MAX Performs an Intimate Show at the Subterranean in Chicago

MAX brings on his live and intimate tour to fans in three upcoming cities with support from little luna and Ayumu Imazu.

Outside the Subterranean venue, fans waited in Chicago’s windy weather to Max’s three night experience in Chicago. Each night is known to contain three completely different sets and something he has never done before. Chicago is the first to experience that with him for the start of this tour.

Since the tour was announced in late 2024, Max had come to the decision to donate all profits from the tour to LA Wildfire Relief Funds to support his community from the previous wildfires that had begun a month before the tour had started. As fans made their way into the venue to experience the night one, in the theme of the ‘Lounge’ for Chicago, there were people with posters that expressed their love for the artists.

The first opener to who made her way out was little luna, beginning her set with ‘’last time,’’ a single that really gave new listeners a feel of her lyrical depth. Luna has also been teaching yoga and guided meditation for over seven years, which plays a role in tuning in with others who listen to her music and reflects that in her sound. She performed a surprise cover of “As it Was” by Harry Styles, which lured new listeners into her melodious style.

As she reached the end of her set, luna performed ‘’wildflower woman,’’ where she takes the time to share that the place where she wrote the song almost burned down from the wildfires in California. As a surprise, luna ended her set with “9 lives” , an unreleased song that is set to be released on March 6th.

Not too long after, Ayumu Imazu made his way to the stage with his bandmate on the keys. This tour was Imazu’s first United States tour he has done so it was a memorable moment for the audience to help show support for his great set. Imazu is an artist and dancer originally from Japan, but is based in New York City. The artist, a huge fan of Max’s music, described being so ‘hyped’ to be here. He started by debuting an unreleased song called “Thrifted,” set for release on February 21st.

At the end of his set, he describes how he got connected with Max through singing this “Obsessed” over a year ago and led to him joining the tour that was a hit.

Following the last set, fans had been prepared and had their phones and posters pulled out for Max’s grand entrance. His band makes his way up first, then Max makes his way to the stage through the stairs leading down and begins to kick it off with “Acid Dreams”, which immediately had fans singing word for word as each song flowed to the next. The setlist of the show relied mainly on the new album, which included “Stupid In Love”, “Butterflies”, and “Wasabi”. 

Not to mention a crowd favorite, Max performed “It’s You,” where he had asked the crowd to create a romantic circle for a couple in the crowd to have that song dedicated to them to slow dance to. Fans also helped curate the vibe with the flashes off their phones, making the fan engagement energetic through each song.

In between one of the songs, Max discusses how the wildfires happened a few blocks from his home. He let people know he’s donating all the profits from this tour to help rebuild the community. He performs a new unreleased song “Love My Girl,” which is about “how a handsome firefighter hit on his wife”. Fans found it humorous but also wholesome.

Excited to see what would come next and at a surprise, he did a deep cut medley experiment where he hit it off with “Gucci Bag” to “10 Victoria Secret Models” and a few other songs that had fans singing word for word within the medley. Reaching the end of his set, Max closed the show with “Wasabi” a wholesome, warm and playful song to close off the show of the first night of the tour that fans were extremely hype about and he did bring a few fans on stage to also dance with. If you haven’t had the chance to see Max Live On Tour, now is your chance in New York and Los Angeles this winter season.