What's Up
Check out my latest interview with The Country Blues!
https://www.thecountryblues.com/artist-reviews/john-greyhound-maxwell/...
Upcoming Show:
Coco Montoya w/ John Greyhound Maxwell Sat, March 9th, 2024 @ 7:30pmThe Triple Door 216 Union Street Seattle, WA 98101 Buy Tickets...
“a wonderous and rare gem” Blues Blast Magazine Review
John Greyhound Maxwell from Washington state combines his warm, inviting voice with his amazing acumen at acoustic slide guitar playing. His accompaniment is minimal, employing the occasional harmonica, piano, upright bass or violin. It’s his deft slide...
CD Review – Bluesletter Magazine & Northwest Music Scene
The Washington Blues Society recently named John “Greyhound” Maxwell the 2018 award recipient for Best Acoustic Blues Guitar. All his acclaimed skills are on display on his new self-produced album Even Good Dogs Get The Blues, to be released in October o...
Blues for Evangeline
What People Are SayingAbout John
“He plays with very good fluidity and taste, and some nice slide. His vocals are pleasantly lacking in fake black-isms that are the bane of ‘white bluesmen’. Even better, he sings the meaning of the words and understands that the story of the lyrics is vital”.
– Bruce Iglauer – Alligator Records
“John Greyhound Maxwell (is) a particularly refined and eloquent slide and fingerpicking roots and blues guitarist and singer/songwriter.
– Frank Matheis – Countryblues.com
“Laid back elegance and a sort off off-hand virtuosity. Very smooth and mellow.”
– Paul Rishell – W.C. Handy Award Winner
“John the finest bottleneck slide player I’ve heard in a long time.”
– David Lindley
You have to play for a long time before you sound like your self
Calendar
2016
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Fri15Jan2016
Solo at Rancho Nicasio in Marin
8 to 10pm
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Sun14Feb2016
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Doors at 7. Show at 8pmSweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley
sweetwatermusichall.com
Pete Devine (HowellDevine) and I open the show for the fabulous Jon Cleary!
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Fri22Apr2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
8-10pmRancho Nicasio
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Sat14May2016Sun15May2016
Corner Store West Mountain Jam Party
11am to 7pmCachagua Valley Carmel, Ca. With Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum, and Joe Craven.
https://www.instantseats.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.venue&VenueID=200 -
Fri03Jun2016
John opens for Ramblin' Jack Elliot
Doors at 7. Show at 8pmSweetwater Music Hall
19 Corte Madera Ave.
Mill Valley 94941
sweetwatermusichall.com
877-987-6487
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Sun26Jun2016
John Maxwell opens for Ruthie Foster
Doors open at 3pm. Show starts at 4. 1 Old Rancheria Rd. Nicasio,Ca.94946 www.ranchonicasio.com
http://www.ranchonicasio.com/Calendars_2016/BBQ_on_The_Lawn_2016_Cal_final.pdf
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Sat09Jul2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
8pm to 10pmMurphy's Irish Pub
Downtown Sonoma
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Sun11Sep2016
John Gray Hound Maxwell opens for Maria Muldaur
7pmHighway 99 Blues Club
1414 Alaskan Way in Downtown Seatlle
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Sat17Sep2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
Doors at 7:30 Show at 8pmRain Shadow Recordings at Fort Worden
200 Battery Way #315 West, Port Townsend, Wa.
Tickets available at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2600358
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Thu27Oct2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
7-9:30pmG.Donnalson's
3814 North 26th St.
Tacoma Wa.
253-761-8015
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Wed09Nov2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
730pmPink Flamingo Theater
2115 N. Fremont St.
Monterey, Ca.
831-238-2399
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Fri11Nov2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
8pmRancho Nicasio in the bar.
Nicasio, Ca.
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Thu01Dec2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
7-9:30pmG.Donnalson's
3814 North 26th St.
Tacoma Wa.
253-761-8015
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Fri02Dec2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell opens for Studebaker John
745-830pmHighway 99 Blues Club
1414 Alaskan Way
Seattle,Wa.
206-382-2171
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Thu15Dec2016
John "Gray Hound" Maxwell Solo
7-9:30pmG.Donnalson's
3814 North 26th St.
Tacoma Wa.
253-761-8015
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Fri23Dec2016
Paul Rogers' HolidayHi-jinx 2016
7:30pmWheeler Theater at Fort Worden
Port Townsend, Wa.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2708530
Biography
John “Greyhound” Maxwell brings his singular approach to slide guitar and mandolin, paying homage to the craft and tradition of the masters, while infusing the music with fresh energy. David Lindley is quoted as saying, “John is the finest bottleneck slide player I’ve heard in a long time.”
With an approach that is authentic and understated, Maxwell plays with the warmth and dexterity of someone who has loved the blues over a lifetime. Indeed, his education began as a teenager after seeing B.B. King play a set in Chicago in 1971. At Chicago’s historic Old Town School of Folk Music he took lessons from a young Johnny Long, himself a student of Homesick James. When Maxwell left for college in St. Louis, he originally studied classical, but grew restless and eventually fronted a blues trio.
He counts himself lucky enough to have mingled with blues legends Tommy Bankhead and Henry Townsend, with whom he later shared the stage and formed a friendship. He’s been drawn to slide since the beginning. “It increases that conversational aspect between the instrument and the voice,” he says.
That lineage is evident in the conversations he’s still having. In his capable hands, classics are given a deep bow and a quick wink, at once subtle and surprising. Likewise, his originals feel familiar to the genre, at home on a back-roads front porch or a downtown speakeasy.
His style is grounded and focused yet delivered with an ease and a lightness. He says the nice thing about getting older is, “Whatever you do, if you’ve been doing for most of your life, you reach a proficiency level that’s really enjoyable.” That comfort and skill is obvious whether he’s playing with a full band, as a duo, or just his caramel smooth voice and his silver Dobro. One gets the feeling he’d be equally at home with a symphony or a jug band.
In fact, he’s travelled the country, playing bluegrass in Tulsa and punk-rock in Hollywood, with forays into jazz, folk and rock and roll. No matter the genre, he always found himself coming back to the blues. He explains that his interpretation is not about a specific chord pattern or scale, but rather the emotion behind it. “I think that helps cross physical and cultural borders,” he says.
Now, having rounded the corner of 60, Maxwell is a master of his craft, garnering the admiration of his contemporaries. His recording, Blues for Evangeline, made the top five in the Best Self-Produced CD competition at the 2016 Memphis International Blues Challenge. In 2017, he had a song placed in a film at the Sundance Festival, and he taught at the prestigious Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival in Washington state, where he now resides.
The Washington Blues Society recently nominated John “Greyhound” Maxwell for best solo artist in 2023. He previously was the 2018 award recipient for Best Acoustic Blues Guitar. His second self produced CD, “Even Good Dogs Get the Blues”, represented the WBS at the 2018 International Blues Challenge. “It’s really exciting,” he says. “I feel like I’m finally coming into my own.” In past years Maxwell has recently shared the stage with well-known blues greats, opening shows for Ruthie Foster, Sonny Landreth, Keb’Mo and Taj Mahal.
“Back when I was 16 or 17, I would tell myself I wanted to have a successful music career, and it was okay if it happened at 60, as long as it happened.” He laughs softly. “I think I set my course there.”
get me six crap shooting pallbearers. get a chorus girl to sing me a song.
Contact Me
Send a Message
Booking agent
Brad Stewart
Dynamic Artists Management, LLC
517-715-6555
info@dynamicartists.com
www.dynamicartists.com
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Artist Credits
