In episode 15 of Hooked on Creek, I review Max Creek’s performance on March 22, 2008, at The Stone Church in Newmarket, New Hampshire. A live recording of this entire Max Creek performance is available to stream or download here.
Episode 15 transcription
You’re listening to Hooked on Creek, a podcast celebrating the music, history and fans of the legendary jam band Max Creek. I am your host, Korre Johnson, and you are listening to episode 15.
Thank you for joining me on episode 15 of Hooked on Creek. It’s great to be here talking with you about this band that I love so much. In this episode, I am going to discuss Max Creek’s performance on March 22, 2008, at The Stone Church in Newmarket, New Hampshire, and also included in this episode are full performances of the songs Old Stones, Broken Bones, John Henry and You Let Me Down Again from this incredible show.
You can find a direct link to stream or download the entire Max Creek show I am reviewing in the episode show notes, or simply head over to hookedoncreek.com. And while you are there, click the contact link and let me know what you think. I am always looking for recommendations on topics to cover or Max Creek shows to feature in this podcast. Alright, now let’s get started.
Back on March 22, 2008, Max Creek performed at a venue called The Stone Church in Newmarket, New Hampshire. Erected in 1832, the building first served as a Universalist Meeting House, but over the years it served many other roles in the community, including a Catholic Church, school, roller-skating rink, playhouse, VFW hall and shoe factory. The building was ravaged by a fire In 1968, and two years later, the building was sold to two University of New Hampshire students that established it as a rock club that would go on to host the likes of Bonnie Raitt, David Grisman, Phish, Bela Flec and The Jerry Garcia Band, among many others.
Max Creek’s performance at this historic venue opens with an expansive version of You Write the Book, clocking in over 19 minutes long. Scott’s guitar solos woven between the verses and into the extended first jam of this song are achingly beautiful. But then just over 11 minutes into the song, after five solid minutes of jamming, John’s bass grabs our attention and indicates something is about to change. And from almost out of nowhere, the band completely shifts gears and drives deep into a chunky new You Write the Book groove that seems to pull at you from every direction. I absolutely love it!
When this hefty version of You Write the Book finally winds down, the music transitions into an incredible cover of Speed of the Sound of Loneliness, a song written by the highly influential country/folk singer-songwriter John Prine that was released on Prine’s 1986 album German Afternoons.
Then, the audience is treated with some classic Creek as the band performs a tasty version of Dark Water, which I played earlier during the introduction to this podcast episode. After Dark Water, Scott switches things up and leads the band through a glowing version of Willow Tree. Over the opening chords of Willow Tree, Scott engages in some playful banter with the crowd. Apparently somebody from the audience taped song suggestions on the stage monitors which caught Scott’s attention, but soon enough the song moves forward with some excellent vocals and solos by Scott throughout.
And from here, Mark leads the band through a roaring cover of White Freightliner Blues, a song written by Townes Van Zandt that was originally released on his 1977 album Live at the Old Quarter Houston, Texas. Max Creek’s version of this song on this date is built on the foundation of Mark’s incredible arrangement on the keys, but explodes with energy thanks to the charging rhythm created by John on bass and Greg Vasso on drums. On top of all this, like frosting on a cake, Scott lays down some sweet guitar work that kicks this this already rocking tune into an even higher gear.
Next, the audience at The Stone Church is gifted a nearly 19-minute long version of Gypsy Blue. The opening verses of this familiar favorite seem to wrap around you like a warm blanket on a cold winter night, offering comfort and a sense of belonging. But then, after the last chorus is sung, John’s bass pulls the curtain back, setting into motion a surreal jam that transports you to a magical world painted with layers of blended sound that drip with expression. Seven minutes later, the colors change, the texture tightens and things turn upside down as the music becomes increasingly psychedelic. As the song approaches its gentle end, you find yourself awoken at the edge of the universe by the opening notes of Something is Forming.
Through a blistering and nearly 17-minute long version of Something Is Forming, Max Creek seems to pour gasoline on the fire before ending their first set of music back on March 22, 2008.
And then set two opens with Mark leading the band through an incredible cover of Old Stones, Broken Bones, a song by John Coster that was originally included on his 1979 album of the same name. I was not familiar with John Coster until I become exposed to Max Creek’s version of his song, but when I looked him up online I learned John Coster is a very accomplished singer-songwriter from New England that plays guitar and harmonica with deep roots in traditional music. He has recorded several albums over the years, but his 1979 album Old Stones, Broken Bones was his first solo album. It was recorded in Hartford, Connecticut, and featured musicians Jeff Pevar and Preston Reed.
After Old Stones, Broken Bones, Max Creek delivers a dependable favorite, Chains of Life, that’s extended to over 14 minutes, twisting, turning and grinding all the way.
John then leads the band through a powerful version of John Henry, a old railroad work song that dates back to around 1870. Over the years, the song has been arranged a number of different ways by a several folk and blues musicians, often under the song name Take This Hammer. Perhaps most notably, the song was performed by the folk and blues legend Huddie William Ledbetter. Born in 1888, Ledbetter performed from 1903 to 1949 and went by the stage name Lead Belly. But in this version, performed back on March 22, 2008, rich with melancholy and pointed references to President George Bush, Max Creek puts their own mark on this song.
Somewhere near the end of John Henry, Scott breaks a guitar string which provides an opportunity for Greg on drums to improv some lyrics and lead the band through a humorous little jam, while Scott was busy getting his guitar in order. Once things get back on track, the band closes the second set with a fiery version of I Know You Rider.
The audience is then treated with two strong songs in the encore, Hard Love and You Let Me Down Again.
Looking back over the entire show, Max Creek performed one song from their 1982 album Drink the Stars, and that was Gypsy Blue. They played one song from their 1986 album Windows, and that was You Write the Book. They performed Dark Water from their 1990 album MCMXC and three songs, Something Is Forming, You Let Me Down Again and Hard Love, from their 1998 album Spring Water. They performed one song, Willow Tree, that later appeared on their 2019 album Live at 45 and the band also performed one original song that was never released on a Max Creek album, which was Chains of Life.
Now, let’s hear a few tunes from this amazing show at this historic venue. First up, you are going to hear Old Stones, Broken Bones, that will be followed by John Henry and then you are going to hear You Let Me Down Again.
This is Max Creek’s performing live at The Stone Church in Newmarket, New Hampshire, on March 22, 2008.
And here is John Henry.
And here is You Let Me Down Again.
And that concludes my review of Max Creek’s performance on March 22, 2008, at The Stone Church in Newmarket, New Hampshire. I really enjoyed listening to this show, so I highly recommend you check it out. You can stream or download this Max Creek show on archive.org, check the episode show notes for a direct link. And if you have feedback about this episode or recommendations for future episodes, visit hookedoncreek.com and click the contact link to send me a message. Thanks for tuning in.