Girl at the Rock Shows

Thursday night was another two-fer for me. I had a sold-out show at the 7th Street Entry and then a practically sold-out show at First Avenue’s iconic mainroom. The two shows couldn’t have been more different, yet somehow, together, they created the perfect soundtrack for my Thursday night. I knew nothing about any of the bands playing in either room, which added to the excitement I felt as I drove downtown, but when I arrived at the legendary venues and saw long lines of people for both conjoined venues, I knew that Thursday night was going to be a good night.

Headlining the more intimate 7th Street Entry was Max McNown. Don’t know that name? Don’t worry, you will soon. Max is brand new to the scene. I mean, I’m sure he has been playing music for years, but he didn’t release his debut single, “Freezing in November,” until April of 2023. I know that’s almost two years ago, but in the music industry, that’s no time at all, so the fact that this current tour that Thursday night’s show was part of was a completely sold-out tour is absolutely a shock and an indication that this is an act to watch.

Joined on stage by a cast of beautifully talented musicians, Max quickly leaped into a nearly twenty-song set. Thursday night was the second night of Max’s two-night stay at The Entry. I wasn’t there for the Wednesday night show, so I can’t tell you if he and his band played the same set on both nights. Still, within the first song, the entire audience (minus myself because I’ve apparently been living under a rock) started singing along. This just emphasized not only the charming smile on Max’s face but also the overall sound.

Sonically, Max McNown is not my usual cup of tea. It’s that kind of generic indie-rock-pop-folk-Americana blend, but Max does it so well and with such a sense of firey passion that it’s impossible not to fall in love with this kid. Although I had never heard his songs before, I quickly found myself hanging on to his every word and feeling like some of the songs were being sung directly to me. Obviously, I know that’s not true, but I feel like that speaks volumes about Max’s talent when it comes to his lyrics.

I wish I could tell you more about Max’s show, but I’m lost for words. I was so shocked to see such a stunning talent on such an intimate stage. From all that I can figure out, this tour was booked well before Max became a viral sensation on social media. Many of the shows on the tour had been upgraded to larger venues, but not the Minneapolis date. Instead of bumping up venues, Max and his band spent two completely sold-out nights at the 7th Street Entry. It reminded me a bit of seeing Nathaniel Rateliff at The Turf Club just before he blew up or seeing Billie Eilish at the 7th Street Entry before she created a wave around the world. It had the same feeling, and Max had that same smile. It’s a smile that speaks volumes. It’s a genuine one. One that says, “Holy shit, I think I’m onto something!” but in a humble way. It added a little razzle-dazzle to an already truly sparkling set.

Before I let you go, I must mention the charming Theo Kandel, who started the night with his super cute and deep folk music and often self-deprecating humor. Kicking the set off by acknowledging that nobody was at this show to see him perform and that he was solely riding off of Max’s coattails, Theo quickly gained the attention of the excited and completely sold-out audience. His sound wasn’t aggressive and, quite frankly, would have been so easy to drown out with conversations, but something was commanding about his presence and something about his words that, like that of Max, tugged at your heartstrings and really pulled you into his world. I’m sure that Theo (like Max) didn’t quite expect such an insane reception on this tour, but regardless of what Theo said at the beginning, he, like Max, was more than worthy of the honor. Although he hasn’t hit the big time like Max clearly has, it’s just a matter of time for Theo.

Line Up:

Theo Kandel

Max McNown

Venue: 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 32

Crowd Surfers- None

Stage Divers- None

Mosh-ability- 0 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- 0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Theo Kandel – 0

Max McNown – 0

Celebrity Sightings – None

Overall Score – 7.8 out of 10

Show on Deck — Nourished By Time / Panda Bear / Toro y Moi

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