Mk.gee’s Otherworldly Guitar Playing Captivates Sold-Out Shows in LA
- Greg Poblete
- Sep 16, 2024
- 5 min read
Less than half a mile away from Clairo's sold-out, 5-night residency for the Charm tour at the Fonda Theatre, an eccentric musician named Michael Todd Gordon was busy enchanting a star-studded room with his avant-garde guitar playing and enigmatic stage presence. Gordon, more commonly known by his perplexing artist name, Mk.gee, sold out two shows in Los Angeles on September 7th and 8th at the Hollywood Palladium—a 4,000-capacity venue that has hosted the likes of Björk, LCD Soundsystem, and Dua Lipa.
Mk.gee, an elusive figure in the music world, has struck gold with his latest release, Two Star & the Dream Police. The album is a shadowy, mythical journey filled with transcendental guitars layered with unconventional effects, all wrapped in an '80s revival aesthetic that feels both nostalgic and futuristic. Defining Two Star by a single genre feels limiting; while it nods to arena rock and alt-R&B, at its core, this is a pop record—though not in the radio-friendly sense. Instead, Two Star reimagines what pop music could, and arguably should, be.
With its grand, flashy choruses, intricate song structures, and cryptic songwriting, Mk.gee is an artist who creates music that captures a mood rather than technical perfection. While undeniably talented, especially as a guitarist, Gordon’s music isn’t always the most polished or easy to digest. Many tracks are purposefully rough around the edges, with moments where the instrumentation feels clunky and his singing indecipherable. Listening to Mk.gee’s music can feel like trying to read a handwritten letter from a distant friend with terrible handwriting—you still try to decipher it because the sentiment is pure. And once you look past the imperfections, it’s clear that Two Star leaps ahead of its contemporaries.
Perhaps it’s this monumental statement in Two Star & the Dream Police that has garnered Mk.gee praise from artists like Matty Healy (The 1975), Rich Brian, John Mayer, Lykke Li, Jordana, and Thundercat—all of whom were in attendance at his shows. Sure, Chappell Roan may still hold the title of “your favorite artist’s favorite artist,” but Mk.gee is a close runner-up, and his live performances only reinforce this claim.
For most artists, a tour built around a new album includes flashy visuals, lighting cues, and production techniques to keep the audience engaged. But Mk.gee is anything but typical. For much of the show, Mike was stationed at stage right, hidden in the fog and backlit, making it difficult to make out his face. Whether this was a deliberate attempt to maintain his mystery or simply shyness on stage, it worked in his favor. It forced the audience to fully immerse themselves in the soundscape as he translated the tracks from Two Star into a live setting.
There’s no other way to describe Mk.gee than as a guitar wizard. His live band—Zack Sekoff (drum machine, keyboard) and Andrew Aged (guitar)—play the role of his assistants, keeping the secrets of his craft under wraps. Even if you managed to glimpse Mike’s pedal board or catch the settings on his modified '60s Fender American Jaguar, the magic behind his immaculate tones remains a mystery.
While creating lush guitar sounds, Mike also has a wildly expressive stage presence. His guitar seems like an entirely new instrument in his hands. At times, he smacks the strings to let the distortion ring out abrasively, and at other times, he fingerpicks delicately, creating a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere. The dynamic range of sounds he produces is unmatched—and probably better left a mystery.
Having the privilege of attending both shows over the weekend, I witnessed the best moments from each. Night one was fantastic, with a solid setlist that never had any lulls. Softer tracks like “I Want” and “Breakthespell” were emotionally moving, allowing the crowd to get lost in the music. The night ended with an unexpected rendition of James Horner’s “Rose” from the Titanic soundtrack, leaving eyes across the Hollywood Palladium glistening with tears.
That said, night two was even better. Mk.gee pulled out all the stops, mixing up the setlist and introducing a hazy, almost unrecognizable version of “cz” from A Museum of Contradiction. They performed “Candy” twice, with the second time serving as the night’s grand finale, featuring a triumphant guitar solo. Songs like “Alesis” and “Are You Looking Up” turned into massive sing-alongs, with the entire crowd belting out every lyric.
The weekend heatwave seeped into the venue, making the Hollywood Palladium warmer than usual, and the packed crowd didn’t help. At one point, Mike acknowledged the heat and performed the rest of the show shirtless, adding both vulnerability and a punk edge to the performance. Despite the unconventional lighting, blaring guitars, and unexpected screams into the mic, Mk.gee channels a punk energy that’s hard to ignore.
The biggest surprise of the night came when Dijon, a frequent Mk.gee collaborator, joined him on stage to perform “DNM” not once, but three times. The first time was without Dijon, but as the stuttering piano intro played again, Dijon appeared to harmonize with Mike. The crowd’s energy was electric, and the duo had no choice but to run it back immediately.
The encore for night two mirrored night one, with another instrumental cover from the Titanic soundtrack and crowd favorites “Alesis” and “Candy.” As I left the venue, I couldn’t think of anything more anyone could have asked for from a Mk.gee show. He gave it his all, playing the entirety of Two Star & the Dream Police, bringing out Dijon, and uplifting each person in the crowd with fuzzed-out guitars and the occasional piercing scream.
Mk.gee is the kind of artist who only comes around once in a while, and it’s refreshing to see his talent getting the recognition it deserves. At one of his earlier LA shows, Mike said something that resonates with his entire approach to music: “We’re here to give you the real thing.” He’s not trying to appeal to the masses or put on a fabricated stage persona. He’s here to present his art in its most authentic and purest form. Mk.gee’s music creates a world that’s both foreign and familiar, walking the line between welcoming and hostile—but always true to itself.
9/8/24 Setlist:
Dream Police
You Got It
How Many Miles
Candy
Lonely Fight
Little Bit More
cz
New Low
I Want
Rylee & I
DNM
DNM (with Dijon)
DNM (repeated, with Dijon)
Breakthespell
Are You Looking Up
Encore:16. Alesis17. Rose (James Horner cover) / Time to Say Goodbye (Andrea Bocelli cover)18. Candy (repeated)
To see upcoming tour dates, check out Mk.gee’s website. And be sure to listen to his latest album Two Star & the Dream Police, available on all streaming platforms.