Max Johnston

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Max Johnston is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known for his work on fiddle, Dobro, banjo, and mandolin with the bands Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and more recently, The Gourds. Johnston is the younger half-brother of singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked and has supported her in concert tours as well.

Contents

[edit] Career

Johnston began performing with Uncle Tupelo in the fall of 1992 during the "Arkansas Traveler Review tour" during which Uncle Tupelo was the opening act for a bill including The Band, Taj Mahal, and headliner, Michelle Shocked. Although the tour fell apart after just a few shows, Johnston continued to play with Uncle Tupelo occasionally at first, and then as a regular part of the band appearing on the group's final studio album, Anodyne [1].

Following the departure of Jay Farrar in May, 1994, under the leadership of Jeff Tweedy, the remaining members of Uncle Tupelo, including Johnston, Ken Coomer, and John Stirratt, formed the band Wilco. Johnston left Wilco shortly after their second album, Being There in 1996 to form his own short-lived band, the Pony Stars and tour with his sister, Michelle Shocked. (Some descriptions of events suggest Johnston was fired by his Wilco band-mates [2]). Johnston was then briefly a member of the Louisville, Kentucky-based band, Freakwater, and gave instrumental support to singer-songwriter Steve Forbert before settling into his present role in 1999 with the Austin-based band, The Gourds.

Johnston was offered a position in The Gourds and immediately accepted it after sitting in with the band at their South by Southwest showcase. After years of performing mainly as a sideman for great songwriters (Farrar, Tweedy, Schocked, and Irwin), Johnston at last felt himself to be a contributing member of the band. "This is more mine than anything I've ever been involved with," Johnston stated, "I have a voice in this band. With Tupelo, it was like, 'Wow, I'm in Uncle Tupelo,' you know? But I didn't have much input. Here, I finally found a group of guys who listen to me, we communicate on a level I haven't before." [3]. By the time of his second recording with the band, Bolsa de Agua, Johnston had found his voice contributing the tracks, "Jesus Christ (with Signs Following)" and "O Rings". Johnston has continued to remain active with The Gourds who's most recent, 2006 release is Heavy Ornamentals.

[edit] Discography

[edit] with Uncle Tupelo

[edit] with Wilco

[edit] with Freakwater

  • Springtime (1998)

[edit] with The Gourds

  • Ghosts of Hallelujah (1999)
  • Bolsa de Agua (2000)
  • Shinebox (2001)
  • Cow Fish Fowl or Pig (2002)
  • Blood of the Ram (2004)
  • Heavy Ornamentals (2006)
  • with "Clocker Redbury and Dusty Slosinger", (duel pseudonyms for Gourd's Bassist, Jimmy Smith)
    • Slosinger/Redbury (2000), Johnston listed as "Trevor Rivera".
    • Cold War's Hot Water Shower (2001), as "Trevor Rivera"
  • with Kevin Russell's Junker, (solo effort for Gourd's Kevin Russell)
    • Buttermilk & Rifles (2002)

[edit] Other Recordings

[edit] External links

Uncle Tupelo
Jay Farrar · Jeff Tweedy · Mike Heidorn
Bill Belzer · Ken Coomer · Max Johnston · John Stirratt
Discography
Albums: No Depression · Still Feel Gone · March 16-20, 1992 · Anodyne · 89/93: An Anthology
Related articles
Son Volt · Wilco · Brian Henneman · Alternative country
Wilco
Jeff Tweedy | John Stirratt | Nels Cline | Glenn Kotche | Pat Sansone | Mikael Jorgensen
Ken Coomer | Max Johnston | Jay Bennett | Leroy Bach | Jim O'Rourke
Discography
Albums and extended plays: A.M. | Being There | Mermaid Avenue | Summerteeth | Mermaid Avenue Vol. II | Yankee Hotel Foxtrot | More Like the Moon | A Ghost Is Born | Kicking Television: Live in Chicago | Sky Blue Sky
Singles: Box Full of Letters | Outtasite (Outta Mind) | Can't Stand It | A Shot in the Arm | War on War
DVDs: Man in the Sand | I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
Related articles
Uncle Tupelo | Billy Bragg | The Wilco Book | Loose Fur | Down with Wilco | Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest | Golden Smog | Jeff Tweedy discography
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