South of Lincoln’s Max Holmquist brings mustache, folk music to Duffy’s Tavern

Max Holmquist is many things.

He's a talented musician, a staple of various coffeeshops around Lincoln and hairy as hell.

When this interview took place, his face was garnished with a mustache that seemed to extend all the way down his chin and neck to the lackadaisically buttoned shirt.

Holmquist will be performing with Shipbuilding Co., Ben Weaver and Dan Dorner on Wednesday under his moniker, South of Lincoln.

The show starts at 9 p.m. at Duffy's Tavern, 1412 O St.

Daily Nebraskan: If your mustache could talk, what would it say?

Max Holmquist: It would say, "Knock, knock. Here's your pizza, young lady. Where's the party at?"

DN: What are your experiences with Shipbuilding Co.? Casey (Welsch) wanted me to ask you if you think they're over-hyped?

MH: I've never played with them before, so I'm not familiar with their relevance. Knowing the level of musicians you're playing with helps you go into shows, I'm not sure what level they're at. It doesn't really matter what kind of connections they have. I don't pay attention to that anyway. I have a tendency to psych myself up, and I'll more likely get nervous and screw up.

DN: What have you been up to the past year?

MH: I have a CD coming out in January. Eleven tracks. And I've been writing a lot, too. I've written an entire CD's worth of material since then. But getting back into the studio is expensive.

DN: Where were you recording?

MH: Plan C. Matty Sanders, Matt Hovanec (Heat Machine), Mark Wolberg (The Amalgamators) are all good buddies of mine.

DN: What do you think audiences respond to in your shows?

MH: They heard the beard speaking, and they like what the beard has to say (laughs). The music I write deals with stuff that everyone can relate to: family, friends, sense of home. Alcoholism (laughs).

DN: Why should people come out to this show?

MH: Lincoln has great solo folk artists. Manny Coon, Smith's Cloud, Daniel Dorner. He's a new face. I hear he's good, but he hasn't played that much. That's what I love about solo folk artists. It's just a guy and a guitar. It's never flashy. It's not what you can do, it's what you decide to do. I know a lot of people who are really good at playing guitar, but (folk) is not how much can do, it's when you choose to do it. I'd call it musical white space.

DN: Anything else you want to add about your show?

MH: Everyone should go. It could be the last show they ever see. The world could end tomorrow.

noahballard@dailynebraskan.com