Concert Review: A Great Year For Mk.Gee Fans

By Evelyn Lopez

Music Journalist

Two Star & The Dream Police (2024), the debut studio album from Mike Gordon, a.k.a. Mk.gee, was released in February earlier this year. The 12-track album is filled with distorted guitar breaks, 80’s synths, and a production style many have compared to Phil Collins. The album has no listed features unless you are counting the production credits to Dijon on “New Low” and “DNM.”

I had the chance to see both Mk.gee and Dijon perform live together back in 2022. Dijon was on tour and opening for Bon Iver, and Gordon was on guitar and keys, and their musical chemistry was undeniable. Dijon’s debut album, Absolutely (2021), had been released over five months before. My brother got me a ticket to go with him, bless him, and we had a full circle moment as both of us were in attendance Tuesday night to watch Mk.gee. 

I first heard Gordon’s music through a Blonded radio episode, but my true admiration developed when I saw him wearing a Totoro tee in the Absolutely Film. The song was “you” from an earlier mixtape, Pronounced Mk.gee (2018), which is closer to the sound of Jai Paul and Toro y Moi. 

Last August, when Mk.gee took to their Instagram to announce two new songs, I was beyond ready for this era. His image began to shift to a more mysterious, stoic, suited-up look. I would compare the shift in his image from Phineas to Ferb. 

This new level of mysticism has not only captured the attention of new fans but also some of your favorite artists. Tyler, The Creator, Justin Vernon, and Clairo are a few fans that have shown their admiration for Mk.gee by attending his shows or showing love on his socials. Mk.gee has transformed from a musician’s favorite artist to the people’s favorite artist. Even my YouTube recommendations have been flooded with videos like “How to sound like Mk. Gee.” or “How Does He Make His Guitar Sound Like That?” since the release of the new album. The texture in his sound is addictive, and this is what has captivated new fans. 

I had met a fellow fan that was backstage with me due to accommodation seating, and I asked them what they were most excited to hear. “‘Alesis’ was the first song that I heard from the new album, and it was how I became a fan. Typically, I get really attached to female artists, but there is just something about Mk.gee.” They also told me that had happened only two weeks ago, and since then they have been drawn in. 

The first song on the setlist that night was the last on the album, “Dream Police.” Gordon builds his music right in front of us through looped drum patterns, various guitar pedals, with the help of Zack Sekoff on the drum machine and synth and Andrew Aged on bass. Gordon composes the atmosphere around us. The songs require the same ingredients, and at times I thought Gordon was starting one song, but once I recognized the first chord on his guitar, I knew what was to come. The only song from the new album that wasn’t played was “DNM,” but he played an unreleased track and “dimeback,” a favorite from A Museum Of Contradiction (2020). 

He is a man of few words. There was not much dialogue among him and the crowd, but he let us know that he “loooves” Austin, Texas. For the last song of the night, Gordon asks, “What do you guys want next?” which prompted fans to shout out, “PLAY DNM! PLAY DNM!” and other songs from previous projects. Gordon’s response: “It’s gonna be different than all of that.” He slows it down and ends the night with “breakthespell”. 

Prank. He is just a silly guy who respects a call for an encore. “Alesis” closes the show. It was the most collaborative song of the night. “Why me, or better, why you?”—we knew our lines, and I could see the satisfaction on his face as we sang it back to him. 

With the detail in his production and all of the breaks and occasional manic screams, Gordon is an artist who makes his performances feel unrepeatable and rare. I left this concert feeling like this may be the last time I will see him perform in an intimate venue like this. Basically, you just had to be there.