Max Rios has sported a journeyman’s hat for the past thirty years. He spent most of the nineties touring with Tejano group Latin Image/Imagen Latina where he played bass and managed the group. During his tenure, the group toured nationally in support of three indie records, two Sony recordings and one Capital release. In the early 2000’s he formed a Rock En Español group entitled Los Gallos and produced two EPs (Barrio Boogie and Los Gallos II) followed by regional gigs. Rios was always drawn to his roots and classic rock influences which range from Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Dwight Yoakum to Tom Petty. He coined the term Tex-Americana to describe his blend of Tex-Mex and Americana music. His songs are shaped by the Gulf Coast breezes that waft in and lace the arrangements with steel guitars and accordions. If one were to amble onto Max’s ‘Tex-Americana Avenue’ you’d hear the buzz of a honky-tonk colliding with the raucous clatter of a cantina.

Shakin’ The Fences is the fourth Max Rios and The Waysiders’ EP to be released on Tone It Records. As Max continues to hone his songwriting craft, he looks forward to getting out and playing live. The collection of songs on Shakin’ The Fences’ is in response to being in lockdown during the pandemic. Rios states, ‘Shakin’ The Fences’ represents an attempt to stay connected…to celebrate the influences, people, and music that have inspired me”.

The Waysiders

Tōne It Up Records® proudly presents Max Rios and The Waysiders. The Waysiders are an east Houston incarnation that embody their roots … which plays like the soundtrack of their Americana experience.

Wayside Drive runs north and south and dissects Houston’s east-side. Remnants of honky tonks and blues joints have faded to neighborhood cantinas… it’s working class.

Max Rios and Chuck Pena are childhood pals that have known each other since their early teens. Pena claims, “believe it or not, we started out in the church choir. We went our separate ways and hooked up again about twelve years ago”. The original “Wayside Kid” is Rodney Crowell. Rios notes, “it’s funny, we ran the same streets growing up that he did. He was always an inspiration. I didn’t realize this till a few years ago when I read his autobiography. We’ve since relocated to Austin but make the trip to Houston pretty often. We named the band The Waysiders because …it’s who we are”.