April 18, 2026 – Steelhouse – Omaha, NE
It was a perfect Saturday night in downtown Omaha on April 18, 2026, and Steelhouse couldn’t have been a better setting for it. Max McNown brought his The Cost of Growing Up Tour to town, with Nolan Taylor opening.
I’ll be honest. I hadn’t really listened to Nolan Taylor before this show, but that changed real quick. The second he started singing, you could feel the room lock in. His voice has that gritty, emotional edge that just cuts through everything. Taylor’s built a strong following on the indie/folk side of things, breaking out with songs like “68” and “Darkness,” and he’s known for writing deeply personal music that hits hard live. He’s been steadily gaining traction over the past couple years, landing on major streaming playlists and building a loyal fanbase the old-school way, one performance at a time.
His set was about as raw as it gets. No flashy lights, no big production, just him and a friend on acoustic guitar. That’s all he needed. It actually made the whole thing feel more real. Right now he’s sitting at just over 137,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and his 2025 self-titled album is absolutely worth a listen. Keep your eyes on this guy. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he blows up sooner rather than later. Perfect way to kick off the night!
After a quick break, it was time for Max McNown, and the second he walked out, the place erupted (especially the ladies). McNown’s one of those artists who’s been blowing up fast in the country scene. He’s built a huge audience online, especially through platforms like TikTok, where his songs started gaining traction before turning into full-on hits. His ability to blend traditional country storytelling with a modern sound has clearly struck a chord. While he’s still early in his career in terms of awards, the momentum he’s got right now feels like it’s only a matter of time before that changes.
The numbers back it up. He’s currently sitting at over 9.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify, which is wild when you think about how quickly he’s risen. His latest single “Heart You Didn’t Break” is an easy add to any country playlist.
Live, the guy just gets it. He knows exactly how to work a crowd. The set was long, packed with fan favorites, and had a great mix of newer songs and older tracks from Night Diving. For me, the standout moments were “Better Me For You (Brown Eyes),” “A Lot More Free,” and “Turned Into Missing You.” Every one of those hit even harder live.
If you get a chance to see Max McNown live, do it. He’s got that rare combination of stage presence and a genuinely great, pure voice that you don’t always see this early in someone’s career. A sold-out night at Steelhouse says a lot, and honestly, it feels like he’s just getting started.
Amazing show!
Nolan Taylor
Max McNown
