Machine Gun Kelly's "Mainstream Sellout Tour" Brings the Summers Hottest Party to Louisville
Musician, Actor, Father, Husband. In no specific order, Colson Baker aka Machine Gun Kelly is one of the most intriguingly polarizing figures in music and entertainment today. Coming on the scene in 2007, yet always grinding beforehand, Kelly’s passion for music started in the rap game and four mixtapes later he would find himself a great success in three studio albums ‘Lace Up’, ‘General Admission’ and ‘Bloom’ would all reach incredible heights for MGK. It wasn’t until ‘Hotel Diablo’ that he would find sure footing in the rap/rock waters and get a taste of what would soon come in ‘Tickets to My Downfall’ and ‘Mainstream Sellout’.
With that said, Machine Gun Kelly has his sights set on one thing and that’s blowing the lid right the hell off of everyone’s expectations of what a rapper should be doing in this punk genre. Labels. Everyone had him labeled and boxed into one specific thing, not knowing the potential that was festering inside. From the first single on ‘Tickets to My Downfall’ I could tell that it would be divisive for many people. For me, I enjoy the hell out of it. I approached this record as just that. A new record by an artist. Once in, I could tell there was pain, angst, joy and all of the emotions that make a good punk record. Take all of that and throw in one of the best live productions I’ve ever seen and you’ve got The Mainstream Sellout Tour 2022.
Joining MGK on this stop in Louisville, Kentucky is none other than the queen of early 2000’s punk rock herself, Avril Lavigne! In what would be her first time at the KFC Yum! Center, Avril would rock the house with the hits we all know and love as well as a few new ones she’s been working on. She had a smile from ear to ear as she addressed the Louisville crowd, thanking them all for coming out. With black and pink balloons all over the place it was definitely a party for elder and new age emo fans as well as fans of Avril Lavigne’s who just needed that helping of early 2000’s nostalgia! Her set was wildly fun and entertaining although I would’ve been ok with it being another hour longer but that’s just me. I can’t help myself.
Avril Lavigne performing in Louisville, Kentucky
With an arena full of anticipating fans, stage crews worked relentlessly to breakdown Avril’s set and began setting up for Machine Gun Kelly. Electricity was in the air and you could feel it. On two of the big screens on each side of the stage was a teaser for his new film called ‘Machine Gun Kelly’s Life In Pink’. This deep dive into the life of the mega star Colson Baker and his rise to fame is a surreal peek behind the curtain. One we would soon have an intimate look at once he took the stage.
Lights went dark and fans began to scream as a video played with MGK seemingly trapped in a box calling for help. On the other end, a helicopter pilot (MGK) who would be sent to locate the star and get him to the stage. Already the production of this show is wild, directly behind us was a 12ft stage where the helicopter would hover above and drop a ladder and pull MGK from the abyss and the show had begun! Kicking off the set with “Born With Horns”, Kelly performed while hanging from the helicopter ladder all around the Yum Center. With a devil-may-care attitude, MGK earned his bad boy reputation as not many artists risk life and limb to entertain like this anymore. The pay off, jaws on the floor.
Once Machine Gun Kelly would make it to the stage and join his incredible supporting band, the show would really begin. The chemistry between the band members and Kelly was evident that they enjoy playing together and that’s just something that is to be valued these days in entertainment. Speaking of band members, joining the band is YouTube guitar sensation Sophie Lloyd. This phenomenal guitarist is a fantastic addition to an already stacked lineup for MGK’s live band, especially when you sprinkle in the gut-busting drummer ROOK, you have a massive recipe for a kickass show. Continuing on with the show, MGK would blaze up in more ways than one by shredding through a massive setlist. Another interesting thing to note is the theme of this production. The internet. Or Mr. Internet, if you will. A giant inflatable with a digitized screen face that was used to riff back and forth with to insinuate the negativity that the internet can bring to people including Machine Gun Kelly. At one point he turned back to it and said “if you’re not careful that empty box will control you and tell you what you can and can’t do with your life, you have to choose to not listen and do what makes you happy and take on new challenges. If I listened to Mr. Internet over here I wouldn’t be here before you right now.” A nice nod to all of his naysayers who said he would never make anything of himself or this new venture into pop/punk. Jokes on them, MGK’s record peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Charts and Mainstream Sellout is the hottest selling tour of 2022. Deservingly so.
Machine Gun Kelly and Sophie Lloyd in Louisville, Kentucky
Midway through he would bring out Avril Lavigne for their song “Boys Lie Too” and would absolutely blow the roof of the place. No short of surprises, a video message from Louisville’s own Jack Harlow would play encouraging his hometown to throw up their L’s and show MGK some love for him (Harlow). As a sign of mutual respect back to Jack Harlow, Kelly would perform a song of Harlow’s “What’s Poppin’”.
Continuing through the set of the summer, Machine Gun Kelly made it towards the end of his show and just before closing it out he would call in a last favor to destroy Mr. Internet by bombs from the helicopter pilot once and for all. Then later two little girls’ night by bringing them on stage for “Forget Me Too”. These kids didn’t miss a note and blew even MGK’s mind. Dancing and singing their little hearts out, it truly was a humbling sight to behold for a musician of his caliber to pull these young girls up there and allow them to have their moment and Kelly step back into the shadows for almost a whole song. Humility at its finest, they would embrace and part ways after a rousing round of applause. Pyro, glitter, hands in the air and everyone singing in unison. This was a night of summer fun that many won’t forget. Over 13,000 people under one roof in the summer’s biggest party. If you have an opportunity to see this tour do not miss out! Make sure you see it!
Machine Gun Kelly Setlist:
Avril Lavigne Setlist:
North American Tour Dates:
Tue Jul 5 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater*^
Wed Jul 6 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena*^
Fri Jul 8 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center*^
Sat Jul 9 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center*#
Mon Jul 11 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center*#
Wed Jul 13 – Los Angeles, CA – Forum*#
Fri Jul 15 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena*#
Sat Jul 16 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center*#
Tue Jul 19 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena*#
Thu Jul 21 – Portland, OR – Moda Center*#
Fri Jul 22 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena*#
Sat Jul 23 – Vancouver, BC – Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena*#
Mon Jul 25 – Spokane, WA – Spokane Arena*#
Wed Jul 27 – Fargo, ND – FargoDome*#
Thu Jul 28 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center*#
Sun Jul 31 – Montreal, QC – Osheaga
Tue Aug 2 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena”#
Thu Aug 4 – Omaha, NE – CHI Health Center”#
Sat Aug 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre”#
Sun Aug 7 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena”#
Tue Aug 9 – Des Moines, IA – Wells Fargo Arena”#
Wed Aug 10 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center”#
Thu Aug 11 – Indianapolis, IN – Ruoff Music Center”#
Sat Aug 13 – Cleveland, OH – FirstEnergy Stadium*”$#’
*With support from Avril Lavigne
***With support from Blackbear
^With support from iann dior
+With support from PVRIS
”With support from Travis Barker
$With support from Trippie Redd
#With support from WILLOW
’With support from 44phantom
EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:
Sat Sep 17 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena’^
Mon Sep 19 – Prague, CZ – Sportovní Hala V Holešovicích’^
Wed Sep 21 – Brussels, BE – Palais 12’^
Fri Sep 23 – Frankfurt, DE – Festhalle’^
Sun Sep 25 – Munich, DE – Olympiahalle’^
Tue Sep 27 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum’^
Wed Sep 28 – Zurich, CH –Hallenstadion’^
Thu Sep 29 – Paris, FR – Zenith’^
Sat Oct 1 – London, UK – OVO Arena Wembley’^
Tue Oct 4 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena’^
Thu Oct 6 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena’^
Fri Oct 7 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro’^
Sun Oct 9 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena’^
Wed Oct 12 – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS Live’^
^With support from iann dior
‘With support from 44phantom
