Americana from Dallas, TX.
 
Robert Cody Maxwell and The Gentlemen Vain are a 4 piece Americana act delivering a rollicking stage show that blends the harmonies and lyric-driven sensibilities of old-time and country music with the erratic energy of rock and roll. Born out of sweaty, stomping live shows and having cut their teeth in various bands in their native Denton, TX, they are branching out from home and taking the show on the road, marching lock-step with the Americana-revival the country is experiencing. The live show is full of the jangle and abandon that characterizes so many punk-rock acts, but the harmonies and the songwriting create an intimacy that recalls secrets told to a friend in confidence. Don't miss it!

I am a singer, song writer, guitar player and artist that rejoices in the perseverance through the pain and suffering that is a part of life. Sing it out.

“Slimmed down from a sextet to a trio, Bravo Max’s second album Bullfighter Blues, is a set of blues-infused rock & roll swagger that more than justifies the buzz surrounding them. With a 70’s vibe running just below the surface… and with bassist Johnny Beauford adding Bolanesque vocals to their powerhouse playing, this is a quality release.”

-ROCK N’ REEL MAGAZINE, UK

 

“Instead of raving about every track… I’m gonna get to the point – these boys are ready to lift off into the big time”

-Pete Innes, BLUES MATTERS MAGAZINE, UK

“While the title track takes a floating magic-carpet ride through the desert atmospherics of Howe Gelb and Giant Sand, “Raise a Toast,” with its beaming horns, is a bold, brilliant splash of color, and the expansive “Salt Stones” takes flight into a vast, twinkling sky of panoramic guitars.”

-Peter Linblad, ELMORE MAGAZINE ,NYC

“One of the most complete albums out of Dallas this year.”

-Austin James, CRATE DIGGERS DALLAS

“Sounds like they dropped a few buttons in the west Texas deserts while on a vision quest and came out the other side with some new ideas.”

Chris Spector, MIDWEST RECORD

Those who want an album of American infallibility to add to their collection, it is essential to comply with the new album Bravo Max.

Michael Czékus, GONDOLA, HUNGARY

“the roadhouse rock of “Bee And  The Boxer” owes a nod to both Chuck Berry and The Replacements”

-Sheryl & Don Crow, NASHVILLE BLUES SOCIETY

“Writing slowly in a fishing cabin in Canton, the new album’s sound is certainly different than the songs on the folk-tinged debut. Imagine if the Theater Fire or Telegraph Canyon decided to play music more influenced by the Kinks and Kurt Vile… Padgett is to be thanked for the punk rock approach to the songs along with blues and ’60s rock. Beauford likes the Chicago-based Bloodshot Records approach: championing the music that’s in between genres.”

-Eric Grubbs, DALLAS OBSERVER

“a real rock powerhouse”

–Paul Jackson, FATEA RECORDS, UK

From pop to (heavy) rock and all sorts of styles in between, you get it all. There are a lot of useful English rock band influences, like Paul Weller, The Jam, Oasis to name a few… intelligent (pop) rock music with a lot of dynamics and great melodies.”

-Peter Jacobs, KEYS & CHORDS, BELGIUM

Oddly enough, this Dallas band made a stylistic shift that runs against the current. Instead of a rock band cynically deciding to cash in on the Americana bandwagon, Bravo Max started out as Americana, and now they’ve gone full-on rock. In their songs you may hear hints of Badfinger, Jethro Tull and the Long Ryders. Surprisingly diverse, Bullfighter Blues is well worth seeking out.

-Bill Kopp, MUSOSCRIBE MAGAZINE

“an engaging, colorfully diverse and sonically dynamic record seemingly guided by its own personal spirit animal”

-Peter Lindblad, ELMORE MAGAZINE, NYC

"...a wonderfully disorienting sense of temporal dislocation..." - Preston Jones/DFW.com

Dallas Observer Music Awards 2014 NOMINATED for Best EP & Best Folk Act. 

I'm excited to announce Bad Mountain has officially been added to the Hand Drawn Records' artist roster. Their work ethic and goals are right in line with that of our own and we couldn't be happier to be on board. They are Dallas Observer Music Awards winners for "Best Label 2013" and believe in "the incontrovertible truth that success truly favors the prepared and that the heart of a healthy musical community beats to the drum of hard work." Here's to the future.

Americana songwriter Jesse Anderson is based in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. After being honorably discharged after four years of service in the Air Force in 2006 the troubadour directly dove into the local DFW music scene.  Large amps and loud guitars were a way of life and having played in multiple bands (guitarist for The Sundowners, guitarist/songwriter for Roaming Soldiers, with a few shows on bass for Somebody's Darling) and in multiple venues across the US, a large amount of original music was being compiled.  Having a son in the spring of 2011 led to change the way songs were written at home. No longer were the loud amps and multiple effects being used to form songs at home but the acoustic guitar was picked up again leading to new inspirations and new styles. It was time to create something that can be done with a band full of diverse instruments or a stripped down version as simple as a man and his guitar. 

This project started early 2013 as a solo venture but the chemistry from the studio in July 2013 led to more and more full band shows. Within its first year the band had played multiple festivals including SXSW, Wildflower Fest, and Big Folkin' Fest,  shared the stage with greats such as Possessed by Paul James and Jonathan Tyler, and was added to local label Hand Drawn Records' artist roster. Tracks from the EP are currently getting spins on local internet radio shows Ghost of Blind Lemon and The Southside Pirate. The song "Tell Me Mama" is featured on Hand Drawn Records' compilation HDRComp3 in 2014.  The labels' official re-release will be set for early 2015 with upgraded packaging and additional songs.

"...delivers Americana bliss…" -Brenna Rushing/PegasusNews
"…compelling…" -Hunter Hauk/GuideLiveDMN
"…a wondrous piece of art…" - On Tour Monthly

Recorded at Modern Electric Sound Recorders in Dallas 7.8.2013 
Released independently 2.12.2014 on all digital formats.

Jesse Anderson :: Vox/Acoustic
Nate Wedan :: Drums/Perc
Mike Talley :: Upright Bass
Daniel Creamer :: Piano
Beau Bedford :: Slide/Harmonica

Produced by Beau Patrick Bedford
Engineered by Jason Burt
Mastered at Foster Mastering (Seattle, WA)

Brandon Callies is following