Mk.gee @ The Perplexiplex
denver, colorado - may 4th, 2024
Last Saturday, elusive artist and visionary, Mk.gee, brought his talents to Denver for an unforgettable show at The Perplexiplex.
Previously known by most for his collaborative efforts with artist Dijon, the enigmatic prodigy has now made a name for himself with debut studio album, Two Star & the Dream Police. While Mike Gordon has been producing for himself and others for years, this album takes a steep departure from any of his prior discography. In contrast to Gordon’s earlier work, Two Star is strange, dark, emotive, and experimental. Each instrument is distorted to perfection, resulting in a sonically baffling, yet undoubtedly captivating end result. The sound clearly draws from 80’s pop, rock and r&b elements, creating the same vague familiarity you might experience in a dream.
Gordon’s vocals are similarly fascinating. Equal parts skillful and avant-garde, he’s just as concerned with portraying the desperation written into his songs’ narratives as he is with nailing each run. Combined with insane guitar skills, Gordon’s vision manifests as an acid trip or a spiritual awakening of an experience (both are fitting analogies). Since its release in February, Two Star has garnered unprecedented buzz across music forums. While impressive for Gordon who is still early into his solo-career, it’s not in the least surprising to anyone who’s listened.
Mk.gee performing at Meow Wolf’s The Perplexiplex in Denver, CO.
Meow Wolf’s Perplexiplex, a venue room inside Denver’s popular immersive art attraction, was a fitting scene for Gordon’s performance. Interactive projections on the walls and floors made it feel like an extension of the exhibit as opposed to just a concert hall. The stage, outfitted with panels of ornate cathedral windows, was situated beneath a mosaic of rectangular lights and fluffy cloud fixtures. Despite the bells and whistles, once Gordon took to the stage it was clear he would be putting on a much more minimal show than the venue was capable of.
Following no openers, Gordon and his two bandmates spared no time taking to their instruments after stepping on stage. With his signature frazzled hair in his face, Gordon gave a quick wave as he took to his spot on the side stage. He picked up his guitar and dove right into playing “Dream Police”. The room was thick with fog and pitch dark except for a single spotlight behind the band, creating an eerie backlit effect. I fell into a trance watching the illuminated fog swirl while Gordon pleaded, “Oh, please, put me out / I believe that you owe me this time / Can’t believe how you killed me tonight / I’m taking all my love”.
Gordon’s band, comprised of Zack Seekoff on percussion and Andrew Aged on guitar, maintained an ambient hum and improvised between songs, ensuring there were no moments of pure silence. Seekoff seemed unable to stay still as he conducted his setup of electronic instruments. Rolling loops, electronic drums, synths, and other noises were in need of constant adjustment. The result was a stunning array of percussive sounds, at times akin to bass-heavy idm beats.
It wasn’t until around the middle of the set, when they performed “Candy” and an unreleased track called “Lonely Fight”, that some of the stage lights flickered on during moments of intensity. Even still, the visual production remained minimal throughout the show, forcing the audience to focus on the sound. And that they did. During “Candy” the crowd echoed the catchy lyrics, “Candy is all in my business / And if she’s looking hard she will find it / Well, candy you’re just wasting time”. This upbeat number is the closest thing to mainstream pop on Two Star. Of course, it still contains an extensive instrumental break full of texture that descends into madness before shooting into the final chorus.
Throughout the set, Gordon would sporadically strike his guitar or let out a startling scream. The jolts of loud, high pitched sounds interrupted the otherwise moody atmosphere, but they felt like raw expressions of true desperation and longing. These are the themes riddled throughout Two Star, signified not only by lyrics, but also through Gordon’s raspy and strained vocals.
The final track of the set was his most streamed song, “Are You Looking Up”. Another crowd favorite, the room erupted with excitement, singing “Are you looking up? Are you asking why? / ‘Cause if you wanna go then baby go wide / Yeah, I can shift shapes but I can’t deny”. Filled with twangy guitar licks, this groovy melody closed the set on a high note. But fans were not quite ready for that. Upon leaving the stage, the audience cheered with fervor and pleaded for the band to return. One fan begged repeatedly, “Play Alesis!!”.
Not much time had lapsed before Gordon, beer in hand, reappeared on stage alongside his band. A light suddenly shone on Gordon, prompting him to raise his hand and shield his face. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching him perform it’s that he is not partial to being seen. To the relief of that one fan, “Alesis” began playing. Undoubtedly, this was the most familiar song to this crowd. So much so, that upon reaching the chorus, Gordon held his mic out to the audience as they sang “Why me, or better, why you?” and “Why bleed when we don’t have to?”.
Between the lack of openers, and the stripped down nature of the set, this show felt special and fleeting. What a treat to be able to witness Mk.gee at a pivotal moment in his career. His sold out tour continues through the rest of May, with a final show set to take place at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA. Listen to Two Star & The Dream Police below, and check out the album review.
