I love this man. I met Nathen Maxwell about 10 years ago before a Flogging Molly show. He was wearing a pork pie hat and nothing else. I think he had socks on. I knew I liked his style but didn’t know right away about his attitude. I don’t know if I know anyone that loves music more than this man. He wears it on his sleeves and his jeans and his heart. Nathen was kind enough to answer a few questions from us at Dry Ink about his solo outfit Nathen Maxwell & The Original Bunny Gang. I know he is a very busy fella these days still playing bass with Flogging Molly full time and trying to perform his solo songs live. So thank you Nathen. Sincerely, I do consider you a great friend. Did I happen to mention that I love this guy.

Tom Cheshire: You recently did some dates in Europe with The Original Bunny Gang. How did they go? Who did you play with?

Nathen Maxwell: The Euro tour was a total blast!  We played with a lot of good bands and met a lot of great people.  All of the shows we played in Germany and Belgium were with a solo artist named Pascal Briggs.  We played in Amsterdam with the one and only Hepcat and the rest of the shows were with various local support acts. Except Zurich where we were the only band on a Reggae/Soul DJ dance club night.

TC: You are about to do some shows in Japan. Where else do you plan on going?

NM: We plan on going anywhere that people love music.  Hopefully that means everywhere… Looks like a Matisyahu tour might be in the works.

TC: How is it playing in a band with your father?

NM: It’s a cool experience.  He is my favorite drummer and he’s my dad.  We don’t have what some might consider a traditional father son relationship.  I feel free to be myself while I’m around him and I think he feels the same.

TC: What is the story behind The Original Bunny Gang? And what is the story behind the title of the record White Rabbit?

NM: The Original Bunny Gang aka O.B.G. PUNX is a group of friends that I grew up with.  We were a bunch of punk rock kids that had common ground in being anti racist.  We hopped trains,  made music, made art and partied together.

TC: Who is playing currently in The OBG? What does the band consist of?

NM: Papa Maxwell on drums,  Mike Peralta aka “Big Wig from O.B.G.” on Bass, and a young friend from Denver named Ryan Brasher on guitar and other miscellaneous noise makers.

TC: What is going on in The Flogging Molly camp?

NM: Flogging Molly have some shows in Europe and Japan and then we will take the rest of the year off to write and record a new album.

TC: What have you been listening to lately?

NM: Valleys of Neptune by Jimmy Hendrix is getting a lot of play on the bus and in the house.  I still put on the 45’s, one of my favorite Atlanta bands.  I wonder how they are doing?  Also I just had a baby and for some reason in my house that means a lot of Bob Marley and Simon and Garfunkel… haha!!!

TC: When can we get you and The OBG to play in Atlanta?

NM: Maybe this August…

TC: What is next for you guys? Will there be another Nathen Maxwell and The Original Bunny Gang album?

NM: I am always writing and there is absolutely another record in the works… In the mean time we just want to get out there and play this music live!

TC: Thank you for your time mate.

NM: You got it my friend.  Think you could help us get to Atlanta?

TC: You got it. Cheers!