Bluegrass and hockey: two words not often used together. But banjo player, songwriter, and author Max Wareham thinks sports and art have more in common than people may believe, citing Hemingway’s bullfighting muse and Bill Monroe’s obsession with baseball, to name a few. “But in my opinion,” says Wareham, “for the perfect balance of grace and power, drive and agility…bluegrass and hockey are two peas in a pod.” With that theory, Wareham used his beloved Boston Bruins’ legendary ‘22-’23 season as inspiration for his latest single, “The Black & Gold,” matching a blistering, banjo-driven instrumental number to the Bruins’ record-breaking run; never letting up, only picking up steam.
With Wareham at the helm of his all-star studio band, “The Black & Gold” kicks off with a melody inspired by The Country Gentlemen’s founding five-stringer, Bill Emerson. Mandolinist Chris Henry takes over the lead line before bassist Mike Bub and snare drummer Larry Atamanuik shift gears into the song’s B section, an arpeggiated line inspired by another banjo legend, Rudy Lyle. After the first round, it’s time for the instrumentalists to break for the goal. Laura Orshaw’s fiddle passes to Chris Eldridge’s guitar before Wareham skates in to land his shot right back into “The Black & Gold’s” blink-and-you-missed-it theme, leaving listeners scrambling for that instant replay button. Stream or purchase “The Black & Gold” highlights right here.
“The Black and Gold” is the latest single from Wareham’s upcoming debut album, DAGGOMIT!, which was produced by Rowan and is due out on February 21st. Fans are encouraged to check out Wareham’s previously released singles, “Hard Times Are Far Behind” and “Lonesome Blues, I’m Coming Home,” at their respective links and pre-order or pre-save DAGGOMIT! ahead of its February release right here.
Wareham is currently touring with Max Wareham & the National Bluegrass Team, featuring international mandolin prodigy Jean Baptiste Cardineau, singer and guitarist Walker Russell, and Boston bass stalwart Emma Turoff. Tour dates for Warham & the National Bluegrass Team as well as Wareham’s appearances with the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band can be found below or at maxwareham.com.
More About DAGGOMIT!: Produced by legendary grasser Peter Rowan and recorded by multi-Grammy-winning engineer Sean Sullivan, DAGGOMIT! features Chris Eldridge and David Grier on guitar, Laura Orshaw on fiddle, Chris Henry on mandolin, Mike Bub on bass, and Larry Atamanuik on snare drum; a group of stars making the initial listen of the album worth the price of admission, alone. But fans will undoubtedly stick around for the stories Wareham tells throughout the 13-song collection. Stories from a lifetime of experiences and feelings that together tell the story of exactly what makes Max Max.
DAGGOMIT! Tracklist:
Walking In Jerusalem
Lonesome Blues, I’m Coming Home
The Black & Gold
That’s Just Part Of It
Heartaches
Rexford Falls
Gone, Baby, Gone
I Remember
Hard Times Are Far Behind
Cattails
Bar Blues
Drifting Too Far From The Shore
Miles
Catch Max Wareham On Tour:
March 8 - Colony - Woodstock NY ^
March 9 -Backporch Festival - Northampton, MA #
April 1 - Lily P’s Fried Chicken - Cambridge MA #
April 4 - Dance Hall - Kittery, ME #
April 5 - Whately Town Hall - Whatley, MA #
April 24-29 - MerleFest - Wilkesboro, NC *
Aug. 14-17 - Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots - Manchester, VT *
# Max Wareham & the National Bluegrass Team
^ Supporting Robbie Fulks
* With Peter Rowan
