Maxwell Senteney

Maxwell Senteney (he/him) is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer from Carbondale, IL. Raised by record collectors, he developed a passion for music at a very young age. Before long, he found himself immersed within the DIY community of artists and musicians in Carbondale. This close-knit scene of supportive creatives inspired him to write his own music. He cut his teeth playing in punk basements and dive bars, exploring the fringes of punk and experimental music. 

In his early twenties Max Senteney joined renowned country-blues group Rev Peyton’s Big Damn Band as their touring guitar tech. After a couple years he took over as their full-time drummer, playing concerts and festivals all over the world. Together they recorded three full-length records, two of which were nominated for awards by the Blues Foundation. It was during his nearly 11 years run with the Big Damn Band, Senteney acquired his stage name “Sad Max”. He grew to love roots music and started to study the history of American music. While doing this he started playing old-time banjo music, learning traditional tunes and writing his own songs in this old style. 

In 2021 Senteney founded River to River Community Records, A donation funded and volunteer operated record label which supports Southern Illinois artists. This organization has recorded and released several vinyl records, dozens of digital releases, and numerous music videos. Their mission is to lift up local artists and shine a light on the music community that has inspired Senteney since he was a kid. Today Sad Max Senteney plays drums with one of Carbondale’s most successful and enduring bands, The Woodbox Gang. He also drums for a new, soul infused honky-tonk group called Lucas Wayne and the Cottonmouths. They tour through the Mid-South and Midwest regularly. Sad Max also plays drums in a doom-metal band called Creeper Bud, whose first album will be released in 2026. He is always writing and recording his own songs. Be it traditional style banjo music, country, folk, punk, experimental or anything in between.