mgk's Lost Americana Tour Brings Reinvention to the Kia Forum
November 22, 2025
On November 20, mgk lit up the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California with a performance that felt both explosive and transformative. The highly anticipated stop of his Lost Americana Tour, built around his latest studio album by the same name, showcased an artist in the midst of reinvention. Much like the album, this tour served as a tribute to reinvention and rediscovery, marking mgk’s shift into new sonic territory while distancing himself from his former Machine Gun Kelley identity.
Despite days of relentless rain plaguing the usual sunny Los Angeles, fans showed up in full force. He laughed off concerts over the weather when addressing the crowd, admitting he had been worried it would keep people away but vowing to bring the heat to the Kia Forum. And bring the heat he did.
Visually, the show was nothing short of spectacular. Burst of pyrotechnics and sweeping, high-energy lighting framed each song. The undeniable centerpiece though, was a massive Statue of Liberty bust. Holding a lit cigarette and adorned with multiple nose piercings, the statue embodied the gritty rebellious aesthetic of Lost Americana. In a dramatic opening moment, mgk emerged from the statue’s mouth, reaching up for a guitar that slowly descended down towards him, instantly setting the tone for a night rooted in bold symbolism.
Musically, the setlist offered a full journey through his catalogue. He performed numerous tracks from his seventh album, the creative anchor of the tour, including fan favorites like “Vampire Diaries”, “Cliché”, and “Sweet Coraline”. He did not shy away from a celebration of past eras either. In honor of the fifth anniversary of Tickets to My Downfall, he pulled out staples like “Bloody Valentine,” “My Ex’s Best Friend,” and “Lonely,” amongst others. As a nod to nostalgia and reinvention, huge themes of the tour and album, mgk even covered “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls. The blend of new material and beloved hits kept the energy of the crowd high from start to finish.
A particularly moving moment came when the Cleveland native dedicated the show to his daughters, Casie and newborn Saga Blade. He performed “Play This When I’m Gone,” the track he originally wrote for Casie, as a montage of family memories lit up the screen behind him. It was a tender reminder of the role family plays in both grounding him and inciting his constant need for evolution.
To close the night, mgk teased his return to rap, announcing a new album slated for 2026. The project will be his first rap project since Hotel Diablo in 2019, hinting at a full circle moment that bridges where he’s been with where he’s going. It was a moment of promise that made it clear that mgk is a shape-shifter, genre-bending, boundary-pushing, and never done evolving.
Words and photographs by Ana Oquendo