When you use the word “superstar” with a musical artist, what defines them to be at that status? Is it the number of awards? The number of album certifications? Their fan base? Or is it simply the mention of their name that everyone immediately knows who they are, even if they’ve never seen them play or heard a single song. Machine Gun Kelly is someone who absolutely fits under “superstar”. The Cleveland resident is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor at the young age of 31. He’s won numerous music awards and his last album Tickets to My Downfall hit #1 on the Billboard 200. And his fanbase is strong. How strong? Strong enough when Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL announced Machine Gun Kelly would be performing there on April 23rd, the show sold out. This was one of the first full attendance shows Daily’s Place was hosting during the pandemic.
The parking lots were packed for the 5,500 capacity amphitheater that night. When we made our way to the photo pit, the crowd was already roaring in delight waiting for Machine Gun Kelly to take the stage. As we waited in the photo pit, the front floor was packed in tight with fans of all ages. And when the lights went down, the crowd screamed in anticipation as Machine Gun Kelly and his band stepped onto the stage. Sporting a guitar with the words “SOLD OUT” written on it (referencing either the sold-out show or the deluxe version of Tickets to My Downfall) he walked up to the mic and scanned the crowd, smiling. Sporting his newly blood-red line tattoo on his neck, he opened with “title track”. The energy was electric that night and Machine Gun Kelly and his band were completely on point. He looked extremely happy and continued on with “kiss kiss” also from Tickets to My Downfall. The whole crowd was singing along word for word.
After the song he walked back and forth across the stage looking at everyone in the amphitheater. Machine Gun Kelly stopped saying, “I don’t think I’m ready to talk yet until I see some real movement in this place.” He continued on with “concert for aliens”. After the song, he spoke to the crowd for a bit saying how great it was to be in Jacksonville, FL, where everything is open. And he and his band wanted to be able to see people again. The crowd cheered in appreciation. He walked backstage and came back showing off a pinata. He mentioned it was his birthday recently and he wanted to also celebrate it here with the fans. Of course, the crowd cheered in approval. He looked in the front row for a volunteer and picked a young woman and pulled her out of the crowd. He brought her up on one of the large speakers in the photo pit with us and had her hold the pinata above her head. Machine Gun Kelly walked back to the stage and picked up his mic stand saying, “This is probably a bad idea, but I’m going to do it anyway.” He lined up the shot and swung for the fences. He smashed the pinata, but it only slightly cracked. He came back and took the pinata from her and said, “I have no idea what’s in here” and smashed it on the stage. He grabbed some of the candy from it and gave it to the young woman, who thanked him and she made her way back to her seat with a huge smile on her face.
As the show continued on, he took a pause during the show and looked backstage. He came up to the stage and stepped out onto one of the speakers and asked a fan for their sign. The fan passed it forward as he rolled up the sign and shouted into it they were having some technical difficulties. As he waited, he started singing and the fans started singing with him acapella. It was an amazing thing to hear. Once the sound came back he got back to rolling the show again. And once again, he stopped saying he wanted to see people up close. He made his way to the far left of the stage, jumped down, and ran around the outside edge and into the crowd where he proceeded to perform while in the middle of the crowd. It was absolutely insane and amazing at the same time. Most importantly, Machine Gun Kelly looked extremely happy.
Machine Gun Kelly put on an impressive, energetic, and entertaining 22 song setlist that evening. The full setlist is below:
- title track
- kiss kiss
- concert for aliens
- drunk face
- Candy
- Smoke and Drive
- all I know
- my ex’s best friend
- El Diablo
- Floor 13
- DAYWALKER
- WWIII
- forget me too
- lonely
- Glass House
- Hollywood Whore
- I Think I’m OKAY
- Misery Business (Paramore cover)
- jawbreaker
- 5:3666
- banyan tree – interlude
- bloody valentine
It was amazing to see a full-scale concert again to a sold-out crowd. Daily’s Place did a phenomenal job providing the fans with a great concert experience. Machine Gun Kelly put on an amazing performance and I definitely look forward to seeing him come back to Florida again. Go check out his website HERE for music, videos, and merch.
Be the first to comment