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I GET DOWN WITH 1/2 OF HI/JACK AND INTERVIEW SINGER/GUITARIST MAX!




The frontman of HI/JACK, Max has been a friend for almost a decade now and during that time he's been putting out some good material, but nothing's as good as his current band. I took some time to catch up with Max, get the low-down on one half of Hi/Jack, where we talk about sounds, inspirations and some of the plans for one of Milwaukee's best up-coming bands!

Q: What inspired you to play music? Do the same bands still influence your sound?

A: The first thing to inspire me was Angus Young from AC/DC. Watching him play made me want to actually have a piece of Rock N’ Roll for myself. Other than that influences have included Jimmy Page, James Hetfield, Joe Strummer, Billie Joe Armstrong, Billy Gibbons...the list goes on. But yes, these bands do still influence me and the sound of Hi/Jack.


Q: Since you're a two-man band, how do you both work on the structure of the sound? Is it a collab or is it more of one do one part, another does the other part and you see what comes together?

A: It usually starts with a riff. Somethings a particular rhythm Ron may stumble on to will trigger an idea too. But primarily, the best songs have come from jamming together. It seems to be the most organic way for us to write. It’s always a drag when you come up with something that excites you but you can’t work on it right away because you’re jamming alone. That creative spark can dwindle. I like to bottle the spark when it first strikes.

Q: When learning to play music what was your goal for your band or did you see yourself as a music teacher or mentor?

A: Being in a band was always the only option. Teaching has never really appealed to me. The goal for the band is to ‘make it’. Now, what does that mean? It means being able to sustain our families with the band’s income and to be able to continue to record great music and play to as many people as possible.
Q: Whats the most rewarding part of recording?

A: The ability to be unlimitedly creative. Just because we’re a two piece doesn’t stop me from experimenting with layering, effects, different mic placements, etc. When a song comes together on record, it’s really gratifying.

Q: Whats the most rewarding part of a live show?

A: Being able to cut loose and play for the fans. Play live is a totally different animal from recording or rehearsing. Sometimes mustering the energy to play live seems daunting, but when we kick it in, it’s all good. And the nights where Ron and I are really locked in, it feels like I’m floating on air. Time stands still and it's just the music and the fans. Fantastic.

Q: You've just released your first EP, why did you choose an EP rather than a record?

A: Simply because that’s all the material we had. We recorded five songs at Sun Studios. We toyed with the idea of waiting until we put out another full length to release the songs as part of a deluxe edition, but we decided to just put it out. The songs are good and the vibe of the recordings as really unique. We didn’t use our own gear to make the EP, everything was in the studio. I used my own guitars, but the amp was a little fender combo from the 50’s and Ron played on U2 drummer Larry Mullin Jr’s drumkit. It was quite an experience.

Q: You seem to have a nice core group of people in your hometown, do you feel the music scene where you are working with artists or is it a constant struggle?

A: It’s both. Milwaukee, in general, is a tough scene and it always has been. We have found that we have had to garner some attention around ourselves from places other than Milwaukee before we became a contender in the scene. It seems backwards, but that’s how it is.

Q: Since you've released new music, are you planning any summer tour dates? After all, summer is right around the corner.

A That is up in the air at this moment. We have some big plans coming up, but whether a tour is part of it for 2018 remains to be seen.


You can listen to HI/JACK on Soundcloud and or iTunes!
If you like what you hear, support a great band and grab their new EP!
Follow them on their social media for all upcoming shows, merch and music! 

Hopefully, in the next coming weeks, I'll get to catch up with the second half of the band, Ron and get his take on music, recording and what his plans for the band are!

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