Concert Review : Maxwell, The Silent Serenade Ensemble @The Theater At MGM

Three-time Grammy winner Maxwell returned to the DMV on Friday, September 20th, for the second of three shows at The Theater at MGM. The crooner is currently on his “The Silent Serenade Ensemble Tour.” Songstress Yola was the opening act.

As we took our seats, the venue was somewhat empty, which could be due to the opening act not having a mainstream fanbase. Around 8:15, Yola took the stage, and she had an Angie Stone vibe. While she had a great voice and stage presence, her music didn’t seem to resonate with the audience; however, things picked up with her cover of Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love.”

The audience was growing a little antsy as they waited for the main act to take the stage, teased with an interlude while his band and background singers began to set up. Finally, around 9:15, Maxwell appeared on stage. Dressed in a sleek black suit with a fresh set of cornrows, it was clear that the ambiance of this show was going to be different.

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Maxwell live five times previously, and most times he kicks things off with something up-tempo. However, this time, he started with an organic ballad, clearly wanting the audience to connect with him and experience how he vibes with his band. While Maxwell didn’t pull a Lauryn Hill and change the arrangements of all the songs, the instrumentation really allowed his voice to shine.

Whether it was ballads like “Til The Cops Come Knockin,” “Whenever, Wherever, Whatever,” “Lifetime,” and “Fortunate,” or up-tempo tracks like “Sumthin Sumthin” and “Get To Know Ya,” Maxwell hasn’t lost a step. Furthermore, although he hasn’t released an album in almost a decade, it’s clear he’s living his best life, particularly evident in his dancing, where he really puts those knees to work.

What was most surprising about the event was Maxwell omitting songs from his catalog that would have sounded great in this setting, such as his cover of “This Woman’s Work” and his own hits “Matrimony: Maybe You” and “Luxury: Coco Cure.” As the night began to wind down, Maxwell performed a cover of “You Are My Starship” and closed the evening by paying homage to the Go-Go sound of DC, transitioning into his final number, “Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder).”

“The Silent Serenade Ensemble Tour” confirmed that Maxwell is one of the best when it comes to live performances.

Final Grade: A