Max McNown Makes His Ryman Headline Debut With Two Sold-Out Nights
Max McNown brings his “The Cost of Growing Up” tour to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium with two back-to-back sold-out nights, making a big statement with his headline debut. In just a short couple of years, a relatively unknown kid from rural Oregon has forever stamped his name into the wooden pews of country music history. In a time when Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas are all in heated debates over who has the best country music, Max McNown has popped out of a quietly burgeoning scene in the Pacific Northwest.
Acts such as Brandi Carlile, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top have all seen success the past few years in their respective lanes. Carlile is a legend in alternative country and folk spheres, Wetmore has become one of the biggest names in modern mainstream country, and Top has been the clear forerunner of the 90’s-country revival. McNown, a few years behind in terms of his breakthrough, has yet to quite set his path. He is not an independent legend, he is not a titan of the radio, and he’s not every father of 40’s hero—he’s something yet undefined.
“Love Me Back” is a clean-cut radio-ready country ballad with a bombastic chorus. Lamenting a lost love, McNown dives headfirst into the performance. This track tugs at the heartstrings, it’s a near universal feeling, yet it feels unique to McNown. It is particularly specific, the ‘Haverhill Drive’ line is a nice touch, but by in large it’s a fairly standard track on paper. What is not standard is McNown. There is an aching in his voice that is hard to shake, an emotiveness that is often lost in mainstream country. Paired with the backing acoustic track and the songs seems to tiptoe closer and closer the ‘indie’ side of country music. Truthfully it is a bit reminiscent of Noah Kahan, just with a bit less New England and a little more PNW.
The flipside of this is “Standstill (My My My),” McNown’s latest single. Lyrically it feels more akin to an indie rock song than a country tune during the verses. Conversely, the chorus is a perfectly executed take on ‘boyfriend country,’ a little subgenre anchored by acts such as Thomas Rhett and Dan + Shay. It is high energy, high spirited, and knows exactly what it is. McNown seems in his element on this track, commanding the stage and effortlessly interacting with fans on the front few rows. He is smiling, he is happy, and that energy is reflected ten-fold back from the audience. Despite the sometimes derogatory use of ‘boyfriend country,’ I think McNown owns it here. Singing about how helplessly in love you are is not a bad thing, and McNown understands when and how to lean into that.
One of the most interest parts of Max McNown’s setlist was his inclusion of covers. Rather than playing old standards (say, Willie, Hank, or Waylon), McNown instead leaned into the unexpected. A melody of “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, “With or Without You” by U2, and “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails (yes, I am aware of the Cash cover), paint a very diverse picture. As I said before, McNown has yet to set his path, a path that as of right now is as wide open as the ocean. His headline dates have been him bring along smaller acts such as The Jack Wharff Band, Biscoe, and Nolan Taylor. He also has a handful of dates supporting Texas-country superstar Parker McCollum. It is the seemingly indecisive decisiveness that keeps everyone guessing on where exactly Max McNown is headed.
Setlist
1. Love Me Back
2. Turned Into Missing You (ft. Kimberly Perry)
3. This Side of Heaven
4. Standstill (My My My)
5. Marley -> Three Little Birds [Bob Marley & The Wailers cover]
6. St. Helens Alpenglow
7. World Change Me
8. The Cost of Growing Up
9. Both Sides of the Blade -> With or Without You [U2 cover]
10. 97
11. Night Driving
12. The Way I Wanna
13. Same Questions
14. Done For
15. Hotel Bible
16. Forever Ain’t Long Enough
-
17. Hurt [Nine Inch Nails cover]
18. A Lot More Free
19. Better Me for You (Brown Eyes)
I personally am very excited to see where Max McNown is headed. From personal taste, I can confidently say he’s not quite my cup of team, but I do believe he is one to keep your eye on. And while I may not be adding McNown to any playlists, I’d definitely recommend adding him to your concert lineup. For fans of mainstream country music, I think you’re sure to find some enjoyment out of his shows. They’re fun, energetic, and true to form. For fans of Red Dirt and the like, try and get there early for his dates with Parker, I think you might just be surprised. And for my fellow indie-country-heads out there, just give it a whirl. He's clearly got an ear for all the same music we listen to, so there might just be a little something for you mixed in.
You can find all of Max McNown’s upcoming tour dates here, including headline North American and European dates, festivals such as Bourbon & Beyond, and as direct support for Parker McCollum.