06.22.26 – Photos and review by Jordan Zinda

It is quite possible that there is no better way to spend a beautiful, early summer evening than enjoying an outdoor concert. That is certainly true for the approximately 20,000 Minnesotans that made up the sold out crowd Monday night at the brand new Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee. The venue is impressive to say the least, with an excellent set up, great atmosphere and clear sightlines whether you’re seated in the bowl, on the lawn or standing in front of the stage. There was a lot of excitement early in the evening as gates opened an hour and half before showtime, allowing everyone the opportunity to explore the grounds of what is sure to become a premium destination for the outdoor music experience while awaiting the main event. 

The shiny new venue was certainly in for one hell of a christening with American singer, songwriter and rapper MGK ( f.k.a. Machine Gun Kelly and whose real name is Colson Baker) and longtime friend and contributor Wiz Khalifa (Cameron Jibril Thomaz) bringing the ‘Lost Americana’ tour to the stage. To say the crowd was ready is an understatement. The excitement and anticipation were palpable and impossible to miss. 

Wiz Khalifa was up first and as the seasoned performer he is, his time on stage was an expert mix of subdued confidence and crowd engagement. As is customary, his arrival onstage coincided with the rise of a noticeable herbal aroma as set opener, “Roll Up” echoed throughout the venue. As the energy of the audience shifted from an expectation to full on celebration Khalifa effortlessly reminded them exactly why he has remained one of hip hop’s most recognizable performers. Making his way through his discography with hits and fan favorites, from “Rolling Papers” to “Blacc Hollywood” and beyond, his effortless stage presence had the crowd rapping every lyric back to him at one point or another. As odd as the combination sounds, his set was equal parts intensity and relaxation with one of the most poignant parts of any Wiz Khalifa show being his performance of what is undoubtedly his biggest song, “See You Again.” That song always hits hard not only because of how anthemic it is but because of the slideshow that takes over his backdrop, paying homage to many of hip hop’s young talents that have passed too soon. This emotional tribute connected everyone in the amphitheater and had all watching and fully invested.

As the stage crew prepared for MGK’s arrival the energy felt like it went up a notch with every passing minute. Phones were up in the air in anticipation and constant cheers could be heard reverberating throughout the amphitheater. When MGK took to the stage the energy that had been building all evening finally erupted. Opening extremely strong with the Fred Durst soaked “FIX UR FACE,” MGK made an absolutely explosive entrance. If the man himself didn’t grab your attention, his pyrotechnics sure did. His command of the crowd was immediate and absolute, be it his more hip hop centered tracks or his later rock focused work, no lyric went unechoed. A medley of new material from his latest effort and tour title record, Lost Americana made its way into the ever impactful “I Think I’m OKAY,” a highpoint in the set where the sing along reached fever pitch and refused to let up. Midway through the show MGK pointed out a fan at the barricade whose sign let him know she had been to over a hundred of his shows. In gratitude he happily helped her with her gender reveal and I am excited to announce she’s expecting a beautiful baby girl!

His connection and appreciation for his audience was felt deeply and especially memorable. Between bounding from the stage to the barricade to running around the venue, his gratitude was felt by everyone who came to see him and those who performed before him. MGK introduced “the greatest stoner of this generation” as Khalifa joined him on stage to perform a handful of songs from their latest joint effort Blog Era Boyz, a highlight simply due to the camaraderie the two share. Launching into one of the loudest parts of his set, the second half was filled with fan favorites from his breakout record, Tickets To My Downfall, like “Drunk Face” and “Bloody Valentine.” These tracks were surprisingly cathartic as every lyric was shouted back at him, making it known just how much his music deeply resonates with his fans. What more could an artist want? 

As the inaugural headliner for a brand new venue, MGK certainly delivered a show worthy of the occasion, setting a high standard for shows to come as well as whatever show these many thousands of concert goers find themselves at next.