With an explosive performance at Utilita Arena Birmingham on the UK run of his much-anticipated ‘Mainstream Sellout’ Tour, Machine Gun Kelly proved he is far from selling out – much to the internet’s disappoint.
Recently he has been the target of hate from rock fans gatekeeping the genre, but by surprising fans with heavier versions of his most popular songs such as “FLOOR 13”, he created an atmosphere rivalling that of legacy bands such as Bring Me The Horizon, solidifying his place in the scene.
As the venue turned pink to celebrate the rapper’s return to the city, thousands of fans flocked to the stage in the colour that Machine Gun Kelly aka Colson Baker has coined as his own. Opening the night was 44phantom with a more relaxed, melodic setlist with hits such as “Freak”, “Poison”, and “Problems”.
Shortly after, internet sensation iann dior graced the stage filled with an electric purple haze, perfectly complimenting his fan favourites “Sick And Tired”, “Never Is Enough” and “Mood”.
Finally, it was time for Machine Gun Kelly, and in true rock and roll fashion, he opted for an over dramatic entrance, opening with “Born With Horns” hanging from a bright pink helicopter above the stage.
Smoke engulfed the band as he reached the ground and set the tone for one of the most exciting nights of the year – there was never a dull moment with the crowd’s high energy paralleling that of the band.
Colson ended the set with an ode to his fiancé Megan Fox who supports him from the side-lines every night. “twin flame” was the perfect end to a night – which despite their differences – united rock and rap fans.
There aren’t many artists who can successfully transition from one style of music to another, but after the success of his role as Tommy Lee in Netflix’s film The Dirt based on Mötley Crüe’s own story, Colson Baker expanded into rock and pop punk, showing the world how his talent spans multiple genres in studio recordings, film, and in person.
Machine Gun Kelly just wrapped up his ‘Mainstream Sellout’ tour in Amsterdam on October 12, and will return to the stage for a one-off show in Tampa, Florida in December.
Words + photography by Kcorra-Mia
