Max Gomez and I have only crossed paths in person one time when he opened for James McMurtry; I have been a fan of his work for some time and was very disappointed I had to miss his recent show in Kansas City. We were able to have an on air radio conversation before that show and it was a real treat to hear stories of John Prine, Jack Barksdale, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass and others. Also, how could you grow up in a magical place like Taos, New Mexico an not be inspiredto pursue art in some form?
In the Land of Enchantment, he fell under the influence of country blues early on and developed a songwriting style that is uniquely his. He received critical acclaim upon the release of his debut album Rule The World (2013, New West Records); and his subsequent EP, Me and Joe (2017, Brigadoon Records),contained a freshly minted classic, “Make It Me,” which has gained million of listeners on Spotify alone.
As a budding performer, Max apprenticed in the rarefied musical micro-climate of northern New Mexico, where troubadours like Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard helped foster a Western folk sound both cosmic and country. He has shared billing on hundreds of stages with stalwarts of the Americana/Roots genre like the aforementioned James McMurtry, Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, and Jeff Beck, and Johnny Depp. His latest record, Memory Mountain, is a must listen! Enjoy this conversation with Max Gomez.
Photo Credit: Blue Gabor
