Photo of mgk by Erica Vining
mgk’s [formerly Machine Gun Kelly] sold out stop in St. Louis on the lost americana tour reminded those in attendance why the genre-fluid artist is consistently one of the top live performers in the industry. The crowd packed in quickly on a Friday night with parking opening earlier than normal to accommodate the sold-out crowd, many sporting the signature Marlboro carton branding used on the tour. Kicking off in November, the lost americana tour has traversed the world starting in the North America before moving overseas in February, returning in May to the U.S. and Canada before wrapping up in July.
A rotation of openers was necessary for the 8-month long tour, with St. Louis being treated to pop-punk artist Mod Sun and hip-hop artist Wiz Khalifa. Mod Sun opened the night with a massive LED board featuring his moniker and a stage packed with personality. I knew the singer only as Avril Lavigne’s ex-husband so I was excited to hear the tracks that had a majority of the sold-out crowd already in the stands for the night. I was surprised to see Frank Gallagher take the stage, but no one can deny the artist puts on a show despite his unkempt appearance. The infectious energy of the set carried us through to the second opener of the night, Wiz Khalifa.
Mr. Khalifa (can I call him that?) moved effortlessly through his set featuring songs like the cult TikTok hit “Black and Yellow,” “See You Again,” and a cover of Maroon 5’s “Payphone.” Inflatable blunts were tossed to the crowd which created a surge of energy and elation. I was offered a real blunt at least thrice during the set, and honestly, what kind people for that. Being placed in the “people pit” for the night instead of a photo pit can create a lot of discord with those around you when you block views with your equipment, but it was nothing but love for this set.
mgk took the stage after a brief switchover, his first song of the night “FIX UR FACE” backed by black and white LED images of himself with the singer cloaked in red light creating a cinematic visual. Pyro entered the chat early on, and this carried through the entire thirty-two-song set list, alternating with fierce fog blasts to create stunning visuals. No one can accuse mgk of not going all out on production, which is what made this such a visually stunning performance. Flanked by dancers and a cigarette mic stand, Kelly kept the crowd engaged with hits including “I Think I’m OKAY,” “maybe,” and “miss sunshine” before bringing Khalifa on stage for several songs mid-set. The chemistry between the two is undeniable and this pairing was perfect for the set. We moved to a B-stage for acoustic renditions of “times of my life” and a medley of five additional songs before moving back main stage. Kelly loves his fans and this is obvious in his engagement, frequently dueting with crowd members on stage and engaging with the audience. The night closed with “cliché” and “vampire diaries,” a fitting end for a long night of head banging fun. The lost americana tour continued through July 1st, wrapping up the marathon in Ridgefield, WA. | Erica Vining
