(NASHVILLE, TENN.) -- Four years ago, the dcTalk vocalist walked away from formulaic security after selling over 8 million albums. Kevin Max found himself in the uncertain, often harsh territory of artistic adventure and freedom.

Kevin Max has continued to expand the sphere of his range and audience – Moving to Los Angeles and playing churches one night and clubs the next. Unlike many artists from similar backgrounds who have become confined to church lingo and prescription lyrics, Max has explored his art and his faith in the arena at large. Performing alongside artists like the Church, Warren Cuccurullo of Duran Duran, Psychedelic Furs, The Young Dubliners, and Rich Robinson of The Black Crowes, Max has made his point loud and clear: He wants to make music that moves everyone.

The result of this desire is an ear-opening, poetic, alt-rock juggernaut he calls The Imposter, released on the Northern Records label in October.

"The idea of The Imposter comes from Brennan Manning’s The Ragamuffin Gospel and Abba’s Child," Max reveals. "dcTalk did weekend retreats with Brennan, and we’d get to talk. He’d explain that the imposter is in all of us—it’s that fleshly part that isn’t willing to give up the ghost, that part that wants to take over the spirit in us. That’s what this album is about—the fight between the flesh and the spirit."

One track that captures elements of that battle is the first single, "Sanctuary," a pulsating, careening tune full of chiming rock guitar—courtesy of former Prayer Chain guitarist and producer of The Imposter, Andrew D. Prickett—and Max’s instantly recognizable tenor. It’s also a metaphor for Max’s recent sense of homelessness—and his ultimate hope for a heavenly home: /So hand me the keys to your kingdom/give me back my Garden of Eden/ lead me to a place that I can call my own, a home, a sanctuary/.

Los Angeles has been good to Max. Electing to stay close to home with his wife and new baby daughter London, Max took a residency at the legendary Viper Room, performing seven shows there in recent months. The appearances drew capacity crowds and big name talent such as Christian Slater, Tom Arnold, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Gene Simmons of KISS. "Kevin Max is fast becoming the Viper Room's answer to Robbie Williams for sheer entertainment value," says Joe Rinaldi, the club's main talent buyer.

With last week's launch of the Walking the Imposter Tour, the down time has come to an end. The spring leg of the tour will hit 40 cities this spring, before touring overseas and making main stage festival appearances this summer. Kevin also returns to radio this month with the follow up singles "Confessional Booth" (Rock) and "Your Beautiful Mind" (CHR).

When all is said and done, Max hopes The Imposter can take on a life of its own. "I want to make music that gets brand new people listening to it. And I want to bridge the gap between church audiences and mainstream audiences," he declares. "I believe the only way I can have an impact on both is to take off the mask – no hiding my weakness and no apologies for my faith."

*Select dates with Brennan Strawn

+Select dates with The Violet Burning & Brennan Strawn

**Select dates with The Violet Burning & The Listening

3.16 (Thr) Brockport NY @ Christ Community Church*

3.17 (Fri) Schenectady, NY @ Schenectady First Presbyterian

3.19 (Sun) Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café*

3.20 (Mon) Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasant's*

3.23 (Thr) Decatur, GA @ Eddie's Attic*

3.24 (Fri) Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theater

3.25 (Sat) Tampa, FL @ Real Fest

3.26 (Sun) Tallahassee, FL @ Four Oaks Community Church*

3.28 (Tue) Nashville, TN @ Exit/In*

3.29 (Wed) Little Rock, AR @ Sticky Fingerz*

3.30 (Thr) Houston, TX @ Venue 2115*

3.31 (Fri) San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center (Rampage Hockey Aftershow)

4.1 (Sat) Austin, TX @ Stubbs*

4.2 (Sun) Denison, TX @ The Underground*

4.4 (Tue) Nashville, TN @ NV (Gospel Music Week event with Bryan Duncan, Michael Sweet, more)

4.17 (Mon) Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church+

4.18 (Tue) Northampton, PA @ Roxy Theater+

4.19 (Wed) Grantham, PA @ Messiah College+

4.21 (Fri) Cincinnati, OH @ The Underground+

4.22 (Sat) Davisburg, MI @ First Baptist Davisburg+

4.23 (Sun) Charleston, IL @ The Galaxie+

4.24 (Mon) Fort Wayne, IN @ C2G+

4.25 (Tue) Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection+

4.26 (Wed) St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway+

4.27 (Thr) Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio+

4.28 (Fri) Chicago, IL @ TBA+

4.29 (Sat) Minneapolis, MN @ Club 3 Degrees+

5.4 (Thr) Argentina @ TBA

5.5 (Fri) Argentina @ TBA

5.6 (Sat) Argentina @ TBA

5.25 (Thr) Phoenix, AZ @ TBA**

5.26 (Fri) San Diego, CA @ TBA**

5.27 (Sat) Los Angeles, CA @ TBA**

5.28 (Sun) San Francisco, CA @ TBA**

5.29 (Mon) Sacramento, CA @ TBA**

5.31 (Wed) Eugene, OR @ WOW Theater**

6.1 (Thr) Portland, OR @ TBA**

6.2 (Fri) Sequim, WA @ TBA**

6.3 (Sat) Seattle, WA @ TBA**

6.4 (Sun) Spokane, WA @ The Service Station**