Stanford-educated rocket scientist, boxcar-hopping hobo, urban bohemian and desert survivalist – indie folk rocker Max Carmichael has headlined at New York’s Knitting Factory and appeared in a feature article in the Village Voice. With a range of styles placing him in such varied and storied company as Vampire Weekend, Calexico, Moby, and Muse, Carmichael’s work is continually surprising, yet surprisingly familiar.

Raised in the foothills of the Appalachians, Max’s earliest memories range fr...