Daggomit! by Max Wareham – Daggomit, It’s Great Bluegrass!
The other day, I visited the FAI Folk DJ Chart in search of some new folk music. As I scrolled down the chart, I saw several interesting albums. However, it was the number 50 album — Daggomit! — that really caught my attention. With a title like that and its cartoonish cover, I thought: this is an album I will undoubtedly like. I need to check it out!
Boy, am I glad I did. So daggomit, let’s find out about the album and its creator, Max Wareham!
DAGGOMIT — Who Is Max Wareham?
Max Wareham is a banjo player, songwriter, and author who hails from Boston, MA. He’s also a member of the Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band and was featured on the Grammy-nominated album “Calling You From My Mountain.”
After two years of touring nationally with Peter Rowan, Max recorded and released his own album, Daggomit!, in February 2025.
In addition to Max’s fine banjo playing, the album features an impressive roster of bandmates:
- Chris Eldridge and David Grier – guitars
- Laura Orshaw – fiddle
- Chris Henry – mandolin
- Mike Bub – bass
- Larry Atamanuik – snare drum
- Guest vocals – Peter Rowan
Sounds like a winning lineup to me! Even the production is top-shelf: Peter Rowan served as producer, and the recording engineer was multi-Grammy winner Sean Sullivan.
Max is clearly passionate about the banjo and committed to honoring the instrument’s early innovators — he’s even written a book about one of them! His dedication shines through every note on Daggomit! — a collection of soulful original songs brought to life by the hard-driving chemistry of Nashville’s top bluegrass players.
One More Thing About Max…
I admire and envy anyone who excels at more than one thing — and Max is one of those people! According to his website:
“In addition to his work as a banjo player, he has studied jazz guitar performance at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in NYC, written songs for and co-produced the album Cousin Moon, played bass with psych-pop outfit Sun Parade, and produced and recorded songs under the alias ‘Sir Orfeo.’”
Thoughts About Daggomit!
Daggomit! packs 13 terrific bluegrass tracks into 43 minutes. Max’s banjo is front and center on most of the tunes — some are all-instrumental (always my favorites!), and others feature strong vocals, including two with Peter Rowan.
Each track gives Max and his bandmates a chance to shine. Bluegrass, after all, is a lot like jazz — everyone takes a turn in the spotlight!
All I can say is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Daggomit! climb higher up the charts. Or maybe it already has, and I missed it — boo hiss on me!
Either way, you should check it out. And as for me? I need to circle back and dive deeper into that Peter Rowan Band album: “Calling You From My Mountain.”
Links for Further Exploration of Max Wareham’s Music
Here’s Max with “Hard Times are hard to Find”! Enjoy!
