Max Indian brings power pop to Duke Gardens

All photos by Kevin Norris

It was another sticky summer evening on Wednesday, but that didn't keep local band Max Indian from lighting up Duke Gardens with their fantastic pop tunes.

The band, led by Carter Gaj and backed by members of the Drug Horse gang not only played Gaj's fantastic originals including "Free as the Wind," "Oughtaghettacamra" and "Whatever Goes Up," but hit some great covers including Squeeze's "Up the Junction" and The Traveling Wilburys' "Not Alone Anymore."

Surprisingly for a rock show, the band took an intermission after nine songs and returned shortly for a second set. During said set, the band perfomred "My Bag" by Twelve Thousand Armies with Armies singer Justin Williams looking on from the side of the stage. Drummer James Wallace took lead vocals on "Dark of Night, while Ryan Gustafson took the lead on two songs including "Soul Train" from his album Donkey LP.

As the day quickly turned towards night, the band closed with a rousing cover of Nick Lowe's "Cruel To Be Kind." It seemed like they could have gone on for at least a few for songs, but with nightfall imminent, it had to end. Maybe they wished they hadn't taken that intermission.

Max Indian set list (w/ a lot of holes)
Free as the Wind
Oughtaghettacamra
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Whatever Goes Up
Up the Junction
I Couldn't Say It To Your Face
Not Alone Any More
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Now I Know
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My Bag
Look Out
Soul Train
Desert
Cruel To Be Kind