Machine Gun Kelly Parties Hard at Leeds First Direct Arena [Photos]

Thursday night and a stream of young fans are descending on the First Direct Arena as Machine Gun Kelly brings his Maximum Sellout party to the city for the latest date on his UK run and what a party.

Openers .44phantom have been and gone by the time we arrive at the arena, but as we head down into the cavernous room for main support, Iaan Dior, the hall is pretty full as the rapper takes to the stage. Taking a sip from a hot tea during a break in his set, Diorr informs the screaming crowd that despite having a fever earlier in the week, there was no way he would be pulling out of any shows. Despite the illness, there was no drop in energy as “Sick and Tired” and “Pretty Girls” whipped the crowd up, while “Live Fast Die Numb” was certainly a good choice for a tagline for this tour.

My Chemical Romance’s emo anthem “Welcome to the Black Parade” rang out around the arena as a warm-up to Machine Gun Kelly, who strode out onto the stage before being hoisted up into the rafters of the arena for opener “born with horns.” Swinging from a rope ladder high up over the crowd, you shouldn’t expect anything else from the MGK circus.

A technical glitch saw “god save me” being played twice, with the rapper stating, “there ain’t gonna be no fuckin’ technical difficulties ruin this show.” “fake love don’t last” saw support act Iann Dior joining the party on stage, which, by this point, had already seen the helicopter intro and a flame thrower dowse the stage in flames throughout “maybe.”

Away from all the antics, the celebrity/pop-punk ringmaster to this circus was a blur of colour as he stomped around the gigantic stage smashing through a mouthwatering twenty-seven song set which include a wonderful four-song acoustic medley and his hit single “i think i’m okay.”

“twin flame” brought the party to a suitably massive conclusion, and with Machine Gun Kelly heading out of the city, all that was left was for the MGK fan base to head home knowing that, after what was a brilliant night of pop-punk mayhem, they were going to wake up nursing one hell of a hangover.

Machine Gun Kelly (w/ Iann Diorr) @ First Direct Arena (Leeds, UK) on October 6, 2022

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