Get the latest concert news and more from the St. Louis music scene from Kevin C. Johnson.
Machine Gun Kelly performs during a concert Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly’s big show Wednesday night at Enterprise Center marked a swift return for the pop-punk rocker who in the fall played a sold-out show at St. Louis Music Park.
It was a quick leap to arenas for the spikey-haired singer, whose “Mainstream Sellout Tour” was a near sellout here.
Indeed, his star continues to soar, from his recent No. 1 album, “Mainstream Sellout,” co-produced by Travis Barker (Blink-182), to the Hulu documentary “Machine Gun Kelly’s Life in Pink.”
Barker adds some juice to the tour as its U.S. leg winds down. The drummer, defying doctors’ orders, tweeted Wednesday that he was back on tour with a broken thumb and torn tendons.
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Hollywood royalty WILLOW, daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, was also on the bill.
In his 2021 show in Maryland Heights, Kelly voiced his dislike for the internet. He amplified that sentiment this go-round.
“I don’t like it, what it does to our self-esteem,” Kelly said in one of several pointed remarks during the show.
Seemingly bruised by online criticism of his guitar abilities and of his jump from hip-hop to rock, Kelly attempted to address those concerns in concert — while a ghoulish figure with red eyes and sharp teeth loomed onstage in the background.
If nothing else, Kelly knows how to make an entrance. The show opened with video of him trapped in a box. What was he doing in a box? The internet put him there.
Breaking free, Kelly appeared dangling over the crowd from a helicopter ladder that carried him from the rear of the arena to the stage.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
The helicopter dumped him onto a sloped, black-and-white-checkered set, where band members Justin Lyons, JP “Rook” Cappelletty, Steve “Baze” Basil, Brandon “Slimxx” Allen and Sophie Lloyd were waiting.
Kelly immediately commented on the crowd’s energy and followed with some chatter about his cat playing in the venue’s bathroom sinks.
He appeared comfortable in his role as arena headliner, whether singing, playing guitar or running into the crowd to sing on “Drug Dealer.” And he seems settled in his rock niche without forgetting his hip-hop roots. He indulged his rap side few times, including on “13th Floor,” performed from a platform that lifted him high into the air.
One funny moment came when Kelly emerged wearing a Blues jersey, for “Lonely,” and misheard chants of “Blues” as boos.
Barker temporarily swapped places with Kelly’s drummer and received big applause as he played on several songs including “Title Track,” “Kiss Kiss,” “I Think I’m Okay,” “Bloody Valentine” and “Love Race,” a song from “Mainstream Sellout” that Kelly says he never performs.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
In honor of Barker, Kelly pivoted into Blink-182’s “All the Small Things,” a crowd favorite that wrapped up the drummer’s too-brief time onstage.
If it had been up to the internet to decide, Kelly said, he and Barker would not have collaborated on “Mainstream Sellout.” Barker is the album’s co-producer.
WILLOW joined Kelly onstage for “Emo Girl,” which she recorded with him.
Though he said he wanted to perform “until they kick us out,” Kelly doled out “Forget Me Too,” “Make Up Sex,” “My Ex’s Best Friend” and “Twin Flame.” The show wrapped up in just under two hours.
It may be easy to dismiss WILLOW, but the 21-year-old singer isn’t new to the music business. She released her first hit, “Whip My Hair,” in 2010 and has been carving out her own Black Girls Rock lane ever since. “Lately I Feel Everything” was released last year, and “Coping Mechanism” is coming soon.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs on Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs during a concert Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Jillian Selander and Alyssa Dale, of St. Louis attend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug. 10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
Brady Weiskopf, Cheyanna Diekmann, Coltyn Garrett and Brittany Clifton, all of Sullivan attend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug. 10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
Caroline Schmidt and Amber Cathers, of Chicago attend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug. 10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
Megan Parr and Tommy Tracy of Oleny, Illinois attend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug.10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
JT Barton and Jennifer Luttrell, of Harrisburg, Illinois attend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug. 10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
Katie and Scott Deunk of St. Ann attend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug. 10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
Chyanne Coney and Kyle Kombrink, of O'Fallon, Illinois ttend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug. 10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
Paige Hunt and Zoe Zinbro, both of Carbondale, Illinois attend the Machine Gun Kelly concert on Aug. 10, 2022 at Enterprise Center.
machine gun kelly vibing with a fan. i think this is one of the best interactions with the crowd on the mainstream sellout tour pic.twitter.com/5MhwuuJvUr
machine gun kelly performing all the small things with travis barker🖤 pic.twitter.com/91XDEeJ7Fn
Machine Gun Kelly was fun. Good show. Coming out in a Blues jersey was a solid addition.❤️ pic.twitter.com/8aM7A14fBo
Hey @machinegunkelly you now know who the @StLouisBlues are! Welcome to St.Louis! #MGK
I’m impregnating the entire crowd at the @machinegunkelly show tonight
roll the windows down live @machinegunkelly tonight in St. Louis!!!! pic.twitter.com/vfuvXbQQVr
@machinegunkelly see in St.Louis💗 #MGK #MainstreamSelloutTour pic.twitter.com/cz2XyzWD38
Get the latest concert news and more from the St. Louis music scene from Kevin C. Johnson.
Kevin C. Johnson is the pop music critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
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Machine Gun Kelly performs during a concert Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
Machine Gun Kelly performs Aug. 10, 2022, at Enterprise Center.
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