Bravo, Max!

After Bravo, Max! was nominated for a Dallas Observer Music Award this past year, the five-piece was suddenly reduced to a trio. And that wasn't too long after the band released Dog's Light, their impressive debut effort.

Now, some might think a band going through such upheaval might not be up for recording new material. Well, Johnny Beauford and the rest of the three-piece have hopped right into the studio and produced "Sleepy Simon." Best of all, the reduction in size has resulted in the band making the toughest, most direct music of its short career. Check out the "in-the-making" video and let's hope the band keeps going in this much less frilly direction. - Darryl Smyers DALLAS OBSERVER

After Bravo, Max! was nominated for a Dallas Observer Music Award this past year, the five-piece was suddenly reduced to a trio. And that wasn't too long after the band released Dog's Light, their impressive debut effort.

Now, some might think a band going through such upheaval might not be up for recording new material. Well, Johnny Beauford and the rest of the three-piece have hopped right into the studio and produced "Sleepy Simon." Best of all, the reduction in size has resulted in the band making the toughest, most direct music of its short career. Check out the "in-the-making" video and let's hope the band keeps going in this much less frilly direction. - Darryl Smyers DALLAS OBSERVER

Even though Dog's Light is Bravo, Max!'s debut full-length effort, it seems that the band has been around for years. And, in a way, it has. Since 2009, these guys (and gal) have played the area extensively enough that, even with a shitty name, the word-of-mouth buzz on them has been strong. Perhaps too strong.
Yet, though the hype surrounding this release could've been too much pressure for many local outfits, Johnny Beauford and crew prove up to the task. Indeed, the songs on Dog's Light are so well thought out and executed it seems impossible that such a relatively new band wrote and recorded them.

The opening cut, "Hotel Denalian," for example, sounds like some sort of unholy fusion of The Walkmen and Wilco. The songs just reeks of indie cool. It's hipper than hip. It's alt-country filtered through The Postal Service. It's too good to be true—except that it isn't. It's just that good. The next song, "Kiss," is an Old 97's-style two-step that could be a bona fide pop hit.

All in all, taken together, the songs on Dog's Light come across like Calexico without the multi-cultural crossover. In spite of the atrocious name, Bravo, Max! is a band to watch. - Darryl Smyers - DALLAS OBSERVER

Even though Dog's Light is Bravo, Max!'s debut full-length effort, it seems that the band has been around for years. And, in a way, it has. Since 2009, these guys (and gal) have played the area extensively enough that, even with a shitty name, the word-of-mouth buzz on them has been strong. Perhaps too strong.
Yet, though the hype surrounding this release could've been too much pressure for many local outfits, Johnny Beauford and crew prove up to the task. Indeed, the songs on Dog's Light are so well thought out and executed it seems impossible that such a relatively new band wrote and recorded them.

The opening cut, "Hotel Denalian," for example, sounds like some sort of unholy fusion of The Walkmen and Wilco. The songs just reeks of indie cool. It's hipper than hip. It's alt-country filtered through The Postal Service. It's too good to be true—except that it isn't. It's just that good. The next song, "Kiss," is an Old 97's-style two-step that could be a bona fide pop hit.

All in all, taken together, the songs on Dog's Light come across like Calexico without the multi-cultural crossover. In spite of the atrocious name, Bravo, Max! is a band to watch. - Darryl Smyers - DALLAS OBSERVER

Occasionally “that” band comes along. That one you just finally catch on to and you regret that it took so long. But at least you finally caught the fire. “That” band is Dallas’ Bravo, Max!, who have been turning a lot of heads for the past couple of years. I just finally got to see what the big deal was a few months ago at 35 Conferette, and was fully sold on them, 100 percent. Adding a soulful Americana bend to indie rock, frontman Johnny Beauford and company demonstrate exactly what “IT” is. They have it. In spades.

The self-released debut demonstrates purity, honesty and joy to the music they create – Dog’s Light lets us all inside and affords us the ability to have a little slice of them all to ourselves. It may be a copout, but trying to pick standout tracks out of these 11 is nearly impossible, and as one friend quipped recently, Dog’s Light is “strong like bull”.

If you are not on the Bravo, Max! tip yet, get out to one of their shows, and become a believer. - Randy Brown - THE SYNAPTIC

Occasionally “that” band comes along. That one you just finally catch on to and you regret that it took so long. But at least you finally caught the fire. “That” band is Dallas’ Bravo, Max!, who have been turning a lot of heads for the past couple of years. I just finally got to see what the big deal was a few months ago at 35 Conferette, and was fully sold on them, 100 percent. Adding a soulful Americana bend to indie rock, frontman Johnny Beauford and company demonstrate exactly what “IT” is. They have it. In spades.

The self-released debut demonstrates purity, honesty and joy to the music they create – Dog’s Light lets us all inside and affords us the ability to have a little slice of them all to ourselves. It may be a copout, but trying to pick standout tracks out of these 11 is nearly impossible, and as one friend quipped recently, Dog’s Light is “strong like bull”.

If you are not on the Bravo, Max! tip yet, get out to one of their shows, and become a believer. - Randy Brown - THE SYNAPTIC

"As I stepped into Andy's a few minutes after 8 p.m., the first thing I laid eyes upon was two men simultaneously lighting one another's cigarette. As their collective smoke billowed towards the ceiling, passing through the green stage lights on its journey upward, Dallas-based rock band "Bravo, Max!" took to the stage.

To say that Johnny Beauford, guitarist and vocalist of "Bravo, Max!." looked enthusiastic to perform would be a tremendous understatement -- along with Ellie Stevens, accordionist and clarinetists for the group, the two looked radiant as they, along with the rest of the band, dove headfirst into a whirlwind set of folk-infused rock-pop.

Their music is infectious -- there wasn't a soul at Andy's not tapping their foot or nodding their head in giddy approval. Stevens' white accordion, splashed with green color from the overhead lights, played off the tunes provided by Beauford and Co. very organically, serving as a perfect contrast to the mandolins, glockenspiel and other instruments present throughout the performance.

Things really got turned up to 11 when the band announced they, or rather, someone on behalf of them was buying free drinks for everyone at the bar. People cheered."Seriously, man?," a concertgoer asked.

"Yeah, go get a drink!," Beauford said before starting their final few songs.

Maybe it was the splash of green lights and the smoky haze, maybe it was the hum of the accordion, and maybe it was the man in front of me with a large hoop earring, but at the end of their set, I felt as if I had just experienced a rousing nautical adventure -- as if Andy's was a wooden ship sailing across an ocean, and "Bravo, Max!" was the ragtag bunch of eye-patched musicians keeping everyone's peg legs a-tapping." - Seth Cohn - DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE

"As I stepped into Andy's a few minutes after 8 p.m., the first thing I laid eyes upon was two men simultaneously lighting one another's cigarette. As their collective smoke billowed towards the ceiling, passing through the green stage lights on its journey upward, Dallas-based rock band "Bravo, Max!" took to the stage.

To say that Johnny Beauford, guitarist and vocalist of "Bravo, Max!." looked enthusiastic to perform would be a tremendous understatement -- along with Ellie Stevens, accordionist and clarinetists for the group, the two looked radiant as they, along with the rest of the band, dove headfirst into a whirlwind set of folk-infused rock-pop.

Their music is infectious -- there wasn't a soul at Andy's not tapping their foot or nodding their head in giddy approval. Stevens' white accordion, splashed with green color from the overhead lights, played off the tunes provided by Beauford and Co. very organically, serving as a perfect contrast to the mandolins, glockenspiel and other instruments present throughout the performance.

Things really got turned up to 11 when the band announced they, or rather, someone on behalf of them was buying free drinks for everyone at the bar. People cheered."Seriously, man?," a concertgoer asked.

"Yeah, go get a drink!," Beauford said before starting their final few songs.

Maybe it was the splash of green lights and the smoky haze, maybe it was the hum of the accordion, and maybe it was the man in front of me with a large hoop earring, but at the end of their set, I felt as if I had just experienced a rousing nautical adventure -- as if Andy's was a wooden ship sailing across an ocean, and "Bravo, Max!" was the ragtag bunch of eye-patched musicians keeping everyone's peg legs a-tapping." - Seth Cohn - DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE

On their debut Dog's Light LP, released earlier this year, Bravo, Max! showcased themselves as a band unafraid of instrumental experimentation and sensitive lyricism. That, however, all stems from the band's biggest strength: frontman Johnny Beauford, who may be the most promising young songwriter in the region. - Pete Freedman - DALLAS OBSERVER

On their debut Dog's Light LP, released earlier this year, Bravo, Max! showcased themselves as a band unafraid of instrumental experimentation and sensitive lyricism. That, however, all stems from the band's biggest strength: frontman Johnny Beauford, who may be the most promising young songwriter in the region. - Pete Freedman - DALLAS OBSERVER

"Don't wait until next year to see them. If you see them now, you can claim that you were a fan before everyone else caught on." - Chris Mueller - GHOST OF BLIND LEMON

"Don't wait until next year to see them. If you see them now, you can claim that you were a fan before everyone else caught on." - Chris Mueller - GHOST OF BLIND LEMON

"Bravo, Max! are about to release one of the best albums of the year... Combining Telegraph Canyon-like instrumentation with an endearing, heartfelt sensibility, the band's rocking folk-influenced fare should set them up as one of the most adored acts in the region." - Pete Freedman - DALLAS OBSERVER

"Bravo, Max! are about to release one of the best albums of the year... Combining Telegraph Canyon-like instrumentation with an endearing, heartfelt sensibility, the band's rocking folk-influenced fare should set them up as one of the most adored acts in the region." - Pete Freedman - DALLAS OBSERVER