Thanks to KZSC’s lovely rock director, I scored two tickets to see Mk.Gee during his Two Star and The Dream Police World Tour at the Fox Theater in Oakland — though not without some trials and tribulations. Initially, I thought I’d only receive one staff ticket, so I rushed to buy a second one for my friend to accompany me. Less than a day later, though, I got the news that I could get a plus-one after all, leaving me $76 short and with an extra ticket I didn’t want to waste.
I scoured every platform I could think of — Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, the UCSC 2026 Snapchat story, Reddit, you name it — hoping someone would take the ticket off my hands. After days of desperate posting and multiple scammer accusations, I was close to losing all hope. Then, just hours before the concert, r/mkgee came to my rescue: a fellow UCSC student was ready to buy it! With my bank account and spirits relieved, we hit the road for Oakland.
We got there early and got a spot on the floor — about ten feet away from the stage, with a great view. Mk.Gee made his entrance through a haze of fog, with shoulder-length hair backlit so he looked almost like some kind of indie-rock messiah. I leaned over to my friend and whispered that we were in the presence of Jesus himself. And honestly, it might as well have been — his guitar playing was nothing short of a holy experience. His raspy voice, with that slightly Midwestern tone, cut through the air, punctuated by the occasional scream that just sent chills.
Mk.Gee (pronounced “Mick Gee”) is a genre-blending artist bringing fresh energy to the indie scene. Hailing from New Jersey and now based in Los Angeles, he creates a fusion of indie rock, lo-fi R&B, and electronic funk, carried by slinky basslines and hazy vocals. His sound is as unpredictable as it is memorable, often incorporating elements of bedroom pop, funk, and jazz. Mk.Gee’s songs are introspective, with lyrics exploring themes of self-reflection, alienation, and the ups and downs of young adulthood. He’s collaborated with artists across genres and is quickly gaining recognition as a rising talent.
Before the concert, my personal favorites from the album were ‘Alesis’ and ‘Candy,’ but after seeing Mk.Gee live, I realized that the studio versions of ‘How Many Miles’ and ‘Rylee & I’ don’t quite do them justice. ‘Are You Looking Up,’ in particular, was everything I hoped for—and it even exceeded my expectations.
He wrapped up the entire set with a cover of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” using a pedal effect that made his guitar sound like a flute. A classic. A great finale to a great show.
Mk.Gee’s music is truly addictive, especially live. His songs have a replayability that sets him apart from other artists despite his relatively small discography. I’d prepped for the concert by listening to his songs nonstop, sang along on the drive there, and kept his latest album on repeat the whole way home. Even now, I can’t stop playing it.