale Farm in Simsbury, Connecticut in the Summer of 2021.

Max Creek, Virginia is a small village nestled in the Appalachian Mountains within the Southwestern region of Virginia, near Pulaski, VA.

Music

Max Creek's reputation as a quintessential representation of New England's musical identity stems from their blend of genres, including rock, country, funk, calypso, jazz, reggae, new wave, and blues. The band's sound is defined by the synchronicity of each member's playing, creating transitions between musical sections and improvisational jams.

Scott Murawski is recognized for his skilled use of various guitar techniques, with a notable emphasis on staccato notes and palm muting, which are key elements of his playing style. He is influenced by many genres including rock, blues, funk, bluegrass, reggae and jazz. Murawski incorporates a melodic sound reminiscent of Americana music and Southern Rock. In most of his playing with Max Creek, he uses distortion/overdrive with his electric guitar playing, adding a gritty edge to his sound, however he frequently performs acoustically with the band. Murawski's guitar tone is bright and bouncy, giving an energetic feel to his music. At the same time, he brings a bluesy, drawn-out quality to his playing, infusing his music with emotion and depth. Together, these elements create a rich and dynamic guitar style that is uniquely his own.

Murawski's vocal style is characterized by a raspy, projected, and loud quality, occasionally displaying a percussive-like aspect. He demonstrates a wide vocal range, moving effortlessly between high and low notes, adding depth and expression to his performances.

In his songwriting, Murawski's lyrics evoke human emotions, often in a relatable or sometimes fantastical manner. His songs often explore themes of overcoming obstacles or appreciating life's moments. His music writing is highly original, incorporating both simple and complex melodies, influenced by all the genres that influence his guitar style. During live performances, the music is subject to improvisation, adding a spontaneous and dynamic element to Murawski's shows.

Mark Mercier's keyboard playing with Max Creek is a blend of various styles, including elements reminiscent of ragtime music, infused with gospel tones, and incorporating aspects of jazz, blues, calypso, Americana, and folk. Although he is predominantly a keyboardist, his adeptness on the organ and synthesizer is worth noting, creating a mix of instrumental tones during his performances.

Mercier's vocal style with Max Creek, similar to his keyboard playing, is characterized by tones reminiscent of soul, gospel, and folk music, harkening back to earlier musical eras. His vocal range is predominantly mid to low, and his delivery is projected and emotive.

In his songwriting, Mercier is marked by lyrics that evoke nostalgia for bygone days, often with a storytelling quality that is both original and unique. His lyrics blend elements commonly found in traditional music with his own creative twists. The music accompanying his lyrics contains blues elements, characterized by many crescendos and moments of softness.

John Rider's bass guitar playing with Max Creek is characterized by a sound reminiscent of bluegrass, southern rock and country rock, with elements of jazz and funk woven into his playing. His bass lines provide a solid foundation for the band's music, which add depth and groove to their sound.

Similar to Mark Mercier, John Rider's vocal style with Max Creek features tones of soul, gospel, and folk, reminiscent of earlier musical eras. His vocal range is primarily mid to low, and his delivery is projected and emotive. At times, his vocals have a boot-stomping, almost pirate-like quality.

In his songwriting for Max Creek, Rider's lyrics are evocative of the South, particularly the imagery of railroads and the landscape. His lyrics, like Mercier's, are original and unique, yet they contain elements commonly found in traditional music. The music accompanying his lyrics contains elements of country rock and rhythm and blues.

The rhythm section, anchored by drummers Bill Carbone and Jamemurrell Stanley, provides a dynamic foundation for their performances, creating percussive fluidity with tones from rock, funk, jazz, and world music.

Max Creek's music style is characterized by intense improvised jams. These influenced later bands as Phish, whose bassist Mike Gordon has referred to Max Creek as one of his “favorite bands,” and has sat in with the band several times over the past few years. Max Creek's live shows typically last three hours or more.

Scott Murawski collaborated with lyricist Robert Hunter to create the song "Pollyanna." Hunter, best known for his work with the Grateful Dead, provided the lyrics, while Murawski composed the music and performed the song with BK3 and Max Creek.

Max Creek often incorporates elements of nature into their lyrics and artwork, drawing upon imagery of rivers, mountains, and forests. These elements serve as metaphors for the human experience, reflecting themes of growth, change, and the passage of time.

Members

Current members

• Scott Murawski - guitar, vocals (1972; 1973–present)
• Mark Mercier - keyboards, vocals (1973–present)
• John Rider - bass, vocals (1971–present)
• Bill Carbone - drums, vocals (2011–present)
• Jamemurrell Stanley - percussion, vocals (2011–present)

Former Members

• Dave Reed - guitar, vocals (1971–1974)
• Bob Gosselin - drums (1971–1985)
• Amy Fazzano - vocals (1976–1983)
• Rob Fried - percussion, vocals (1979–2004)
• Greg DeGuglielmo - drums (1985–1991)
• Greg Vasso - drums (1991–1996; 2004-2011)
• Scott Allshouse - drums (1996–2011)

Timeline

Discography

• (1977) Max Creek
• (1980) Rainbow
• (1982) Drink the Stars
• (1986) Windows
• (1990) MCMXC
• (1998) Spring Water
• (2000) Live At The Connecticut Expo Center 12.31.99
• (2019) 45 & Live
• (2020) Live At The Stafford Palace Theater, Acoustic
• (2021) Live from a Secret Location (9/18/20)
• (2021) Buried Treasure V1 (6/23/93 Woody's Roadhouse, Washington, MA, Set 1, Acoustic)
• (2023) Finally Outside of Home (June 18, 2021)

Live Recordings

A number of the band's live performances are available for download from Archive.org.

Additional Projects

Scott Murawski has received recognition with BK3 (aka Bill Kreutzmann Trio, KBM, Three) which also included drummer Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead and intermittent residencies on bass guitar from Mike Gordon, Bonnie Raitt bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson, and former bassist of the Allman Brothers Band, Oteil Burbridge.

Scott Murawski tours with Phish bassist Mike Gordon and his band the Mike Gordon Band (MGB). Members within the Mike Gordon Band currently include Robert Walter, Craig Myers, and John Kimock (son of musician, Steve Kimock).

Depth Quartet is a band that Scott Murawski also plays in alongside former Max Creek drummer, Greg Vasso. In addition, Murawski and Mercier often play acoustic duo concerts.

Mark Mercier has two side projects. One is "The Marks Brothers" which includes himself on keyboards and vocals, Mark Paradis from The Mark Paradis Band on guitar and vocals, Dave Stoltz formerly of Dickey Betts and Great Southern on bass and Brian "Duke" Konopka formerly from S.L.A.P. and The Mark Paradis Band on drums. His other band that plays a few shows throughout the year is "The Mark Mercier Band." Mercier and Paradis often play acoustic duo gigs around the Connecticut area as well, at times joined by Rider on Bass.

Bill Carbone regularly appears in "The Z3," an organ trio dedicated to the music of Frank Zappa featuring organist Beau Sasser (Alan Evans Trio, Akashic Record) and guitarist Tim Palmieri (Breakfast, Lotus, Kung Fu).

Tribute Group

In 2018, a Max Creek tribute band was formed under the name "Something Is Forming." The band currently features John Spignesi of JSB, Jeff King of The Kings, Jordan Giangreco of The Breakfast, Chris Andrews of Desert Rain, and Ryan Lizotte of Sweet 'Stache. The group often performs when Max Creek is not playing. Both Murawski and Mercier have performed with the band.

References

• Max Creek on Allmusic
• Moorehouse, Donnie. "Max Creek Still Rockin'", The Republican, April 16, 2008
• Modisette, Lauren. "Max Creek Continues to Jam After 30 Years", The Daily Collegian, March 2, 2007
• Rodriguez, Nathan. "Max Creek: Safe and Sound", JamBase, April 8, 2003
• Handler, Shane. "Deep Within Max Creek", Glide magazine, February 3, 2003
• Max Creek on Home Grown Music Network
• Minor, E. Kyle. "Weekend Gathering of the Vibes", New York Times, June 18, 2000

External links

• Max Creek official web site
• Max Creek collection at the Live Music Archive on archive.org