Adam and The Waxmen

Artist Information

Biography

It just feels good...


Assembled for the sole purpose of having fun, a loose bunch of musicians gathered around the songs of a natural new songwriter named Adam Waxman. He was the new kid on the block, having only a year or so in trying his hand at the guitar and writing songs. After a few months, the band members all realized that they'd all been playing music in many many bands for many many years, and they'd never in all their born days had people respond like this... within a couple shows the front of the dance floor was crowded and people were screaming back lyrics at the band. And furthermore, the band themselves had never felt quite so right playin' together. It was like sitting down to hot buttered biscuits and gravy every time they strapped on instruments. Adam's songs reminded them of a bygone time when music had class, and warmth, and reached out to people in universal ways...a time when music was played, not into a computer and stretched and sliced and squashed, but played in a room by happening musicians in front of sweaty, glowing, happy people.

Why are people so drawn to their sound? It could be the thunderous pocket held down by Bobby Queen on bass. Originally a drummer, he has put that knowledge of pocket from years of gigging to keep heads bobbing 'Steely Dan' style.
It could be the tasty layers of Frank 'Cakes' Hopkins on the keys. A session player and recording engineer by trade, he is a regional legend for playing 47 different instruments in 96 bands. His smooth Rhodes flavored funk chills the band out; his screaming Hammond organ cuts them loose and brings the whole room back to church.
It could be the staggering leads of Mike Chasse on the electric guitar. Getting bored with the drums because he'd mastered them, he decided to become Stevie Ray, Carlos Santana, and Walter Becker all rolled into a crispy chalupa. He does tend to surprise his bandmates with such 'tasty' moments that they forget to play, and his fearless approach to solos lead the band down ever increasing orgasmic paths.
It could be the Maceo/Kininger like wail of Adam 'Action' Jackson pushing the band ever higher in the jam. Also a recording engineer by trade, his monster ears and chops flavor perfectly, whether soaring complex melodies over full throttle funk or breathy and poignant over quiet sections for the ladies.
It could be the massive backbeat set up and knocked down by Chuck 'the chucksta' Prinn. His thunderous drum fills bring to mind Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band, but his sharp groove drives the band comfortably, more like a Steve Gadd in their laid back cool.
Ultimately, you can put together an all star group of the greatest session players in the world, and it will still come down to the songwriting. In Adam Waxman, the band's true secret weapon comes to life. From a musical family, he discovered singing and writing very late in the game, but much like Ray Lamontagne, he is blessed with such pure natural talent that, well, some members of the band feel he oughta go to jail. It's just wrong, that's what it is. The silky set of pipes he's got have created quite the buzz for this band, but his uncanny ability to tap into universal themes and the sheer accessibility of his writing is what will push this band to the top.

Instrumentation

Adam Waxman. vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
Michael Chasse. lead guitar
Bobby Queen. bass
'Cakes' Hopkins. keys, vocals
Chuck Prinn. drums
Daemian Allen. alto and tenor saxophones

Discography

Their first album, Just Play, is being released on Sept. 13th at The Big Easy in Portland, ME. Tracks are available for purchase at i-tunes or through cdbaby.
also streaming currently at
www.adamandthewaxmen.com
or
www.myspace.com/adamandthewaxmen

Audio

• Changin' Man
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• Angel
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Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Adam Waxman doesn’t write a lot of love songs but his music is a labor of love... [+ Show ]
  

  Jaye Drew, Freelance Writer March 18, 2008 Visit www.myspace.com/ adamandthewaxmen to hear the...
  Jaye Drew, Freelance Writer
  March 18, 2008
  
  Visit www.myspace.com/ adamandthewaxmen to hear their tunes.
  
  Check the calendar for upcoming shows.
  
  Waxman's voice is a gentle giant, matching his towering frame and sweet demeanor. With or without the band, he commands the stage like he’s been singing the blues since the day he was born.
  
  Despite encouragement from a musician father growing up, Adam didn’t warm up to musicianship early on. He was 23 when he decided he owed the world a tune or two and hit the ground running with a natural knack for song writing. Teaming up with Dad, Waxman started performing regularly at the old Chicky’s Fine Diner (now The Frog and Turtle) in Westbrook. A hub for local music, Chicky’s was where Adam recruited the founding members of ‘The Waxmen.’ There he became immersed with like-minded players namely Bobby Queen (bass), Chuck Prinn (drums, percussion), Frank Hopkins (horns, keys, guitar), Michael Chasse (lead guitar) and Adam Jackson (sax).
  
  Adam’s reasoning for deciding to make music is simple: “I wanted to make people feel good.” While being in the audience or in the middle of a pair of headphones for a dose of his blues is tried and true to that effect, this isn’t just feel good music.
  
  “I don’t write a lot of love songs I write a lot of…things about hopes and dreams and change and fear and insecurities and just not being afraid to…to live.”
  
  Adam also writes about what he believes in, which is in part a call to action for social awareness and an obligation to the world community. This theme resonating in his music is not the whimsy of an ideological dreamer, but a statement made by a man who puts his money where his mouth is.
  
  When we sat down to chat at Sebago Brewing Co. in Portland Adam had just finished hosting a talent show organized to raise funds and awareness for the not for profit ‘Invisible Children.’
  
  Invisible Children is an organization working to improve the quality of life for war-affected children in Uganda. Adam provides monetary support to the cause through an automated monthly deduction from his bank account and gives of his time and talents when the opportunity arises. His mantra mirrors the message put forth in his music. ‘It’s important especially in this country to look outside of your own box that you live in and recognize that there are a lot of children, a lot of people out there that need something, that need a lot,” he said.
  
  Like most everything he dedicates his time and energy to, Adam’s music is a labor of love. While it has the power to do what he intended for it to do, to ‘make you feel good’, it might also make you think.
  
  The album the band has been working on features Daemien Allen on brass and is scheduled for an April 1st release. While you’re waiting for your copy you can slip in a pair of ear buds and visit www.myspace.com/adamandthewaxmen and www.adamandthewaxmen.com.
  
  If you feel like tapping your toes and changing the world at the same time go to invisiblechildren.com to see how you can make a difference in the life of a child affected by war.

Setlist

Sets vary from 1 to 3 45 min. sets. Mostly original material, but Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and other popular covers do show up in longer shows.
Adam and the Waxmen have shared the stage with artists as diverse as Peter Prince and Moon Boot Lover, Paradigm, Will Dailey, The Free Press, and the Soul Movement.

Basic Requirements

Calendar