‘Hired Musician’: Okie Bassist Mat Maxwell On Gigs, Touring, And Growing Up In Oklahoma

For the last two years, Mat Maxwell has been on tour with country singer Luke Combs. Mat is an Okie who now calls Nashville home, and spoke with LeAnne about life on the road, growing up in Tishomingo, and his new book, "Hired Musician: A Guide to Getting and Keeping Gigs".

LeAnne: So, talk to us about what it was like growing up in Oklahoma.

Mat: Oh gosh, I moved there from Texas when I was about 10 or 11 and lived there pretty much up until about three years ago when I moved to Nashville full-time. I’d been going back and forth. I grew up in Tishomingo, a small town in southern Oklahoma. You know, typical small-town life—played some sports, did okay in school, had a good time, and then slowly made my way. I did a two-year stint in Kansas at a music program in southern Kansas, then landed in Tulsa for about 15 years. During that time, I played with, oh gosh, 50 to 100 different bands. I just said yes to everything in the beginning, and it was great. I miss it.

LeAnne: I’m sure you miss parts of it! But I think it’s so cool. We’ll talk about where you are now, but at what point did you realize music was going to be more than a hobby?

Mat: I had that notion in my early 20s while at the music program in Kansas. It was a small program at a junior college in Parsons, Kansas, and one of my instructors there had done a lot of professional work himself. That was when it went from just being something fun to something I could seriously pursue. He showed me a path, explaining how to make money in music and sharing examples of people who do it for a living. So, somewhere in my early 20s, I realized it could be more than a hobby.

LeAnne: You’ve played with some big names, so let’s take a look at these pictures: Ed Sheeran, Vince Gill, Blake Shelton, and, most recently, Luke Combs. Is it everything you thought it would be?

Mat: Yes, most definitely—and usually, I realize it after the fact. When I get home, hanging out with friends or family, they’re like, “That’s so cool!” And I’m like, “You know what? It is so cool.” While I’m practicing and playing, it’s a lot of pressure, but afterward, I look back and think, “Wow, that was amazing.”

LeAnne: This book is a great read. I love the music business, but obviously, I’m not in it. It feels like a how-to manual—do you wish you’d had something like this while you were getting started?

Mat: Absolutely. I tried to absorb everything I could, but I couldn’t find a guide like this. My co-author and I thought it would be helpful, especially today, even with all the technology, YouTube, and AI. A 90-something-page, all-in-one manual is still so useful. There’s just something about holding a physical book and turning the pages. That was the inspiration—a one-stop guide, since I’ve been compiling this information over the years.

LeAnne: I want everyone to see your tattoo. I noticed it in a lot of the pictures—tell our viewers about it.

Mat: Sure. It’s a bass clef, a symbol familiar to piano players, low brass players, bass guitarists—you name it. It represents the lower register, the low end. I got it tattooed in Tulsa about six or seven years ago.

LeAnne: And when you’re on stage with thousands of people, it has to be such a rush.

Mat: It’s a lot of fun! There are two parts of my brain working at once—one side is focused on doing the job and hitting the right notes, while the other side is soaking in the excitement, running around and engaging with the crowd. It’s definitely a blend of two unique worlds.

LeAnne: Well, we’re interested to see where you’ll be next, and you’ve got to keep us posted. Mat’s book is available wherever books are sold.