Following my interview with MAX, I was invited to attend his show at the TLA in Philadelphia on Black Friday. Between scoring a parking spot steps from the venue and an infamous Woodrow’s truffle-wiz cheesesteak, the night was off to a propitious start. The animation, enthusiasm, and authentic passion for pure performance was contagious the moment the curtain opened. Not only was MAX consumed by vivacity, but the crowd reacted on the same level. To put it lightly, the audience passed the vibe check. I found myself bonding with the strangers beside me to the point where they transitioned from strangers to friends without uttering a single word. One can’t underestimate the consequence of unity that music encourages. There was not a soul in those 1908 built four walls that was not truly encapsulated by the melodies dancing in the air around them. MAX performed a multitude of his hit singles. Some of which included Love Me Less, Lights Down Low, and Blueberry Eyes, which he performed the whole BTS verse, in Korean. To say that MAX is a dedicated artist is an extraordinary understatement. Along with playing his chart toppers, he also included covers of Miss Jackson by Outkast and Milkshake by Kelis. Not only did this add an additional layer to the show, but it also increased the energy of the audience, as if it was not high enough already. Feeling the icy air sting my face while exiting the doors of the TLA and hitting South Street was a cold awakening to the reality of ordinary life. For those three hours, me and the 999 other individuals there were bound by the essence of music, performance, and acceptance. This is a feeling I’ll be chasing until the next live show.
Until next time,
Taylor Brooke
