Max Gomez brings it back home
TAOS’ FAVORITE NATIVE SON
returns to bring us his annual Holiday bash! Gomez grew up in Taos, mentored by the likes of Michael Hearne, Michael Martin Murphy and other worldrenowned musicians who pass through Taos “on the regular,” and over the past decade has garnered critical acclaim for his own folk-rock, Americana-inspired compositions.
Gomez has lately been on a serious roll and Tempo caught up with the wandering troubadour between gigs as he made his way home.
You have just come off a tour with Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck — inquiring minds want to know everything!
Jeff and Johnny were both gracious and kind. Night after night of grand venues and new experiences. It was fast, it was a ball, it was an honor.
It’s that time again, when you bring it all back home for your Holiday show —- any surprises this year?
I love coming home for Christmas... Where better to be than Taos during the holidays? So, the holiday concert is a necessary tradition for me. Surprises will be new songs and unexpected special guests. With any luck, I’ll be surprised, too.
What’s coming up for you in the New Year?
A few ski days here in Taos followed by more touring. Among the shows I’m most looking forward to are the ones coming up with Gordon Lightfoot. I was offered to open for him on an upcoming tour. I couldn’t say ‘yes’ fast enough.
Is there a new record in the near-future to look forward to?
Yes! I do have a new album that I just finished. I made it with my new pal, Mark Howard. Mark came out on the recent tour and also recorded all of the shows. So perhaps they’ll be a live track on it, as well. I think it will be out by late-summer. Happy to finally be breaking the curse and proving not to be a one-album artist. Perhaps we can have an album release show here in Taos sometime during the summer? If only I could get the band from the record to make the trip. You’ve got me thinking...
What are you reading right now?
Lately, I’m reading “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” The young man’s perspective in the book is profound and makes you question if some things aren’t flying right over our heads in adulthood. Things we would’ve better understood in our youth. It’s an intriguing book, to say the least. Aside from that, I have many classics lying lonely on the nightstand.
Where are you headed next?
I have some shows back in California and in Arizona next month. I’ve also got a part in a movie that’s meant to film in January. It’s a Western and I play “the balladeer” on a dusty sidewalk outside of a courthouse. This left-field job was the last thing I expected, but I’m really looking forward to it and hope to become more involved in film and TV, musically speaking.