Max Wareham – Daggomit!
Let’s get the criticism out of the way. After listening to this rural slick, hickory wood burning, sap dripping, warm whiskey-rich upbeat music from Max, I would’ve expected an LP cover closer to tradition. Not the cartoon art that doesn’t accurately predict the wonderful pieces of music engrained in this musical lumber.
13 Nashville-recorded pieces make up Daggomit! (Drops Feb 21/Nine Athens/43:12) produced by Peter Rowan (vocals on 2 tracks) & Max Wareham (banjo/vocals). The first is a nice banjo instrumental (“Walking In Jerusalem”) that leads to the well-sung Americana-flavored “Lonesome Blues, I’m Coming Home.” It isn’t foot stomping invigorating barn-burning music, but it has lots of catchy drizzles. “The Black & Gold” will remind avid listeners of Flatt & Scruggs’ (“Foggy Mountain Breakdown”). Music from either Arthur Penn’s “Bonnie & Clyde,” or “Deliverance.”
The LP brims with one delicious uplifting number after another. Though the genre itself is nothing we haven’t heard before the performances are wonderfully skillful, imaginative & impulsive. Even if you live in NYC this music would inspire you to lay some straw down in your apartment, eat cornbread, drink buttermilk & be joyful. The music is consistently fun & probably cheaper than going to an analyst.
There are moments when the repertoire dips into Hee-Haw slickness — so what? It’s so much more refreshing than listening to dour music about politics, protesting & bellyaching. Once away from the mainstream country parfait, the music shifts to a simpler ‘50s style instrumental where the finger-picking competence becomes even more evident on the old Patsy Cline tune “Heartaches.”
There’s a good balanced mix between instrumental rundowns & vocalizing charm. If a musician can effectively bestow pure enjoyment through their finger picking these musicians succeed. Nothing on the set is silly, novelty, or corny. It’s spliced together through proficiency & flawless musicianship (“Rexford Falls”). The most rousing tune is “Gone, Baby, Gone” with its slinky, rockier Pure Prairie League/Hot Tuna/Papa John Creach touch. Cool stuff.
Again, the LP art should’ve been more homegrown & rural. More images of dungarees on the washing line, an old bicycle embedded in an oak tree, more old rusty RFD mailboxes & a farm girl washing a pickup truck out in the field with a big soapy sponge in a cotton dress. Now that sells music faster. Beauty sells & there’s only 13 here: the music. Maybe next time we’ll get the uh, pickup truck out in the field. They can lean a banjo up against the back wheel.
Highlights – “Walking In Jerusalem,” “Lonesome Blues, I’m Coming Home,” “The Black & Gold,” “Heartaches,” “Rexford Falls,” “Gone, Baby, Gone,” “Cattails” & “Bar Blues.”
Musicians – Laura Orshaw (fiddle/vocals), Chris Henry (mandolin/vocals), Chris Eldridge (guitar), David Grier (guitar), Mike Bub (bass) & Larry Atamanuik (snare).
Color image courtesy of Max’s website. A full-color 8-page stitched liner note insert is included. CD at Amazon & https://www.maxwareham.com/
