Max grew up in a small town in eastern Long Island listening to Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash. When he arrived in Boston to go to college, he found that he was sidetracked by Cake, Martin Sexton, The White Stripes, and the Darkness. The varying influences show in his music. Max tells stories in the anecdotal style of his favorite lyricists, moving quickly between funny, serious, insightful, clever, and sarcastic without stopping to breathe.

His guitar playing style has developed over time into something truly unique and instantly recognizable, resulting from a need to allow audiences to bop their heads and dance during solo sets without the aid of a drummer and a bassist to set the groove.

The final piece is a not-so-secret love of pop music and catchy songs, an element incorporated into all of his music. Max writes hooks that will remain in the heads of audience members for weeks, and that will ultimately make them want to come back.