With The War and Treaty returning to Meijer Gardens on Friday to perform with Grand Rapids Symphony, we asked guitarist/production manager Max Brown to reveal his most treasured musical influences.
Thrilled With the Music The War and Treaty is Making: Guitarist and Production Manager Max Brown (Photo/Savannah Lauren)
EDITOR’S NOTE: All musicians can trace their inspiration to key recordings that influenced their careers. Local Spins today showcases the albums that inspired guitarist Max Brown of The War and Treaty. Scroll down for a Spotify playlist of his picks, including two standout tracks from The War and Treaty’s latest albums.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Michigan native and guitarist Max Brown has relished his global, attention-getting journey with The War and Treaty.
The group led by Michael and Tanya Trotter which got its start in Albion more than a decade ago has since become an award-winning, international phenomenon, earning widespread praise and a devoted following for its gospel-fired country, rock, blues and soul — an invigorating blend propelled by the duo’s harmonies which have been featured frequently on national TV.
The War and Treaty earlier this year released its fourth bona fide full-length album, “Plus One,” followed by a seven-track live recording. The band returns to Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park on Friday to perform with the Grand Rapids Symphony at 7:30 p.m. Some tickets, $61-$63, still remain and are available online here, with gates opening at 6:15 p.m.
As the band’s production manager, Brown has helped guide the band through its action-packed ascendance — which includes a recent European run of shows with a 10-piece band — and 2025 alone “has been a huge year for me and for the band. I’m really thrilled with the music we’re making and the recognition that’s been popping up.”
On Stage With The War and Treaty: Max Brown (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
“It’s really a privilege to be making music all over the world with them and exciting to be getting ready to head home to Michigan.”
Brown said he’s also “incredibly proud” of “Plus One,” recorded at the historic Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
“When I’m not on the road, I’ve been spending about 100 percent of my time working on my recording studio Glass House Studios that I co-own with some close friends in Nashville,” he said, adding that he’s pumped up about Friday’s show with Grand Rapids Symphony, which will be based on a three-night run the band performed with Nashville Symphony Orchestra in February.
“This was a difficult, and thankfully incredibly successful, effort that I’m very glad we have the privilege to perform for a Michigan audience. Arranger Don Hart did a tremendous job writing original scores, some of which were expanded on scores from the record ‘Plus One’ written by Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Cameron Blake.
“I’m excited and confident that the show is going to be a beautiful thing.”
Beautiful also describes being back in Michigan.
“Coming to Grand Rapids always feels like visiting my old backyard,” he said. “I’ve probably spent a combined six months driving to and from gigs on U.S. 131 from my time in Kalamazoo, and coming back always feels like home.”
As for revealing the albums that have influenced him most, the guitarist conceded that it was “a mind-melting” challenge to settle on just three recordings. Here they are.
1. Black Sabbath, “Paranoid” (1970) – “Paranoid” was the first song I learned to play on guitar. Sincerely, if it was not for this record, I would be doing something else with my life. I don’t know if a record has ever had a stronger opening run of songs than “Paranoid.” (Last week), I visited Ozzy Osbourne’s shrine on the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham, England, and his and the band’s work has been on my mind more than usual since his death, but this would have been on my list either way. RIP Ozzy.
2. John Coltrane, “Newport ’63” (1963) – I was a giant metalhead when I first heard John Coltrane as a kid and that was my bridge into jazz. This live record in particular from Trane was a perfect window for me and I wore out my CD copy because I was into shredding solos and that’s what you’ll find here. The reason is disputed, but Elvin Jones (drums) did not make it to this gig and Roy Haynes subbed in. Roy has all the skill of Elvin, but none of the subtlety. He really pushes Trane to push harder earlier and stay at a higher dynamic than I think would have otherwise been played. Perfect record.
3. B.B. King, “Live in Cook County Jail” (1971) – This is, in my opinion, the best recording of blues that exists. I choose it because it’s so fundamental to my understanding of blues and thereby all other American music and the ability to make it. It’s hard to imagine anyone has ever been more charming than King as he sings and banters with the inmates. He’s on a really magical and short list of musicians where you know instantly who they are by their voice and their voice on their instrument. Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Jimi Hendrix, BB King.
Currently Loving: Mei Semones, “Animaru” (2025) – This record by this Ann Arbor native is so damn cool: guitar-driven Brazilian grooves with math rock touches, sung in English and Japanese, beautifully crafted harmony and lush strings arranged as unexpectedly as the rest of the instruments. If you don’t know Mei now, you certainly will in a few years. I can’t think of many anyone else making pop music this cool right now. Michigan produces some really great musicians.
ALBUMS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: Max Brown’s Playlist on Spotify
Copyright 2025, Spins on Music LLC
