In episode 3 of Hooked on Creek, I review Max Creek’s performance on May 31, 1996, at The Living Room in Providence, Rhode Island.
A live recording of this entire Max Creek performance is ‘A live recording of this entire Max Creek performance is available to stream or download here.
Episode 3 transcription
You’re listening to Hooked on Creek, a podcast celebrating the music of Max Creek. I am your host, Korre Johnson, and you are listening to episode 3.
Hey everyone thanks so much for joining me on episode 3 of Hooked on Creek. In this episode, I am going to discuss Max Creek’s performance on May 31, 1996, at The Living Room in Providence, RI. You can find a direct link to stream or download the entire Max Creek show I am reviewing in this episode 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.
Max Creek’s performance at The Living Room back on May 31, 1996, is one of my favorite recordings available on archive.org, so I am really excited to bring some attention to this top-notch show. I think it offers everything you could ask for — a great setlist packed with heavy jams, captured in a beautiful live recording. If you don’t have this show in your Max Creek collection, you need it, because they delivered a truly mesmerizing night of music. And this show has added significant as drummer Greg Vasso’s final show with band during his 1991 to 1996 run, before rejoining the band from 2004 to 2011.
Like so many Max Creek’s shows often begin, the first song Max Creek played back on May 31, 1996, is huge. They kicked the show off with an extended version of If You Ask Me. The song is so big, in fact, that they withhold playing the last half of the song until later in the show, to close the set. But during this 11-minute introduction to the song, Max Creek weaves together some incredible sonic textures. I really enjoy how the jam develops about seven minutes in, where the song opens up like a blossoming flower, offering a ton of space for the band to perform their art.
And through the depths of this cosmic jam, the band sets up an effortless transition into a thick, dreamy and jam-heavy version of The Field, extending about 13 minutes. Together, these first two songs, If You Ask Me and The Field, work beautifully together. I can’t think of a better way to start a Max Creek show.
As The Field ends, it slowly dissolves into a transition jam the sets up a 12-minute long Fire & Brimstone. Here, Mark delivers an incredible version of this familiar favorite.
Next, John sings a beautiful version of Silver Jack. About four minutes into this nine-and-a-half-minute song, the band reframes the tune by slowing it down — offering Scott the space to deliver a gorgeous guitar solo that lifts the song to new heights.
And then, we’re thrown into a tornado as the Max Creek charges into a rip, roarin’ version of Louisiana Sun. At this point in the show, 11 minutes of Louisiana Sun is played, with more of the song to come later in the show. But here, the song delivers some dizzying licks from Scott, layered on top of a groove that includes some spacey synth playing from Mark, all centered around an organic texture of bass, drums and percussion.
After this introduction to Louisiana Sun, the crowd at The Living Room in Providence, Rhode Island, is gifted a 17-minute-long version of Mama Are You Ready that covers a lot of ground, including an extended segment of beautiful piano playing by Mark, and of course, some heavy jamming by Scott that will just melt your face.
Next, Max Creek delivers a breathtaking version of I Will Always See Your Face, which was featured earlier during the introduction to this podcast episode. John’s vocals are bursting with emotion. I think you’re really going to love how the band stretches out this song to 13 minutes, dishing out some heavy jams and interesting twists in the song’s structure. And if you listen closely, you’ll even hear a brief tease of the Gilligan’s Island theme song.
Next, Mark sings a playful a version Howard Johnson’s, and then Max Creek performs a monster version of Blood Red Roses that is off the hook. I especially love the outro jam that leads into a hypnotic drums segment that extends just over six minutes.
After that, Scott performs a spine-tingling version his song, Outside of Home, which is certainly a highlight of the show.
From the emotional depths of Outside of Home, the band transitions into a stunningly jam-filled version of Cruel World. Early in, Mark lights up the keys, positioning Scott to start shredding — pulling this fiery jam further and further along. Around five minutes in, John lays down a tasty bass solo that sets up Scott and Mark to keep evolving the jam in some really interesting ways. Overall, the layers and layers of music in this song really work well together, creating a beautiful tapestry of sound. And after 14 minutes, the song innocently dissolves into Mark’s song Band from Chicago, offering a satisfying resolution to the epic groove.
Next, John delivers a solid performance of Devil’s Heart. The meat of this song’s jam comes into focus about six minutes in, and shortly after, Scott starts pulling together a ridiculous solo that I am sure The Living Room audience loved. And then about nine minutes into the song, John offers a fat bass solo that guides the band into a totally new dimension of the song.
Next, Scott sings an impassioned version of his cryptic song Leaves. To me, Scott’s playing here is sweet, subtle and dripping with emotion. His guitar playing escalates and builds, forcing us to completely surrender to the song. And then, just like that, we’re thrown back into Louisiana Sun and a beautiful extension to this heady song.
After Louisiana Sun is finally put in the books, Mark sings an energetic and fun cover of See It My Way, a song written by Toots Hibbert, a Jamaican singer/songwriter best known as the leader for the reggae and ska band Toots & the Maytals. His song See It My Way was released on his 1988 album Toots in Memphis.
After See It My Way, Max Creek gets back to business with a monumental version of Just a Rose. Extending to 12 minutes and overflowing with raw emotion, the song covers a ton a ground, including an ending transition that delivers us back to the show opener, If You Ask Me, to close this single-set show. And wow, what a mind-altering set of music that was.
For the encore, Greg Vasso bids farewell to Max Creek by crushing his version of Sympathy for the Devil, which of course is a Rolling Stones cover from the Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet.
And finally, Max Creek performs a full-throttle version of Love Makes You Lose Your Mind, ending this huge show on a very high note.
Looking over the entire show, Max Creek performed one song from their self titled 1977 album, which was Devil’s Heart. They played three songs from their 1980 album, which were The Field, Fire & Brimstone and Silver Jack. We heard one song from Max Creek’s 1983 album Drink the Stars, which was Blood Res Roses. They played three songs from their 1986 album Windows. Those were If You Ask Me, I Will Always See Your Face and Band From Chicago. We heard one song, Louisiana Sun, from their 1990 album and two songs, Leaves and Just a Rose, that would appear a couple years later on their 1998 album Spring Water.
As I mentioned earlier, this Max Creek show from May 31, 1996, is a must have in your collection, so I highly recommend streaming it or downloading it from archive.org. You can find a direct link in the episode show notes or online at hookedoncreek.com. Now, let’s hear a few tunes from this amazing show. First up you are going to hear The Field, which will be followed by Fire & Brimstone. This is Max Creek performing live at The Living Room in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 31, 1996.
And that concludes my review of Max Creek’s performance on May 31, 1996, at The Living Room in Providence, Rhode Island. I highly recommend you check it out. You can stream or download this Max Creek show on archive.org. 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.