MGK headlines the Kia Forum
A full day of rain didn’t do much to slow the turnout at the Kia Forum on Thursday night — surprising for a city where Angelenos famously avoid going out in bad weather. Fans ran through the parking lot, dodging puddles, rushing toward the entrance to secure a front spot along the barricade for MGK’s ‘lost americana’ tour stop. Inside, the venue filled quickly, with energy settling into a focused hum, the kind that happens when an artist steps into a new chapter, and fans want to witness it from the moment it takes shape.
This tour carries new weight for MGK: a new album, a new era, and a return to arenas with a production that feels sharper and more narrative-driven than anything he has attempted before. Even before the lights went down, it was clear the night was important. When the stage lit up in deep red, the crowd snapped to full attention, responding with a momentum that never slowed. The setlist wasted no time diving into all corners of his catalog. “Wild Boy” hit with immediate force, pulling the room into motion, followed by “El Diablo,” “Ay!,” and “Goddamn,” each delivered with a pacing that made the transitions feel intentional rather than divided by era. Sharp lighting cues and quick bursts of pyro grounded the sequence, highlighting the contrast between older material and the newer tracks threaded throughout the night. These moments showed how strongly fans still connect with MGK’s rap roots — a point he emphasized when he teased that 2026 could bring a return to that sound.
Midway through the show, the tone shifted. The lights softened, the staging pulled back, and the noise in the room settled as MGK dedicated part of the performance to his daughters, accompanied by a montage across the screens. It was one of the most grounded moments of the night, offering a clear glimpse at the emotional core of lost Americana and providing balance against the tour’s larger production elements.
When the momentum picked up again, “Starman” and “Don’t Wait Run Fast” helped define how the new album fits into the arc of his career. MGK moved easily across a multi-walkway stage that extended into the crowd, creating a broader sense of interaction and pulling the performance beyond its main platform.
Throughout the night, MGK leaned into spontaneity. At one point, he left the stage entirely and climbed into the stands, turning a section of the lower bowl into part of the show. Later, he brought a young fan onstage for “forget me too,” creating an unforgettable moment. He also worked in a brief run of dance moves during “Ay!,” drawing a loud reaction from the barricade before laughing it off and continuing the set.
“Iris” delivered one of the strongest sing-alongs of the night, thousands of voices carrying the chorus back toward the stage. From there, the energy built steadily to the finish. “Maybe” reinstated the full-band weight of his pop-punk era, while “I Think I’m OKAY” closed the night with the familiar surge of motion that has become a hallmark of his live shows. The floor stayed active through the final chorus, a clear sign of how consistently the audience remained engaged.
As fans stepped back into the light rain, the takeaway was clear: this early stop on the lost americana tour — the second stop in the 62-show run, after launching it at Warped Orlando — revealed an artist working with clarity and confidence. The elevated production and careful pacing set a clear tone for what fans can expect in the future, even as the show reflected his past. Be sure to catch the "lost americana" tour in a city near you.
Photos and Review: heather Koepp
Heather Koepp is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Rival Magazine LA, which she launched in January 2020 — an unpredictable time to start a creative project, but one that helped shape the magazine’s fearless voice. After more than a decade behind the lens, Heather has established herself as a trusted entertainment photographer, capturing some of the biggest names and moments in live music.
Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine, People Magazine, and more, reflecting her ability to merge storytelling with visual energy. Beyond her editorial and photography career, Heather continues to support upcoming musicians and inspire new creatives while growing her craft — and raising her son, Atticus — with an unwavering commitment to art, music, and the stories that connect them.