Boilin' Oil

Boilin' Oil

About Boilin' Oil

High-energy, soulful acoustic music with an emphasis on bluegrass, newgrass and blues. Max Williams mandolin, vocals Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Max started his music career as a guitarist, playing rock, jazz and blues. After listening to some Tony Rice and "Dawg" music recordings, he fell in love with bluegrass and, in 2001, had an extraordinary dream about playing the mandolin. Soon after that he equipped himself with the 8-string gourd and quickly learned some serious chops. He met Chris Demers at a bluegrass jam in Gainesville, FL in 2002 and has been the instrumental core of the band since, bringing his diverse influence of swing, gypsy jazz and blues, with a driving bluegrass style, to the band's sound. An accomplished player, Max won a Hibbard Perry Memorial Scholarship to attend the 2005 American Mandolin and Guitar Summer School where he studied with such greats as Marilynn Mair, John McGann, and Barry Mitterhoff. He is also the First Place winner of the 2006 and 2007 Florida State Bluegrass Mandolin Championship. Way to go Max!! In addition to his solo pursuits and Boilin' Oil, Max also plays with the Jacare Brazil music ensemble. John Peyton bass, vocals A Florida native, John was raised in Jacksonville, FL and joined the band in December 2005. John's interest in bluegrass music began around 1970 when he and his brothers started going to bluegrass festivals around north Florida. This led to some networking with local players and enthusiasts, and eventually in the founding of the North Florida Bluegrass Association. He and his brothers formed a band, aptly named the "Peyton Brothers", playing regularly all over North Florida in the 70s. John still plays with his brother, Mike, in another band called, "Sadie's Shoes" and we're proud to have him holding down the beat and singing some tenor in Boilin' Oil. Chris Demers guitar, vocals From Saratoga Springs, New York, Chris is one of the founding members of the band. Acquiring a taste for driving acoustic music at an early age with his grandfather, Chris started his musical pursuits on violin, started to learn the fiddle style, then switched to guitar as a teenager. After spending several years in college jamming with friends and learning to play blues guitar, he was inspired by some live bluegrass performances featuring some blistering flatpicking guitar. This began his journey learning the bluegrass/flatpicking guitar style while incorporating his blues, jazz, folk and rock influences. He and his buddy Bill Casey started Boilin' Oil as an acoustic guitar / mandolin duet in Gainesville, FL and the rest is history.

Taken from Last.fm

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