I’ve been on a boat with sorority girls all day, how else could it get any better? How about getting right off said boat and heading to the Aragon Entertainment Center to shoot 1) one of my favorite rappers and 2) one of my favorite nu-metal bands I grew up with.
 

I arrive and apparently my credential is nowhere to be found, but after some calls I am let in mere SECONDS before Machine Gun Kelly goes on. MGK has been a big favorite of mine because of the power of his lyrics, the sheer speed he spits them out and how he is a rockstar trapped in a rappers body. And while I have not listened to much of his new stuff I didn’t feel too left out shooting in the pit.

Opening, surprisingly, with “See My Tears” MGK had the crowd going his entire set and I was somehow fortunate enough to be the only photographer and I got to experience the entire set in the pit. From “Wild Boyz” to “Peso” no song was left unturned. I was especially moved when MGK stopped the show and alluded to how he was not having the best of days and from then on you could see a man using music as his outlet. Headbanging, crowd surfing, and even a couple metal screams, MGK played his heart out to Chicago. The production of this show especially shocked me, beautiful lighting allowed for beautiful shots of the Cleveland rapper. All in all, as a fan of MGK or as a photographer, I enjoyed his set way too much. From a full band to the moment he walked off the stage, MGK gave Chicago a night to remember… and hell, the night was just getting started.
 

I anxiously waited for a band who was a huge part of my growing up to come on stage. Limp Bizkit was a band I was not allowed to listen to when Chocolate Starfish and Hot Dog Flavored Water came out due to being way too young at the time. So the only way I heard it was on pro wrestling (my guilty pleasure). So to see this band come on stage, and just command it was breathtaking. Fred Durst is 44 years old, SO WHAT? The dude has not missed a beat. I was treated to all sorts of hits from Limp Bizkit’s extensive discography. But for me a touching moment came when guitarist Wes Borland played the opening notes of the song “My Way.” I was sweaty, I was on an endorphin high and I had my camera by my side to document my all time favorite song in the pit. This crew of guys proved something to me today – they are still big names in the nu-metal scene. They are older now, but they are still one of the most relevant pioneering bands out there. With the production on point, Machine Gun Kelly joined them for a song and the whole performance was just fun and entertaining – it brought a smile to my face knowing that a band I grew up with can still bring it just as much as they did back in the 90’s.

If there is one thing you do this Fall, join Machine Gun Kelly and Limp Bizkit in a town near you on their tour and go bang your head. Till next time, and with photos as always.

See You In The Pit,

Greg
 

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