Photo courtesy of Disney/Christopher Willard

On Thursday, September 27th, 2024, young fans line the sidewalk outside the Citizens House of Blues Boston. The show of the night is Mk.Gee, a 27-year-old American singer-songwriter and music producer from New Jersey. The multifaceted musician, also known as Mike Gordon, has recently taken the music industry by storm with the release of his album Two Star & The Dream Police. He announced his world tour in early June 2024, and many of the shows were sold out by the end of the summer. The ticket demand was so high that a second show was added to three tour locations, and a third was added in London.

I arrived at the venue around 6:20 pm, and by that time, the line had reached from the venue's doors to the end of the block. Fans eagerly awaited the opening of the House's doors, even braving the pouring rain without cover to maintain their spots in line. Nevertheless, the doors did not open until 7:00 pm. Fans began to rush into their spots upon opening, filling the venue's three floors.

At 8:00 pm, the lights dimmed. SEES00000, the show's opener, entered the dark room while red and pink beams of light emerged from above the stage. His music, though a different genre from Mk.Gee, shared musical themes with those on Two Star. He combined loud EDM with gritty samples and ambient synth to set the tone for the rest of the night.

He spoke briefly at the end of his set, first thanking Boston for having him and then urging the audience to cheer for themselves. "Give it up for y'all selves. That was amazing." He says, "Nah, nah, nah, give it up for y'all selves because y'all love y'all selves." Before leaving the stage, he asked the big question: "Y'all ready for Mk.Gee?" The crowd roared with excitement.

At 9:15 pm, the dim lights shining over the audience abruptly shut off. The House shook with anticipation—Mk. Gee's entrance was near. Suddenly, the crowd erupted in cheers as the man of the night walked out on stage. Two beams of lights shined behind Gordon and fellow guitarist Andrew Aged, leaving only their silhouettes visible.

The stroke of the first guitar riff rang through the room. Rather than shout in excitement, the room unexpectedly fell silent, the walls almost shaking at the impact of the sound. "Dream Police," the album's closing track, started the show off with a bang. Gordon's vocals were crisp, juxtaposing the record, where most of his vocals are almost muffled by the sound of the other instruments.

"How many miles" and "You got it" followed "Dream Police." Zack Sekoff, who managed the drum kit and soundboards, was now in the audience's line of sight as the drum tracks became a key component of the show. The musicianship was sharp, and these songs made it clear. It was incredible to watch the three band members create such a massive sound with the little equipment they had.

The stage was sparsely adorned with sound equipment. Gordon and Aged (Gordon on the left, Aged on the right) stood behind microphones, carrying guitars, their feet riddled with guitar pedals. To Gordon's left was a large box carrying several soundboards and small keyboards. Behind the two guitarists, Sekoff stood behind a wall of speakers, where he played with even more soundboards and a drum kit. Leaving the stage rather empty almost showcased that the show prioritized music over a flashy stage design.

Throughout the show, Gordon would point the microphone to the audience, urging them to lead the songs. And lead, they did. The crowds at Mk. Gee shows are almost as fun to watch as Gordon himself. They become a part of each show. At every show, Gordon repeats the song "DNM" several times. At the Boston show, he played the song five times, eight times in Nashville, five times in Maryland, three times in LA, and so on. Some might find the constant playing of this song odd; however, the Mk.Gee crowd loves it. The crowd would become more excited and involved whenever Gordon played it at the Boston show. By the last time it played, he wasn't even singing as the crowd took control.

"Candy" and "I Want," which Gordon played following his most recent release, "Lonely Fight," really displayed Gordon's clever use of synth to create a unique sound, making the instrumental breaks singular and impactful. Throughout the show, Gordon would walk off to the soundboard box-on-wheels and enhance each song using keys, adding new sounds to the songs that weren't there on the record. This unique approach to live performance was highlighted during "New Low," where Gordon completely transformed the song into something new. The drum track was amplified, Gordon's vocals were scarce, the guitars were gritty and crunchy, and the keys and soundboards created a mechanical, techno-funk masterpiece.

"Breakthespell" followed "New Low," and was a slow ballad. The song, however, did not fly under the radar. Halfway into the song, there was an instrumental break, during which the disco ball on the venue's roof was lit. It was a beautiful scene. The audience gazed at the lights, and Gordon played enchantingly in the background. The world seemed to pause for a moment before “Are You Looking Up?" began, and the audience once again shouted in joy.

Following "Are You Looking Up?,” Gordon, Sekoff, and Aged left the stage, but the audience was quick to call them back. The boys ran back onstage as the audience cheered. Before playing his encore, Gordon exclaimed, "Alright, let's go for real," before starting the encore with "Alesis" and then playing "DNM" once again. To close everything, in stark contrast to the rest of the show, he played an instrumental cover of "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion using only his guitar. The audience once again quieted, in awe of the peacefulness of the moment. With Gordon's guitar almost weeping, it was hard not to feel emotional as the show came to a close.

Mk.Gee is changing the industry through his unique record, but his concerts are where he flourishes. Acting almost as a mad scientist, blending instruments and creating a sound so massive that the ground vibrates, he is changing the standard for live performance. I urge anyone who is reading this article, Mk.Gee fan or not, to go to a Mk.Gee show if you ever get the chance.

Concert Review: Mk.Gee Breaks Barriers At The Citizen’s House of Blues Boston