Maxwell's "The Serenade Tour" was simply beautiful

When debates ensue about the state of R & B music today, few can dispute that any artist has been as impactful as Maxwell. Cemented as one of the faces on the Mt. Rushmore of neo-soul, Maxwell first burst on the scene during a time when love was seemingly being phased out of music. With his debut album “Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite,” the singer-songwriter along with artists such as D’Angelo and Erykah Badu created a movement in music that spilled over into the way young African-Americans and people of color showed up in the world and how they engaged one another. Big hair, bright smiles, free spirits, and full souls, Maxwell made it ok to come as you are and to ascend higher.

More than thirty years and four albums later, Maxwell has maintained his stellar career by continuing to perform sold-out shows all over the world. Most recently Maxwell performed for the NPR Tiny Desk concert series garnering nearly 10 million views in one month. Not bad for someone who hasn’t released an album in almost ten years.    

This past weekend, the singer brought his “The Serenade Tour” to a capacity crowd at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena and the show did not disappoint. Joined on the road by relative newcomer October London, and vocal powerhouse Jazmine Sullivan, Maxwell got the crowd on its feet when he opened his set by appearing atop the sound station at the back of the house singing Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful.”

If I gave you my love
I tell you what I'd do
I'd expect a whole lot of love out of you

You gotta be good to me
I'm gonna be good to you

Though lyrics to Green’s 1972 hit song (which Maxwell recently re-made), those words speak to who Maxwell has been as an artist and also to what the Arena crowd could expect from the show that night. Maxwell stood on stage, arms spread wide, as he sang the lyrics while showers of screams washed over him. From there, Maxwell made his way to the stage and launched into some of his biggest hits (accompanied by his stellar band) including “Sumthin’ Sumthin’,” “Pretty Wings,” “Matrimony: Maybe You,” and “Bad Habits.”

The tour continues tonight in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Wells Fargo Center.