The Maxes are Josh Max and Julie James, a double-dynamite duo singing electrified pop "lounge-o-billy" songs about cats, death, silent movies, Cubans, vacations, sex, Olive Oyl, Superman, heaven, money, God, jailbait and forgiveness.
The Maxes are based in New York, NY.
Josh Max and The Maxes are represented for pre-cleared licensing of his (and their) original songs by MPL Communications.
JOSH MAX: Songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist, his musical sensibility encompasses Tin Pan Alley, Standards, Rockabilly, Opera, Traditional Country, Classical and Thrash.
JULIE JAMES: grew up a mini-teen star in and around her hometown of Dayton, Ohio, where her natural soaring soprano kept her busy in churches, socials, weddings and venues. Attending the Cinncinatti and Boston Conservatories, she performed in productions across America including stints at the Longwharf Theatre and Goodspeed Opera House before joining The Maxes and having original material tailored to her unique sound and style.
CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE MAXES:
*Idea: Write something as good as your favorite music with a dash of rockabilly and whatever else you feel like throwing in.
*Josh solo
*Josh with bassist.
*Julie.
*Josh and Julie with bassist
*Coffee houses, tips
*Drums are born at Arlene's Grocery, drums stay.
*Small clubs
*Bigger clubs---pay
*Colleges---more pay
*Hotels---pay hey!
*Private events
*Album recorded, released. Two albums. Three.
*Sports Arena in Kazahkstan
*Lots of people
Josh Max the writes words and music. As of August 2010 Max is working on a solo collection of new material, tentatively titled, "This Is Josh Max."
BAND HIGH POINTS:
*Headlining at the Sports Arena in Kazahkstan for Kaz President Nursultan Nazarbayev and seeing our name and photo on photos all over Astana, with writing we didn't understand.
*Headlining at Central Park Summerstage, presenting the music of Nick Drake with an orchestra personally conducted by Robert Kirby, Drake's schoolmate and arranger of strings and horns on Drake's albums "Five Leaves Left" and "Bryter Later."
*Getting signed to MPL Communications and getting a phone call saying, "Just wanted to say we played your stuff for him, and he smiled and tapped his foot."
*Recording at Bennett Studios in NJ for "The Maxes Sing Al Hoffman" with some incredible musicians, arrangers and producer Jeff Eyrich.
SOME JOINTS THE BAND HAS PLAYED
Arlene’s Grocery
Atlantic Antic
B.B. King Blues Club
CBGB’s 313 Gallery
Cap 21
Central Park Summerstage
Dumbolio
Fez Under Time Cafe
Joe's Pub
Makor
Manhattan College
Mermaid parade, Coney Island
Mo Pitkin’s House of Satisfaction
Presidential ball, Kazahkstan
Princeton University
Sidewalk Café
St. Regis Hotel, Manhattan
Starbucks’ "artist in residence" program
The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN
The Brooklyn Academy Of Music
The Cutting Room
The Living Room
Sirius XM "Broadway's Best", Times Square
The Martha Stewart Living Radio Show
If you care about this stuff, here 'tis. If you don't care, come to our next show and we'll refund your 12 seconds.
Josh Max plays:
2005 Gretsch 6120
1995 Gibson J-200
1968 Gibson ES-335
1971 Guild Starfire
'67 Epiphone bass
2007 Gibson Blues King Junior