In episode 26 of Hooked on Creek, I review Max Creek’s performance October 17, 2014, at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont.
A live recording of this entire Max Creek performance is available to stream or download here.
Episode 26 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 26.
Thank you for joining me on episode 26 of Hooked on Creek. In this episode, I am going to discuss Max Creek’s performance on October 17, 2014, at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont. This is another incredible Creek show that I think stands out and is worth a deep listen. So coming up, I am going to walk through the setlist and tell you everything I love about this show, but be sure to stick around because this episode concludes with three songs that will give you a good taste of this sweet October 17, 2014, performance.
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.
The show at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont, back on October 17, 2014, kicks off with a nearly 14-minute-long Jones. This beefy version of a classic Creek tune is delivered as a blunt invitation — an irresistible offer to step into the looking glass, fully commit and follow the music wherever it goes. About seven minutes into the song, Scott digs in and leads us through a sonic maze, methodically exploring the depths of the song. This Jones is a perfect table setting for a feast that’s just getting started.
From here, the band slowly steps into Fire & Brimstone, allowing the song to simmer just a bit before Mark turns up the heat. I especially enjoy the last three minutes of this 10-minute song as the band evolves their jam and sets up a beautiful transition into Wild Side to close out the opening three songs of the first set.
Then, Bill leads the band through a smokin’ version of Dylan’s I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight that, among other things, offers some impressive playing by Mark that sits a bit in the background of the song. And while it’s subtle, I think you’ll love the flavor Mark adds to the interplay between Bill and Scott that’s carried out in this song, so you’ll want to keep your ears open for that.
After I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight, Max Creek conjures up a stellar Emotional Railroad featuring a crisp and tasty vocal performance by Scott. And throughout this song, John, Scott, Mark, Bill and Jay work seamlessly to build colorful textures and rich dynamics that give the music an airy splendor, helping elevate this version of Emotional Railroad to some incredible heights, which I know you will enjoy.
Up next, Mark takes over and leads the band through a cover of Columbus Stockade Blues that’s unleashed with dizzying perfection. it’s so good that if you want to enjoy all the delicious layers baked into this treat, I suggest multiple listens. While there is some debate about the history of this old country song, most attribute the origins of Columbus Stockade Blues to a 1927 recording by musicians Tom Darby and Jimmie Tarleton. Digging a little deeper, I learned when they recorded the song, Tom Darby and Jimmie Tarleton made the unfortunate decision to accept a flat payment of $75 for their recording rather than signing a contract for royalties. Because as it turned out, the song Columbus Stockade Blues became a fast hit with 200,000 records sold within a year of it being released. And if you are curious, the Columbus Stockade consists of two buildings built around 1870 that over the years housed a police department and jail, incarcerating inmates until 1972. And interestingly, the success of this old country song is credited for generating enough local interest to save the structure from demolition and get it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. So the Columbus Stockade still stands to this very day — way down in Columbus, Georgia.
And from here, things get interesting as the band unloads a blistering Peaceful Warrior, which I teased during the introduction to this episode. This version of Peaceful Warrior showcases a nice dystopian jam and some mesmerizing rhythms that, after 14 minutes, carry the song to a tranquil resolution, freeing the band to transition into a souring 14-minute-long version of I Know You Rider that will send shivers up your spine to close out a beautiful first set of music.
John opens set two with an old favorite, Gypsy Blue, that’s decorated with a passionate vocal performance and an expansive, psychedelic jam that builds upon itself, lifting you up, higher and higher, and eventually sweeping you through a blissful transition into Old Stones, Broken Bones, a song by New England singer-songwriter John Coster. Like two black holes smashing together on a cosmic stage, Max Creek’s transition from Gypsy Blue to Old Stones, Broken Bones is simply awe-inspiring.
After Old Stones, Broken Bones, the band takes just a moment to reset before Scott tears the place up with a nearly 16-minute-long version of If You Ask Me that features a hypnotic middle-eastern flavored jam that dominates the last seven minutes of the song. Now, I know there are many incredible recorded versions of this song that have been captured over the years, but I think this one is something special and definitely worth seeking out.
At this point in the second set, Bill embraces the moment and takes us on a dreamy journey through It Must Be Nice. One of the things I love about this performance is the stretch of guitar playing that’s introduced about eight minutes in that to me, sounds like a pattern of whale vocalizations — beautiful, groaning, bouncing notes that carry the song through its conclusion. From this, Mark breaks open a delicious cover of King of California, a song written by Dave Alvin that first appeared on his 1994 album titled King of California.
Then, Max Creek goes on to the end the second set by throwing down a cover of the Beatles’ Helter Skelter that attacks you like a rabid dog. This song escalates the sonic temperature radiating from the band to a feverish level. The music is raw and fierce — and beautiful. Upon the conclusion of Helter Skelter, with so much pressure built up, the audience explodes in chants of Max Fucking Creek, Max Fucking Creek — summoning the band to return to the stage for an encore.
And to release all the tension left in the air, Mark leads the band through a cover of Warren Zevon’s Werewolves of London — rich with audience participation — to close out this fantastic Max Creek show.
Alright, looking back over the show, Max Creek performed one song, Fire & Brimstone, from their 1980 album Rainbow. They played two songs, Emotional Railroad and Gypsy Blue, that first appeared on their 1982 album Drink the Stars. Creek played If You Ask Me from their 1986 album Windows. They played Wild Side from their 1998 album Spring Water and two songs, I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight and Peaceful Warrior, that were included on their 2019 album 45 & Live. The band also performed Jones, which was included on their Live From A Secret Location album the band released at the end of 2020. That last one counts as Max Creek album, right? Well, I think it does.
OK, so let’s dig into some of music from this show. From the first set, you are going to hear Emotional Railroad and I Know You Rider, which will be followed by If You Ask Me from the second set. This is Max Creek performing live on October 17, 2014, at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont.
And now, this is I Know You Rider.
This is Max Creek performing If You Ask Me.
And that concludes my review of Max Creek’s performance on October 17, 2014, at Nectar’s in Burlington, Vermont. You can stream or download this Max Creek show on archive.org, take a look in 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.