Chicago – Awhile back, I came across an email containing the EP Intoxication, by an Austin soul singer named Max Frost. I glanced over the press release, and honestly thought, “Another white boy singing soul music?” Despite my reservations, I took a listen. I’m incredibly thankful I did. I cringe at the thought of a world without Max Frost! Truth be told, I’ve been listening to Intoxication pretty regularly, so I was beyond excited to finally hear this Texan perform live this past Wednesday, when he opened for L.A. electro-folk band Grizfolk at Lincoln Hall, in Chicago. Max Frost did not disappoint one bit. In fact, his performance was more than I ever expected. Max Frost is a riveting one-man-band!
The evening started out with the funky, dance tune “$Dreams.” Immediately people began clapping along to the beat. By the looks on people’s faces, it’s safe to say Max Frost was an unexpected yet pleasant delight. Sure, his voice is incredible, but what’s perhaps most impressive about this man with the slightest Southern twang, is that he does it all himself. Under a single spotlight, Max Frost played drums, bass, synths and keys, looping sounds when needed. Between all that, he switched between acoustic guitar and electric; at times wearing both over his shoulders. He is a modern day one-man-band, putting Dick Van Dyke to shame, mixing his soulful crooning with rock, R&B, hip hop, funk, pop, and dance. Though it should be noted, Max Frost doesn’t always perform alone. Last year when he stopped by JBTV in Chicago, he did have a full band with him.
Max Frost played some older material off Low High Low, like “White Lies,” which was featured in a Beats by Dre commercial, and “Nice and Slow,” but for the most part, he stuck to new material. During “Withdrawal,” heads started shaking to the chorus, like a 60s “Beach Blanket Bingo” dance party, while Frost sang, ”I’m shaking from the withdrawal, baby.” Hollers spread towards the end, when Max showed off his guitar skills, moving around the front of the stage, while smiling and strumming. Halfway through he slowed things down, first with “Die Young,” after dedicating it to “those who aren’t with us,” and then “Let Me Down Easy.” Watching him sweetly sing, I was reminded of a young Chris Isaak. Scanning the ground floor, I noticed the room became eerily quiet. People stared intently, transfixed on the twenty-something. Afterwards Frost said, “Alright that was the chill down part. Now is the turn up part.” He broke into “Paranoia.” The ground floor audience clapped, danced, and cheered to the song Frost described in a Best New Bands interview as “a rock ’n roll hip hop song.”
Before closing the night out with fan favorite “White Lies,” Max Frost played a brand new, unreleased song, titled “Adderall.” Against a killer bass line, he sang about the challenges of an always active mind, struggling with ADD. After the show I asked Frost if the song was inspired by his own experiences. He said “Adderall” is partly a critique on our country’s view on drugs, how we fight a war on drugs, yet we force feed kids medications and partially putting himself in the shoes of a kid with ADD. Hopefully “Adderall” will find its way to the masses soon!
By the time Grizfolk took the stage, fans ready to see Fredrik Eriksson (guitar), Sebastian Fritze (synthesizer, backing vocals), Adam Roth (guitar, lead vocals), Brendan James (bass), and Bill Delia (drums) on their first headlining tour. The five-piece has been touring in support of their debut album Waking Up the Giants. Grizfolk played every song off their new release, plus two extras: “Way Back When,” from the Mr. Peabody & Sherman soundtrack, and “The Ripple,” the new, country tinged track that had people jumping and clapping. Fans cheered when Adam Roth introduced “The Struggle” as “one of the first songs we ever wrote” and then gushed about how excited they were to be back in Chicago, on their very first headlining tour. In a recent interview, Sebastian Fritze told Best New Bands the band was both thrilled to be on a headlining tour and releasing an album that’s been in the works since 2013. Fritze spoke warmly of his bandmates and close friends: “Everyone comes from different worlds. We all met in Los Angeles and joined forces, in a way, bringing out the best in each individual. We put it all together, for one sound… that to me is giant!”
Grizfolk looked like giants on stage, standing next to a small teepee, mimicking the album artwork on Waking Up the Giants, but it was the reaction of fans that made the guys seem larger than life. You’d think we were at a club, dancing to a DJ, with the way people were reacting. Grizfolk’s fans adore them and know how to have a good time! This was especially evident at the end of the night, when Grizfolk returned for a three-song encore. Lincoln Hall became one big party. The room burst into song and dance with the final song of night, “Hymnals.” Colorful lights exposed hands waving and smiles spreading.
Max Frost and Grizfolk are currently on the Troublemaker Tour. Click HERE for tour dates.
Photos by Sarah Hess for Best New Bands
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
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