Ever leave a show and think “I needed that!” That’s how I felt exactly one year ago today when Machine Gun Kelly’s Alpha Omega Tour rolled through Irving Plaza for the night. From Mod Sun’s opening set to the main man and his equally impressive band, the energy in the room never waned. Everyone stood together, ready not just to witness a show, but to be part of the XX family.
Throughout the night MGK delivered fan favorites from his extensive catalog. He seamlessly blended rap and rock with performances of Wild Boy, Young Man, a cover of Blink 182 classic All the Small Things, and Mod Sun collab Sublime (remiXX) which brought everyone’s favorite hippy back to the stage once more. When Kells’ performance of Bad Mother Fucker ended with a memorable climb up to the 2nd floor balcony, it was easy to see why there are legends told about the nights he’s in the building.
Machine Gun Kelly is a force to be reckoned with lyrically and live. His rockstar peformance wholly matches his rockstar persona. Even when MGK toned it down with a performance of then-new, now-double platinum single Bad Things, the ladies in the crowd brought the energy as they sung the chorus to him while his collaborator Camila Cabello looked down from the balcony above in a mix of awe and excitement. By the end of the night, Kells had the NYC crowd turnt and reppin’ Cleveland like they were born and raised in the 216.
MGK’s latest album Bloom has shown his growth not only as an artist, but as a person. There’s no doubt this will translate into the evolution of his stage show when the 27 Tour finally comes to town. Keep it locked on MGK’s site and social media for future show announcements.
