From punk roots to jam band freedom: A conversation with Max Chase
Max Chase is a multi-talented musician whose journey brought him from the DIY punk and ska scene to the improvisational exploration of jam music and blues-soaked rock and roll. Maine Coast Life recently caught up with Max, who performs in a variety of local groups, including Max Chase and Friends, who are performing with the Soggy Po' Boys at Vinegar Hill in Arundel on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 7 pm. Here are some highlights from the conversation.
A comeback for the Grateful Camp Out
Another of Chase's projects, a Jerry Garcia tribute band called Sans Souci, recently performed at the Grateful Camp Out in Steep Falls.
"It was great," Chase said. "Last year was a whole lot of disappointment, but this year felt like such a great comeback. As soon as I rolled into the venue, I could tell that people were having a good time," he said.
The new location at the Acres of Wildlife Campground in Steep Falls, Maine, added to the festival's charm, making it a family-friendly gathering that celebrated music and community, he said.
The duality of performance
Max said he had a busy schedule at the festival, performing two back-to-back sets, which he described as a "four-hour extravaganza of ripping and rocking." When asked about the challenge of performing such lengthy sets, he responded, "I'm definitely tired after a marathon like that but, you know, fingers are ready to keep going."
A musical evolution
Max’s journey into music began at a young age with piano lessons, though his teenage years saw him gravitating toward bass guitar and, eventually, the organ. He recalled, "I really want to explore [the organ] more than continue on bass. So, you know, from there I went on to eventually get into the organ, and that's been the last 20 years."
His passion for music drew from self-exploration, working tirelessly to introduce his music to any fan he could find, regardless of the genre.
From punk to jam band
The transition from punk and ska to the jam band scene might seem abrupt, but for Max, it was a natural progression.
"The through line that kind of brings me from one to the other is the fact that they're both counterculture," he explained.
This embrace of counterculture led him to discover the intricate world of musical improvisation that defines the iconic genre pioneered by bands like the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers — two bands that inspired Max to form tribute acts as a way to perform their music on stage.
Reflecting on this evolution, Max noted, "Punk songs have a short, you know, eight-bar guitar solo... whereas jam band music has these spaces built in that exist for the band to create within, without the constraint of the song."
Check out our full episode here to dive deeper into Max’s journey. Tickets for the Max Chase and Friends show with the Soggy Po' Boys are available on the Vinegar Hill website.