There’s always been something special about Maxwell, but now it’s on full display. Call it silly or playful or just plain fun, but the Maxwell of 2024 has found a new groove in his step. With a career spanning nearly 30 years, Maxwell has remained a formidable force in the neo-soul and R&B spheres. Best known for slow songs like “Pretty Wings” and his cover of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” the artist stepped out of his familiar territory during Thursday night’s concert at the United Center.
Surprises marked Maxwell’s entrance. After Jazmine Sullivan’s riveting opening set, a sheer curtain concealed Maxwell’s band, who played an extended downtempo house beat. The darkened arena waited in anticipation for Maxwell’s unconventional appearance.
Suddenly, a spotlight shone towards the back of the room, and Maxwell briefly moved through the crowd before jumping up onto a small platform. Clad in loose-fitting pants, a baggy trench coat and a bucket hat, the musician opened the show with a cover of Al Green’s song “Simply Beautiful.” It was a delightful, fan-focused start.
Maxwell only stayed in the back for one track before moving to the main stage and jumping into one of his early hits, “Get to Know Ya.” Although many people most often think of his slow dance classics, Maxwell has a discography full of downtempo grooves, and they were thankfully on display during the early part of his show. He gave “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” room to breathe as Maxwell and his band traded off harmonies and dance moves.
And dance he did. Literal twists, turns, and charming little dance breaks kept the momentum going. Who knew that Maxwell was so silly and fun? This is a man, well into his 50s, who is not afraid to get down. A stuffier act might have simply stood around a microphone stand for the hour-and-30-minute set. But Maxwell is a singular artist for a reason.
If anything, the “Serenade Tour” served as a chance for the long-beloved musician to continue breaking out of a proverbial shell and embodying all aspects of his musicianship.
Later, he performed “Lake by the Ocean” and “Matrimony: Maybe You,” but with a propulsive kick, turning the concert into a straight-up dance party. For the former, Maxwell gave a shout-out to various Caribbean communities like Haitians and Jamaicans before adding a light calypso kick to the song.
The evening, however, was not only for dancing. Toward the latter part of the first half of the show, the group began to speed through more of the tracks, not leaving as much room for fans to dive into the heart of the songs. I personally would have loved it if we spent a little more time on tracks like “Luxury: Cococure” from the 2009 album “BLACKsummers’night.” But there was a lot to get through.
After a brief break, he returned to the stage for more of his traditionally slow songs. These included the wistful “Whenever Wherever Whatever” and “For Lovers Only,” among others.
I was particularly blown away by his performance of “Fistful of Tears.” The deep and mournful track could be understood with illuminating clarity in a way I had not experienced in years past. That is often the case for casual listeners of Maxwell’s music who are drawn into the instrumentation and harmonies before the lyrics.
Overall, it was a pleasing section of the show, and a much-needed break for the knees and feet of his widely intergenerational audience (at one point, he polled the room on their decades of birth, from the ’50s to the ’90s). But it did feel a little too slow at times, or perhaps a little longer than one would have wanted. A small gripe, but not a dealbreaker.
As he closed down the show, Maxwell jumped back into some of his biggest hits ever, including the beloved “Lifetime,” which had most people in the room singing along to the track. During his rendition of “Fortunate,” Maxwell incorporated a snippet of Beyoncé’s 2024 country single “16 Carriages.” This mashup went viral on TikTok and was a perfect encapsulation of the Maxwell of today: playful, creative, and earnest.
“Thank you for buying creativity,” he said. Indeed, in a world where artists are struggling to find sustainability in the industry, fans continue to invest in artists like Maxwell who don’t conform to trends. Maxwell proves artistry is most exciting when it operates on its own terms.
“I started out with a humble dream and you guys made it into an incredible experience,” Maxwell shared. I am sure the audience could say the same.
Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
