A few weeks back, Max McNown’s representatives at Wasserman Music informed the rising country star that his sold-out shows at Bowery Ballroom in New York City on Feb. 11-12 needed to be rescheduled to make room for another performer.
The agents, Jonathan Insogna and Lenore Kinder, were initially resistant to this rather peculiar change until they realized a few days later it was due to Sir Paul McCartney performing surprise concerts at the 575-capacity venue those nights. In the end, McNown’s management team, along with Live Nation, the Bowery, and Wasserman swiftly collaborated to relocate McNown’s shows to the 1,200-seat Irving Plaza in Union Square on the same dates, allowing McNown to acquire an extraordinary story to share.
Upon first being asked to move the shows, McNown recalls, “Honestly, we were a bit puzzled,” he tells Billboard. “My agent mentioned that it was strange for a venue to request a move like this, so we sensed something significant was happening, but our initial reaction was, ‘I’m sorry, you want us to do what?’”
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Shortly after, when he and his team connected the dots to understand that he was being bumped for the iconic Beatle, everything clicked into place. “Paul chose to perform in a smaller venue to create a special experience. We had sold out Bowery months in advance, so moving to a larger venue and accommodating more fans was fantastic for us. It was mutually beneficial in every regard,” McNown explains, adding humorously, “I am a bit let down we couldn’t get him to open for us.”
Although McCartney’s team didn’t specify a reason for the particular date, February 11 marks the 61st anniversary of the Beatles’ debut performance in the U.S. at the Coliseum in Washington, D.C., and McCartney is in New York for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live this weekend.
McCartney’s team was incredibly kind and offered McNown tickets, but he couldn’t attend since he was busy with his own performances just a mile away. McNown confesses he felt the temptation, saying, “I genuinely wish I could have made it” to McCartney’s concert. “I always say touring is work, and too many people were relying on me to perform my own show to miss out on that. But yes, describing it as ‘tempted’ is an understatement.”
The Oregon-based singer-songwriter, who was named Billboard’s November Country Rookie of the Month and topped the Billboard Emerging Artists chart, first appeared on the Hot Country Songs chart last year with “A Lot More Free,” which reached No. 29, and climbed to No. 15 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. His latest album, Night Diving, was released on January 24, and his new single, “Brown Eyes (Better Me for You),” is currently being played on the radio.
At just 23 years old, McNown is a dedicated Beatles enthusiast. “My elementary school teacher would consistently sing ‘Yellow Submarine,’ ‘Let It Be,’ and ‘Hey Jude’ every Friday during my fourth and fifth grade classes,” he recalls. “He always believed it was vital to educate younger generations about the true legends of music history. Thanks to him, I know every lyric to those songs, and they each carry a nostalgic significance that’s quite unparalleled.”
His all-time favorite Beatles track is the beautiful “Blackbird,” which McNown may, in tribute to Sir Paul, record and share on his Instagram, he mentions. “I found that song on my own after being introduced to [The Beatles’] music at a young age, making it even more personal and special for me.” He also adores “Yesterday,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Twist and Shout.”
Since attending the concerts wasn’t feasible, McNown would appreciate some merchandise or an autograph, but he’s content with the incredible tale of the night he was overshadowed by a Beatle. “It’s certainly a story I know I’ll be sharing for quite some time,” he tells Billboard. “The past couple of years have felt like a dream sequence—going viral, Kelly Clarkson covering my songs, and now sharing a venue shuffle with a Beatle. It’s surreal.”
Although McCartney is performing his third show at Bowery tonight, McNown is unable to attend as he’s en route to Boston for his Friday night performance (Feb. 14).
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
