On June 2, I had the opportunity to cover Machine Gun Kelly’s Lost Americana Tour in Raleigh, North Carolina as credentialed media.
Armed with a camera, a media pass, and access that allowed me to document the show from inside the pit, I spent the evening doing what I love most: capturing moments that fans might only experience for a few seconds before they’re gone.
While the spotlight naturally followed Machine Gun Kelly throughout the night, I found myself repeatedly drawn toward another figure on stage.
Justin Lyons.
As MGK’s touring guitarist, Justin occupies a role that often goes unnoticed by casual concertgoers. Yet from my vantage point inside the photo pit, it became clear just how much of the show’s emotional foundation rests on his shoulders.
Every night, Justin helps bring these songs to life for thousands of people. He helps transform memories into melodies, heartbreak into connection, and music into something audiences can carry home with them.
I’ve spent this tour telling Justin the same thing:
Keep on healing.
Because that’s what his music does.
Not just through the songs he creates himself, but through every note he pours into a performance.
Standing beneath the stage in Raleigh, camera in hand, I watched that impact unfold in real time.
Every chord felt intentional.
Every movement felt purposeful.
Every moment felt genuine.
And that’s what made this performance so memorable.
MISFIT MAGAZINE 
Leave a comment