Jelly Roll, Hardy and surprise guest MGK rock 2024 Harley-Davidson Homecoming in Milwaukee

The 2024 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival scored two of the biggest rock- and hip-hop-loving country music stars — Jelly Roll and Hardy — to co-headline the first of two days of concerts at Veterans Park in the motorcycle company's hometown of Milwaukee Friday.

But deep in his 87-minute set Friday, Jelly Roll suggested there was one thing missing: "a big ol' Harley-Davidson."

Moments later, one rolled out — driven by MGK, also known as Machine Gun Kelly, the fellow A-lister, and rocker and rapper, whose last show in Milwaukee was a sold-out American Family Insurance Amphitheater during Summerfest in 2022.

Hopping off the bike, MGK joined Jelly Roll for the one of the latter's biggest hits, "Need a Favor." And then the two teamed up for the live debut of what they predicted might be one of the biggest hits of either of their careers, their new emo-and-country-blending (and "Take Me Home, Country Roads"-interpolating) collaboration "Lonely Road." The song came out Friday.

(The music video, which also features MGK's wife Megan Fox and Jelly Roll's celebrity wife Bunnie XO, reached the No. 2 spot for trending for music on YouTube, with 2.1 million views as of early Saturday morning.)

"This is the biggest show I've ever done in the Midwest," Jelly Roll said before the big reveal, saying multiple times throughout the night that 35,000 people were in attendance. (By comparison, his American Family Insurance Amphitheater concert last year, one of his biggest at that point of his career, was filled to capacity at 23,000.) "So I think we should do something special tonight."

Time will tell if the song is the biggest hit of their careers; honestly, from an artistic standpoint, considering it leans so heavily on John Denver's classic, I hope it isn't. But what made the moment most special was the tenderness MGK expressed speaking on stage Friday about Jelly Roll, who he's known for 15 years.

"I want to thank Jelly, not just for bringing me out, but for helping bring out the best side of me, as a man, as a father, as an artist," MGK said. "Thank you, Harley-Davidson for bringing us out, and thank you for this man right here for inspiring so many of us on this road that we call life, for redemption, and knowing that it's never too late to change, dude. I love those calls that we have where you sit with me for hours, man, when I'm at the lowest lows and you make me feel so high. … I am so happy to be here and honored to be on this stage."

The kinship MGK expressed is what Jelly Roll's fans feel hearing his music and watching him sing, and it's clearly what they felt in Milwaukee.

He aptly called his songs "therapeutic music" Friday. Often, they're inspired by the difficulties he's faced — from his mental health struggles, to being a convicted felon, to his battles with drug addiction — and the ongoing attempt to overcome those burdens and that pain, to become a better person.

"I'm not going to lie to you all. I've had the best year of my life," Jelly Roll said Friday, mentioning multiple awards and nominations this year, from the Grammys to the CMA Awards. "But the truth is … it don't mean nearly as much as making songs that can touch 35,000 people. … That's what I do this for. I do this because I believe that music can meet us right where we are. And I believe I was here tonight to tell somebody that it's OK to not be OK."

From there, Jelly Roll sang one of his songs that speak so personally, so poignantly, so candidly about his hardships: one of his newest singles, "I Am Not Okay."

"Some days, it ain't all bad/Some days, it all gets worse," Jelly Roll sang tenderly. "Some days I swear I'm better off laying in that dirt."

"I know I can't be the only one who's holding on for dear life."

In that moment at Veterans Park, it was clear Jelly Roll, on an emotional level, was very much not alone.

As cool as the MGK moment was for fans, it was Jelly Roll's songs, conviction, personality and inspiration that make him really special.

But he did have other "special" moments Friday, including his attire: a black Harley-Davidson baseball cap and custom Harley Jelly Roll shirt with a fiery, decorative back. (Two of his eight bandmates had their own special clothes in Milwaukee: a Bucks hat for the drummer and a Bucks jersey for one of the guitarists.)

MGK showed up again later for the end of Lynyrd Skynyrd cover "Simple Man," while co-headliner Hardy appeared for Jelly Roll's cover of Garth Brooks classic "Friends in Low Places."

It wasn't exactly a striking musical moment — Jelly Roll told the crowd Hardy was already drinking backstage and didn't even know what song they were going to sing together, although Hardy did manage a strong finish for their collaboration.

But, really, the star collaboration came from fellow Harley performer Priscilla Block, who brought the intensity and vulnerability that Lainey Wilson displays on the updated recording of Jelly Roll's country breakthrough, the poignant and personal plea for salvation, "Save Me."

And while Jelly Roll is a big ol' country star now, he hasn't forgotten his hip-hop roots, touching on some earlier material like "Same (Expletive)" and also offering a spirited hip-hop medley that included snippets of songs from Eazy-E, Eminem, DMX and others.

And on the hip-hop side of things is where Jelly Roll had another special guest: a 13-year-old aspiring rapper from Oshkosh named Brady who crushed Jelly Roll's verses for "Creature" Friday. And for anyone who saw Jelly Roll in Milwaukee last year: Yes, this is the same young rapper who floored Jelly Roll, and the sold-out crowd, rapping to "Son of the Dirty South."

What a cool gesture that Jelly Roll brought Brady back for another Wisconsin appearance — one, Jelly Roll suggested Friday, that likely will be his biggest concert in the state.

That's where we disagree. No doubt this will go down as a memorable Jelly Roll Wisconsin performance, and a memorable Harley Homecoming performance. But it seems inevitable that Jelly Roll may end up performing at the Milwaukee Brewers' American Family Field — or even Lambeau Field.

More: What you need to know about 2024 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival in Milwaukee

More: How to prepare for heavy traffic on Milwaukee's lakefront this weekend

Hardy heats things up at Harley Fest with defiant co-headlining set

There are countless singers around the world gracing stages with their heavenly voices. Few, like country star and Friday Harley Fest co-headliner Hardy, are bold enough to belch.

This unapologetically uncouth gesture came Friday after Hardy chugged a drink from a black Solo cup, right before “Happy Hour” and right after “Radio Song,” in which Hardy mocks conventional country radio songs (“It can’t be too fake but it can’t be too real”) in between F-bombs and nu-metal screaming and thrashing.

That song, part of a metal-laced set heavy on songs from this year’s “Quit!!” album (including “Rockstar,” “Jim Bob” and “Psycho,”) epitomized Hardy’s defiant attitude — and his appeal.

But as “One Beer” showed Friday — the song getting a boost Friday from Priscilla Block in place of the recording’s Lauren Alaina — Hardy’s a very talented songwriter with hooks to spare. And in addition to that juicy burp, Hardy indeed had a heavenly voice, from the sobering, initially acoustic “Six Feet Under (Caleigh’s Song),” written for his wife, to his haunting vigilante tale “Wait in the Truck,” which had Hardy passionately belting for mercy Friday.

And as far as I’m concerned, “God’s Country,” the hit Hardy co-wrote for Blake Shelton, is his song now. I’m sure he’d suggest it’s a song for the people, based on the rousing patriotic speech he gave before the performance Friday. But the truth of the matter is, Hardy sang that song with so much more vigor than Shelton did at Fiserv Forum in February.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t show-stopping vocals Hardy used to seal his 70-minute set. Instead, his final gesture before leaving the stage Friday was shotgunning a beer and flipping the bird.

Warren Zeiders delivers with outlaw country zeal

“Where were we, boys?” a seemingly dazed Warren Zeiders asked his six-piece band halfway through the third song of his late Friday afternoon set.

The outlaw-leaning country up-and-comer was feigning confusion, but it would be understandable if he had been lightheaded, making these comments after holding a lone vocal note a full 20 seconds, during “Pain Killer.”

Zeiders said his mission was to make anyone who didn’t know him a fan by the end of his set. But it didn’t seem like there were many people in need of conversion, based on the singalongs to his hits “Pretty Little Poison” and “Ride the Lightning.” One fan was even invited on stage to sing along and jump around to “Relapse.”

But if there was anyone in the large crowd unaware of Zeiders, his James Hetfield-like vocals for “Never Look Back” and grungy undertones to “Sin So Sweet” showed the appeal — and also, what sets Zeiders apart from many of his country contemporaries.

Priscilla Block, Hank Ruff, Hueston, Shaylen kick things off

• Priscilla Block may have been lower on the bill Friday, but she had a couple of the most committed fans of the day, including one who made her a custom vest with her name, song titles and golden tassels that Block wore for a song, and another who showed off a tattoo of Block's signature. Songs that Block colorfully described Friday as being about "real (expletive)" have earned her admirers, but a major part of the appeal is what she stands for. Before singing her breakout song "Thick Thighs," Block talked about trying to break into country music, and how time and again she was told to lose 30 pounds. Instead, Block embraced a greater purpose to her music and personality: "Never letting anyone telling you to be any different than exactly who you are." "Thank you for letting me be me," Block said Friday, and clearly a strong showing of fans who showed up early for her set wouldn't have it any other way.

• Harley’s first act, Hank Ruff, repeated his name three times just to make sure people remembered him — and peppered his set with singalong favorites “Jack & Diane” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” to keep the crowd on his side. He was less successful attempting a singalong to his own song “If the Boot Fits,” which he co-wrote with his father, songwriter and Indiana politician Andy Ruff. But some down-to-earth charisma, live saxophone and a "Risky Business"-style stage slide in his cowboy boots ensured the early birds would remember him.

• Over on the secondary Iron Stage, following some afternoon warm-ups with Jelly Roll's DJ, DJ Chill, Shaylen offered the stage’s first live music, showing off some unreleased tunes from her forthcoming album, with ample energy and sweet vocals for pop-seasoned country rockers like “Been There Before” suggesting it will be worth checking out. And Hueston had some sublime soulful pipes, reminiscent of Allen Stone, although it would have registered more in the afternoon sun than on a scarcely populated secondary stage in the dark between Hardy and Jelly Roll.

Jelly Roll's Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival setlist in Milwaukee

1. "The Lost"

2. "Halfway to Hell"

3. "Same (Expletive)"/"Son of the Dirty South"/"Wild Ones"

4. "Son of a Sinner"

5. "Friends in Low Places" (Garth Brooks cover, with Hardy)

6. "I Am Not Okay"

7. "Smoking Section"

8. "Creature" (with 13-year-old rapper Brady from Oshkosh)

9. "Bottle and Mary Jane"

10. "Need a Favor" (with MGK)

11. "Lonely Road" (live performance debut with MGK)

12. "Boyz-n-the-Hood"/"Ruff Ryder"/"Lose Yourself"/"Ms. Jackson"/"Just a Friend" (medley of covers, by, in order, Eazy-E, DMX, Eminem, Outkast and Biz Markie)

13. "Burning"

14. "Simple Man" (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover, with MGK appearance)

15. "Save Me" (with Priscilla Block)

Hardy's Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival setlist in Milwaukee

1. "Quit!!"

2. "Rockstar"

3. "Kill (Expletive) Till I Die"

4. "Jack"

5. "Boots"

6. "One Beer" (with Priscilla Block)

7. "Radio Song"

8. "Happy Hour"

9. "Six Feet Under (Caleigh's Song)”

10. "Wait in the Truck"

11. "Jim Bob"

12. "Give Heaven Some Hell"

13. "My Sacrifice"/"One Last Breath" (Creed covers)

14. "The Redneck Song"

15. "Truck Bed"

16. "Sold Out"

17. "Psycho"

18. "God's Country"

19. "Unapologetically Country as Hell"

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or [email protected]. Follow him on X at @pietlevy or Facebook at facebook.com/PietLevyMJS.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jelly Roll, Hardy, surprise guest MGK rock Harley Fest in Milwaukee