Max Creek
Encyclopedia
Max Creek is an American rock band that was formed by Dave Reed, John Rider and Bob Gosselin in 1971. Scott Murawski
, then aged 15, joined the band in the spring of 1972. Murawski left after two months, but returned in 1973. Mark Mercier the keyboardist joined in January 1973. Dave Reed left the band in August, 1974 to form the Hatchet Hill String Band. Max Creek has a loyal following, and put on an annual music festival 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. The festival returned to Maine in the summer of 2011.
had a heavy influence on the band, leading to a more Grateful Dead
and San Francisco Bay sound and style. Eventually, Dave left the band to pursue country rock and acoustic ragtime music, leaving the band's line up as John, Bob, Scott and Mark.
Percussionist Rob Fried joined the band in 1979. Known for his elaborate stage setup, often with dozens drums and percussion pieces, Fried could always be easily identified in a club or hall thanks to his trademark Panama hat, Hawaiian shirt and dark glasses. Fried left the band in 2004 and died on September 6, 2006 as a result of cancer.
Amy (Barefoot) Fazzano was a vocalist with the band from July 1976 until September 10, 1983.
Bob Gosselin left the band in 1985 and was replaced on drums by Greg DeGuglielmo.
Bob Bloom was an occasional second drummer and percussionist in 1976.
Greg Vasso replaced DeGuglielmo in 1991, and stayed until 1996. At that point, Scott Allshouse took over, and is the band's current drummer.
As of 2011, Max Creek is still actively playing shows, most recently celebrating their 40th anniversary in Costa Rica
with Bill Kreutzmann
of The Grateful Dead
in a series of shows dubbed Jungle Jam.
, 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. On January 5, 2008, Gordon played with Max Creek's Scott Murawski
, as well as the Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann
, at a benefit concert in Costa Rica. Live shows are the band's forte, often lasting three hours or more. Creek, as they are known, peaked in popularity in the late 1980s, when they would play more than 200 shows a year. They decided to cut back drastically on touring in the early 1990s to concentrate on family, and today play only a handful of shows a year. The loss of sound engineer John Archer and his Crystal Clear sound system in the early 1990s was a devastating blow for Creek and their fans, as was the decision to stop touring at the time that the jam band scene was heating up.
The band has been working on a box set to be called "Maxology", which is set to document the band's evolution throughout its career.
(aka Bill Kreutzmann Trio, KBM, Three) which also includes Bill Kreutzmann
of the Grateful Dead
and Bonnie Raitt
bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson.
Murawski also occasionally tours with Phish
bassist Mike Gordon
side projects.
Murawski and Mercier often play acoustic duo concerts.
Mercier has 2 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, Scott Guberman from Rev Tor Band on Hammond B3 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 CT area, dubbed "Mark and Mark"
Scott Murawski
Scott Murawski is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the electric guitar. He has achieved fame primarily on guitar with the American rock band Max Creek. He is a member of Phish bassist Mike Gordon's solo band, and BK3, a trio led by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann.-External...
, then aged 15, joined the band in the spring of 1972. Murawski left after two months, but returned in 1973. Mark Mercier the keyboardist joined in January 1973. Dave Reed left the band in August, 1974 to form the Hatchet Hill String Band. Max Creek has a loyal following, and put on an annual music festival 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. The festival returned to Maine in the summer of 2011.
History
Max Creek was formed in 1971, with Dave Reed on acoustic guitar, John Rider on electric bass and Bob Gosselin on drums. The band originally played country music. In 1972, Dave Reed invited one of his music students, 15 year old Scott Murawski, to sit in with the band. Scott's early original association with the band ended abruptly when he was banned from a club that the band played at regularly for drinking a beer. A few months later Dave Reed came down with appendicitis, so Mark Mercier was brought in on keyboards and Scott was invited back to play guitar. Due to the influence of the Grateful Dead, as well as the band's consumption of L.S.D., the band decided to incorporate more improvisation into the music becoming more electrified. The music of the psychedelic eraPsychedelic era
The Psychedelic era refers to the time of social, musical and artistic change influenced by psychedelic drugs, generally described as occurring during early 1960s to the mid 1970s. Some consider the psychedelic era to be more tightly limited to the years of 1965-1969...
had a heavy influence on the band, leading to a more Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
and San Francisco Bay sound and style. Eventually, Dave left the band to pursue country rock and acoustic ragtime music, leaving the band's line up as John, Bob, Scott and Mark.
Percussionist Rob Fried joined the band in 1979. Known for his elaborate stage setup, often with dozens drums and percussion pieces, Fried could always be easily identified in a club or hall thanks to his trademark Panama hat, Hawaiian shirt and dark glasses. Fried left the band in 2004 and died on September 6, 2006 as a result of cancer.
Amy (Barefoot) Fazzano was a vocalist with the band from July 1976 until September 10, 1983.
Bob Gosselin left the band in 1985 and was replaced on drums by Greg DeGuglielmo.
Bob Bloom was an occasional second drummer and percussionist in 1976.
Greg Vasso replaced DeGuglielmo in 1991, and stayed until 1996. At that point, Scott Allshouse took over, and is the band's current drummer.
As of 2011, Max Creek is still actively playing shows, most recently celebrating their 40th anniversary in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
with Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
of The Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
in a series of shows dubbed Jungle Jam.
Current members
- Scott MurawskiScott MurawskiScott Murawski is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the electric guitar. He has achieved fame primarily on guitar with the American rock band Max Creek. He is a member of Phish bassist Mike Gordon's solo band, and BK3, a trio led by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann.-External...
- guitar, vocals (1972, 1973–present) - Mark Mercier - keyboards, vocals (1973–present)
- John Rider - bass, vocals (1971–present)
- Scott Allshouse - drums, vocals (1996–present)
- Gregg Vasso - additional drums (2004–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)
Music
Max Creek's style of intense improvised jams were a significant influence on such later bands as PhishPhish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
, whose bassist Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
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. On January 5, 2008, Gordon played with Max Creek's Scott Murawski
Scott Murawski
Scott Murawski is an American multi-instrumentalist, specializing on the electric guitar. He has achieved fame primarily on guitar with the American rock band Max Creek. He is a member of Phish bassist Mike Gordon's solo band, and BK3, a trio led by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann.-External...
, as well as the Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
, at a benefit concert in Costa Rica. Live shows are the band's forte, often lasting three hours or more. Creek, as they are known, peaked in popularity in the late 1980s, when they would play more than 200 shows a year. They decided to cut back drastically on touring in the early 1990s to concentrate on family, and today play only a handful of shows a year. The loss of sound engineer John Archer and his Crystal Clear sound system in the early 1990s was a devastating blow for Creek and their fans, as was the decision to stop touring at the time that the jam band scene was heating up.
Discography
- (1977) Max Creek
- (1980) Rainbow
- (1982) Drink the Stars
- (1986) Windows
- (1990) MCMXC
- (1998) Spring Water
- (2000) Live at the Connecticut Expo Center 12/31/1999
The band has been working on a box set to be called "Maxology", which is set to document the band's evolution throughout its career.
Live Recordings
A number of the band's live performances are available for download from Archive.org.Additional Projects
Recently Murawaski has received long overdue recognition with BK3BK3
BK3 is an American rock band led by Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Kreutzmann formed the band in 2008 with Max Creek guitarist Scott Murawski and Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge.-Formation:...
(aka Bill Kreutzmann Trio, KBM, Three) which also includes Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann
Bill Kreutzmann is an American drummer who played with the rock band the Grateful Dead for their entire thirty-year career...
of the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
and Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
bassist James "Hutch" Hutchinson.
Murawski also occasionally tours with Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
bassist Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon
Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
side projects.
Murawski and Mercier often play acoustic duo concerts.
Mercier has 2 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, Scott Guberman from Rev Tor Band on Hammond B3 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 CT area, dubbed "Mark and Mark"