MAX 11.27.2022

Words and Photos By Faith Nguyen

MAX Brings his Colorful Vision to Boston on 11/27

On a rainy Sunday evening, the streets of Boston's Chinatown were quiet and empty. But behind the unassuming door of Royale, a popular nightclub and concert venue, a crowd had gathered, buzzing with excitement. They came to see New York-born pop star Max Schneider, better known as MAX. Coming off of his 2020 album, Colorvision, the singer had been on the road for over a month before stopping in Boston, bringing support from Berklee-alum VINCINT with him. VINCINT's pop ballads connected with the crowd before MAX and his band took the stage with a burst of energy.

The energy was the most memorable aspect of the show that night. Even with a smaller audience that seemed a bit shy to engage with the production, MAX's vibrant spirit and DJ-like level of crowd interaction sparked some momentum for the crowd. Cartwheeling, kick-jumping, and spinning across the stage, MAX's show felt like a party from the second he took the stage. His supporting band was clearly having just as good a time as the singer was, dancing together, interacting with the crowd, and even switching instruments at one point. In fact, the barricade separating the performers from the pit was only about 3 feet away from the stage, allowing the musicians on stage to have an intimate connection with the fans. MAX went so far as to run back and forth high-fiving the front row, grab a phone to take a selfie video, and even drew on the poster of a fan asking him to design their first tattoo.

The show grew even more intimate as VICINT took to the stage again to join MAX for a stripped-down version of one of his songs off a previous album. The two sang in perfect harmony along with an audience of fans singing along in slightly less-than-perfect harmony. He continued playing his old hits and every new song was met with excited cheers, which came to a peak when MAX began his 2018, double platinum single, "Turn the Lights Down Low". The lights, however, were anything but low, as the room was lit with fans waving their flashlights to the song.

The party at Royale, led by MAX and his dynamic band, eventually came to a close, leaving fans wanting more. The performers took their bows on stage, which were met with raucous applause. As the fans grabbed their coats to head back into the rain, they shuffled out of the venue buzzing, still high off the energy that MAX had brought to Boston.