After teasing us, letting us hear some of it, and then explaining how Jack White producer Mindy Watts put her midas touch on it, the world finally has the debut LP from once Tampa-based songwriter Max Norton. The 28 year old, who now calls Nashville home, self-released the effort last week, and tonight he will play it for hometown fans at Crowbar in Ybor City.
DO THIS: MAX NORTON LP RELEASE AT CROWBAR 03.31.17
As many know, Norton spent some time behind the drumkit for some of Tampa Bay’s best bands (Benjamin Booker, The Beauvilles, Roppongi’s Ace), but he is now finally breaking out on his own. To help Blood Moon come to life tonight, Norton has tapped a pair of Bay area songwriters (Rebekah Pulley, Shawn Kyle) who'll help him work through the nine song collection of corn-fed, Americana that finds hope in darkness (“Hardest Years”), begs for help (“Hold Me Up”) and sometimes longs for home (“Florida Boy in a Tennessee Town”).
The whole of Blood Mood also features gorgeous strings and the expertise of Nashville producer Mindy Watts (Neil Young, Jack White, Beck), which means that it’s pretty much magic.
Those who need even more Max after the release show can bring their hangover to the St. Pete Indie Market on April 1 where Norton will play DJ in the Green Bench courtyard. Listen to the whole thing below, and get more information on tonight's show via local.cltampa.com.
Call your local record store to see if they have it in stock, or buy Blood Moon online.
This article appears in Mar 30 – Apr 6, 2017.