Armed with a 6-string, a harp rack and a stack of songs that harken back to the wrought folk rock of yesteryear, Max Niemann packs a punch that is as heartfelt as it is biting. Roaming a sonic trail blazed by country punks and folk poets immemorial, pre-Dylan on up through Tweedy, Niemann follows in the footsteps of the American troubadour lineage, propelling it into the present with songs that are as likely to strike a chord with the modern metropolitan as they are the lonesome wanderer. With his ever-evolving band of Fellow Travelers at his side, the group provides rustic backdrops for the hard-nosed yet intimate stories of human joy, suffering and striving that occupy Niemann’s songs.
Over the last few years, much of Niemann’s focus has been dedicated to fronting his rock ‘n’ roll band, Diet Lite, whose sharp wit and electrically energetic live sets have garnered the band a dedicated following across the Midwest and beyond. As he begins to ramble out in a new direction, Niemann’s performances tap into much of the same passion, though here the songs are stripped down to their bare essence. His first single, “Nowhere You Am”, a solo performance by Niemann, is out now. Max & The Fellow Travelers are currently recording their debut EP.
A real band despite our best efforts.
Hang Ten writes jangly pop that’s as influenced by classic ‘60s records as it is contemporary lo-fi bedroom pop. The band started as a studio project in 2020 whilst trapped in a basement studio of a monastery-turned-production-house on the Fox River. The music is a collaboration that celebrates the best of life’s bliss while waxing nostalgic for good times yet to roll.