Krystofer Maison at Drom
Following the release of their EP, MAKE A SCENE, Krystofer Maison hosted a showcase at Drom on April 7. Maison invited friends and collaborators from the EP to join them on stage, putting on a completely unique experience dedicated to all the theater kids pursuing their dreams. Together, the artists treated the audience with music ranging from blues to pop, rock, and opera in an intimate celebration of Maison.
To kick off the evening, singer-songwriter Blair Baldwin and her guitar open the show. Throughout her six tracks, Baldwin blends blues and social justice with a hint of whimsy and levity. Leaning into a traditional blues sound, Baldwin’s “Mr. Landlord” criticizes the current housing crisis, empathizing with the struggles of the working class. Paired with a plucked melody from the guitar, it’s an honest and raw plea for humanity. Emotion serves as a common thread in her work - including her acoustic cover of Spring Awakening’s “Mama Who Bore Me,” which strikes the balance between grief and hope. Baldwin takes a brief departure from blues to reminisce with “Wildflower,” one of her older tracks. Instead, she delivers an indie feel, lilting in the vocal melody. As an autobiographical track, there are longer phrases in the vocals, almost as if crying out. To cap off her set, she returns to the blues, again holding an oppressive system accountable for its injustices.
Maison starts the first act, hitting their mark in the spotlight while a regal synth seeps in. Bright colored lights stream down, and we’re hit with the EP opener, “Silhouette,” accompanied by collaborator James Rushin. The track sounds as smooth live as it does on the recording, proving Maison’s vocal prowess isn’t something created in a studio. It’s real and incredibly captivating. When the song arrives at the bridge of repeated “Cate Blanchett,” Maison joins the audience and encourages them to chant along, cementing the show as a group activity. To fill space between songs, Maison peppers in their sources of inspiration (eg. a “narcissist” themed party where a friend went as Lydia Tár), love for friends and family, the stressors of being an independent artist, and appreciation for collaborators and the studio. Following the first round of thank yous, Maison brings up guitarist Nick Potocki, and together they treat the audience to an unreleased track. Named “Achilles Heel,” Potocki’s guitar brightens the arrangement, bringing in an element of pop. Big, dramatic vocal swings and light distortion from the guitar accent the piece, making it almost fun despite the name.
Potocki, Maison, Bailey, & Rushin
Krystofer Maison
While Act I of the show embraced a more theatrical side, Act II becomes deeply personal. Before starting “Cigarettes of Love,” Maison explains that they started writing this song in college and there have been multiple iterations of it over the past decade. It represents everything from toxic relationships, making major changes, and letting go of the past. The harmonies in the track, sung in the show by Victoria Bennett, represent ghosts of each other. They don’t match up perfectly, instead sounding more like a slight echo. Next, Maison creates an even more intimate space, moving over to the piano for their version of an acoustic set. First up is “Valley of the Dead,” a 2010’s rock track, with a sense of yearning in the lyrics and piano chords. But then, Maison kicks off their boots, and gives the audience a peek into two unfinished tracks – “Sapphire” and “Gargoyles.” Both give the audience a glimpse into what Maison is working on and where they are headed artistically. Finally, it’s time for “Neon Halos.” All musicians – Rushin, Potocki, Bailey, and Baldwin – join Maison on stage for the showstopping number. The performance serves as a celebration, both of all of Maison’s hard work in putting out MAKE A SCENE, but also for everyone who came out to be a part of this event. Just as “Neon Halos” was the best way to end the EP, it was the perfect way to close out the night.
MAKE A SCENE album artwork via Northerly Agency NYC
Blair Baldwin
Maison welcomes up close friend from college, Creatine Price. Price, a drag queen known for her operatic singing, announces she will perform an aria from Sapho. Price’s commanding presence and full, baritone vocals fill the room with drama and emotion. Once Price hits the final note, it rings out for what feels like an eternity, rattling through the audience. Maison returns to the stage, and the two break into a duet of “Let the Credits Roll.” Mixing pop and opera, the blend of their voices heightens the already dramatic track. It’s beautiful, dark, and lush. Price exits, leaving Maison to close out Act I. The regal synth returns, this time accompanying Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 29,” before transitioning to Lady Gaga’s “Edge of Glory.” Maison rolls out a slow and romantic cover, highlighting the top of their vocal range. Rushin and Potocki join in as the beat picks up, bringing the energy and vamping short, gritty notes. Ending the act on that high, the three exit for intermission.
Before the intermission ends, Maxwell Bailey, musician and friend of Maison, gets on stage to play a solo piece. The track, “Movie Stars,” features only Bailey, his guitar, and a loop pedal. Bailey uses the loop pedal and an indie guitar line to lay the track’s foundation. It’s clean and bubbly, acting as a springboard for a twangy line in the guitar melody. As the two guitar parts play off of each other, Bailey tells a sweet love story, with earnest lyrics and a floaty bridge. “Movie Stars” is a change of pace from the intensity in MAKE A SCENE, but in a way that keeps the energy fun and engaging. Before Bailey leaves, Maison returns, inviting him to be a part of the first number in Act II, “Endless Summer.” Bailey stays on, contributing pizzicato guitar that repeats, rippling like water, while Potocki plays heavily distorted accents. Maison powers through a melodramatic melody, with big crescendos in the chorus and fiery drums in the bridge. Even though it’s not on MAKE A SCENE, the song fits perfectly with the others, perfectly segueing into “Cigarettes of Love.”
Potocki, Baldwin, Bailey, & Rushin
Potocki, Baldwin, Price, Maison, Rushin, Bailey, & Bennett
