Music
Review
Machine Gun Kelly makes his mark on Melbourne
This is what happened when US rapper, Machine Gun Kelly, brought his 27 Tour to Forum Melbourne.
“This is the coolest venue we’ve ever played,” Machine Gun Kelly tells the crowd inside Forum Melbourne (Sat 5 May).
Cleveland rapper, MGK (real name Colson Baker), has seen his fair share of major stages across the globe, so what makes Forum Melbourne so special?
For MGK, it’s the synonymous sculptures which scatter the iconic venue. For everyone else in attendance, it’s all that and more, thanks to the effortless technique of tonight’s headliner.
“I didn’t wear this orange outfit for nothing,” MGK says, referencing his luminous vest, “I saved it for Melbourne.”
With his videographer circling him on centre stage, the moment feels immortalised in history.
Opening his can of drink next to the mic, a crisp ‘Psshhhhhhh’ cuts through the crowd, and the warm up phase of tonight’s show is fully underway.
From there, singles Home and At My Best prelude a touching tribute to the late Chester Bennington, with a cover of Linkin Park’s Numb conjuring a sea of swaying phone lights.
“Don’t you ever lose that feel,” MGK tells fans, as Kiss The Sky is masterfully mixed over the emotional cover.
With a swift test of the crowd’s jumping ability, the rapper ramps up the set with Habits, The Break Up, Trap Paris and Till I Die.
He seems impressed with everyone’s enthusiasm for the task at hand, and the feeling’s mutual.
So as the crowd pours out of Forum Melbourne, shouldering footy fans flooding home from the big Saturday night game, and against the flurry of city tourists, one thing’s for sure; Machine Gun Kelly’s back catalogue feels more anthemic than ever.
Check out 27 photos of Machine Gun Kelly’s 27 Tour here.
Photos: Jay Wennington for Ticketmaster AU
