Watch Max Garcia Conover cover Strand of Oaks’ “Leave Ruin”

For Root Down in the Shadow’s latest Cover Club session, New England artist Max Garcia Conover covered “Leave Ruin” by Philadelphia-by-way-of-Indiana songwriter Strand of Oaks. Although Max hails from Portland, Maine, he has always felt a strong connection to Philadelphia ever since listening to Boyz II Men’s “Motownphilly” as a kid. Max also has a strong connection with other Philly songwriters such as Kurt Vile, Small Houses, and Strand of Oaks, which is evident in his beautiful cover.

Max plays an acoustic rendition of “Leave Ruin” for his Cover Club session. While expertly hitting all the chord changes and off beat rhythms, Max occasionally lets a half-smile slip out at lyrics resonate with him. At other times, Max looks down contemplatively at the lines that really hit home. The video itself is beautifully filmed and recorded.

To shift into a higher gear, Max Garcia Conover also recorded an original song for Cover Club. He performed his fast-paced blues song “My Neighbor Joe” for an audience while stomping one foot on a kick pedal attached to a hollow suitcase and the other on a kick pedal against a tambourine. Max brings all his energy to this song, and you can feel it through the video.

Watch the two videos below, and stay tuned for more Cover Club sessions.