Interview: Max Graham of Kind Country

As I was rightfully getting down to Kind Country at Galactic Get Down Music Festival back in August, I was struck with an idea. With my previous interview with New Elements fresh in my brain, and the energy of Kind Country fresh in my soul, my eyes lit up as I realized I wanted nothing more than to have a meaningful and productive chat with Max Graham.

Graham is most well known as the lead vocalist and mandolin player of the Minneapolis based jam-grass band, Kind Country. Although Kind Country holds a special place in my heart, our discussion covered a broader spectrum of categories.

As Shangri-La raged around us, we managed to find a quiet place to discuss life, music, Harmony Park, and the local music scene in general.

“It’s all positive,” Graham said. “We’re really fortunate that we’re in a situation where there aren’t a lot of things working against the creation of the music.”

Most who come to Harmony Park can agree that the experience plays a role in their personal growth. Furthermore, artists who frequent the park often reap even greater benefits and find a significant component to their success.

“For the most part, it’s independent, locally grown, community-based, and it stimulates an economy where musicians can get more into their craft and also sustain themselves,” Graham said.  

If you were present at the Harmonium stage Saturday afternoon at Shangri-La 2018, you would have witnessed this community in action as Graham filled in for Frogleg as the head of a festival friends super band. Joe Scarpellino along with members of Frogleg, Space Monkey Mafia, and a few others backed Graham for a little over an hour.  

“For us to spontaneously assemble a quality band to fill in on one of the big stages is something that really only happens at Harmony Park,” Graham said. “That’s one of the things that’s cool about this place. We can take turns helping each other showcase our art. There’s no ego or competition involved in it. It’s just pure support, collaboration, and synergy.”

And spontaneous it truly was. With minimal prep time, Graham and friends were indistinguishable from bands that have been practicing and playing together for years. The set even included a song Graham had written just a day earlier.

 

“We didn’t even have an hour to prepare for that set, and nothing we had planned happened,” he said. “There’s a really cool aspect when you’re playing with people that know each other and have friendships. We can all form to one another’s vibes to create something that noone has planned.”

 

When skill and creativity of this caliber are witnessed, it’s sometimes hard to believe there was ever a lack of capability, but even a natural must put time and effort into their craft. As someone who also aspires to create, I related with Graham over the early stages of the process.

“When you’re trying to write songs or you’re trying to be creative, your first effort is usually going to be the hardest. You have to put yourself to the grind,” Graham said.

With persistence, however, the process begins to feel more natural and becomes more productive.

“Once you get that creativity flowing, it’s more about capturing the ideas as they come and less about conjuring something up,” Graham said.

For a little bit of inspiration and to satisfy my curiosity, I asked him what it’s like to balance having a family with being a full time musician.

“It’s really pretty binary,” Graham said. “Either I’m a dad or I’m working on a gig or a rehearsal. It’s always one or the other, which doesn’t leave much room for hang time.”

The sense of urgency created by bearing multiple responsibilities drives him to do better and be more productive in all fields.

“If you constantly force yourself to keep up the work, you’re so focused on your craft and your responsibilities that you don’t really have time to stop and think about how you feel about it,” he said. “After months of that, you stop and look around you and think, ‘Hey, things are pretty good.’

I used to think it was about balance, but it’s more about multiplying your output. It’s about doing more.”

Doing more is something Graham has become adept at. Aside from Kind Country and supporting a family, he is also the director and front man of the recently launched music collective, The Fam.

The Fam is currently about halfway  through their fall residency at The Cabooze with five more dates to go. The residency will extend into mid November.

“The Fam has been playing together for about a year. Over the duration, aside from the core band, we’ve had half a dozen sax players play, seven different guitarists, other violinists, drummers, singers, accordion players, and horn players,” Graham said. “We’re trying to present an open template capable of as much versatility as possible.”

Even in a group full of talented individuals, there is always more to learn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KhBo6Jiipc&feature=youtu.be

 

“Different people in the band have all focused on different genres and styles over the course of their various musical paths. Because of that, we can showcase our different styles and teach one another,” said Graham. 

The following Sunday,  after Graham and I met up, I was able to get down to another Kind Country set. Which is never difficult when you’re surrounded by friends at Harmony Park. Kind Country played a roaring show at the Harmonium Stage where  the band precisely and energetically did what they do best, make music.

Now I’ve gotta see what The Fam has to offer. You can too by making a stop at the Cabooze Oct 17, Oct 31, Nov 7 and Nov 14.

Photos By: Alycia Grace