“Some sort of unholy fusion of
The Walkmen & Wilco.”

- Darryl Smyers, DALLAS OBSERVER

“Occasionally “”that”” band comes along. That one you just finally catch on to and you regret that it took so long. But at least you finally caught the fire. ““That”” band is Dallas’ Bravo, Max!, who have been turning a lot of heads for the past couple of years.”

- Randall Brown, THE SYNAPTIC

“They evoke Emily Dickinson in her cramped room, poring over bundles of dog-eared poetry.  It is Henry D. Thoreau camping in a neighbor’s backyard.  Accordingly, it is unsurprising to find Dog’s Light veering into melodrama as much as it does cleverness”

- Dick Sullivan, D MAGAZINE 

“Songs that all but embed themselves in your brain; Dallas Observer music editor Pete Freedman dubbed it “Oak Klezmer” — but it’s irresistible.”

- Preston Jones, DFW.COM

“DAMN! I need to start making it to more Bravo, Max! shows!”

- Jordan Buford, THE MUSIC ENTHUSIAST

“Their music is infectious”

- Seth Cohn, DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE 

“Don’t wait until next year to see them.”

-Chris Mueller, GHOST OF BLIND LEMON 

“Bravo, Max! are about to release on the best albums of the year.”

- Pete Freedman, DALLAS OBSERVER 

Hey Jane (2011)

Trio based in Dallas, TX. Championing music outside the box and in between genres. 

Featuring Jonathan "Third Eye" Jackson , Garrett "Captain Tornado" Padgett, and Johnny "Golden PIpes" Beauford

Bravo Max is an American rock band originally formed in 2010 in Dallas, Texas. To date, they have released two full length albums: Dog’s Light (2012), produced by Grammy-winner Oz Fritz (Tom Waits, Mule Variations, Iggy Pop, William Burroughs) and their sophomore full length Bullfighter Blues released November 4th, 2016. The new album was mixed by Grammy-winner Stuart Sikes (The Walkmen, Modest Mouse, White Stripes, Cat Power) & engineered by Matthew Barnhart (Shearwater, Destroyer, Midlake, The New Pornographers). 

The new work is a decisive shift in direction for Bravo Max and it is the culmination of nearly three years of truly collaborative writing. Since slimming down to a trio from the previous release’s line up as a sextet, the band has also taken on a vastly different sound, going from the previous releases’ raucous Americana to current day progressive rock and roll. In addition to top shelf musicianship by the backbone trio, guest performances, including baritone sax, steel guitar, Hammond B3 organ, trumpet, flute, and trombone, help to solidify the rowdy and emphatic style of the November release. Bullfighter Blues is a gritty and triumphant trip; it is a dreamy flash of instrumental psychedelia mixed with easily accessible rock and roll.
“an engaging, colorfully diverse and sonically dynamic record seemingly guided by its own personal spirit animal”

-Peter Lindblad, ELMORE MAGAZINE, NYC

“a real rock powerhouse”

–Paul Jackson, FATEA RECORDS, UK

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

-Sheryl & Don Crow, NASHVILLE BLUES SOCIETY

“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

“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

Bullfighter Blues 

Shake Loose Paranoia

No Memory

MI-5's Alive

Golden Gloves

Black Sugar

Let It Go

Bee & The Boxer

Lay Low

Bullfighter Blues

Raise A Toast

“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

Bravo Max

Popular tracks