MGK’s Lost Americana Finds Its Home at the O2 Arena
“You only get to sell out the O2 Arena for the first time, once”, MGK triumphantly declared to fans. Gratitude poured from the pop-punk prince as he went on to prove exactly why the show deserved to sell out.
Returning to the UK following the successful Mainstream Sellout tour, Lost Americana is a testament to MGK’s growth.
After Julia Wolf’s powerful performance hypnotised the crowd and created a magical, melancholic dream realm, no further support acts were necessary. Concluding the ethereal trance with ‘in my room’ (killer song and musical bucket list checked), the crowd eagerly awaited what was behind the red curtain.
How was MGK going to top dangling from a pink airplane and defeating the internet on the last tour? A giant cigarette-smoking Statue of Liberty and two hours of amped-up favourites from Lost Americana, Mainstream Sellout and, my album of summer 2022, Tickets to My Downfall? Yeah, this had the arena vibrating with excitement.
Opening with futuristic alien spaceship sounds, the trippy vibe of ‘outlaw overture’ spilled into wacky production. OG fans did not miss a beat when the notorious retaliation ‘Rap Devil’ was teased and enthusiastically embraced the fresh take on preppy classic ‘title track’.
With the impeccable flow of ‘el Diablo’, the blunt, direct force of ‘DAYWALKER!’ and the hook-laden ‘Jawbreaker’, there was no apprehension when it came to mixing genres and aesthetics. MGK’s command to “open the circle pit” before releasing roars and aggressive bends caught me off guard. Is a metal album on the horizon?! For now, MGK debuted the ‘goddam’ music video, which fans soaked up with glee.
Stripping back the sonic vibrancy, the potency and skill of MGK’s storytelling came to the surface in ‘times of my life’ and ‘Glass House’. Solo on a small second stage, under a spotlight with an acoustic guitar, he bared his pain for all to witness and connect with. Doubling down on the intense feels, Wolf returned to duet a cover of ‘iris’, creeping into ballad territory while rising above the main stage.
During this solemn interlude, MGK paid tribute to British inspiration The Beatles. On-stage British guitar menace Sophie Lloyd, however, led the ultimate British tribute, inciting chants of “oggie oggie oggie”.
Jelly Roll joining to sing his part in ‘Lonely Road’ would have been the cherry on top of the emo-country mash-up cake. Instead, the brilliant Pete Davidson brought comedic joy and co-starred on ‘roll the windows up’, which sent the crowd feral.
Closing with ‘sweet caroline’ and ‘vampire diaries’, daughter Casie Baker and Pete joined on stage to celebrate MGK’s monumental achievement.
From checking his hair for fire after guitar sparklers to the sassy fan who tumbled off the stage during ‘Bloody Valentine’, this show was the antithesis of polished pop-punk.
The 38-strong setlist narrated the journey that brought the Blonde Don to where he is today, and the voices of fans confirmed their support and allegiance with enough love to fill Wembley Stadium, a reality that doesn’t feel too far away for this pop-punk sensation.
