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Written by Rachel Baker | Monday, April 2, 2007 |
My Chemical Romance blew me away when I saw them at the BIC last November surpassing all my expectations. Tonight they did the same!
Support band, ‘Thursday’ were highly energetic and entertaining and seemed to love MCR as much as the fans, (understandable considering their history). So they did a great job whipping the crowd up into a frenzy.
Then it came … the piercing scream … from 13 year old girls in skeletal hoodies and tutus, middle aged mums in jeans and young boys who’d been let loose with hair dye and eyeliner. Yep, The Black Parade had arrived. Gerard Way wheeled on in his hospital bed for an emotional and emphatic performance of ‘The End’ for which he dramatically jumped out of to ‘Dead’. This was a high energy, theatrical, enjoyable, jaunt through the ‘The Black Parade’. Way is an inspiration, he had the whole of Wembley Arena in the palm of his hand last night, hanging on every word he said, and rightly so. I get fed up with reading the negative, Daily Mail hype that surrounds this band. I’m always impressed with how positive, inspirational and charismatic Way is as a frontman.
We were treated to pyrotechnics, glitter falling from the ceiling, smoke, bangs and shoots of flames. Wonderfully theatrical and camp, but all this would be worthless if Way and co didn’t have the musical expertise, talent and repertoire to support this. The passion they convey on stage is awe inspiring. It was amazing to look around the arena and see everyone singing along to every word and swaying along in unison!
Highlights for me were definitely the crowd pleasing singles: ‘The Black Parade’ was HUGE and we were ‘The Black Parade’ for that 3.5 mins shouting along to every word like our lives depended on it. One of my all time faves, ‘Famous Last Words’ was beautiful and poignant. The intensity when Way was brought to his knees along with the smoke and lights makes it a wonderful, unforgettable memory for me. ‘Cancer’ again was emotional and inspirational and the band were even selling merchandise that raised money for a cancer charity. ‘Teenagers’was also amazing. It was fantastic to see thousands of 15 years olds screeching: “Teenagers scare the living shit out of me” at the top of their lungs!
I’d noticed Frank Lero playing on his back, (curled in a little ball at times). I’d assumed it was an ardent Hendrix-esque style performance, but unfortunately he was really ill and he had to leave and be replaced for the second part of the show by the bands guitar tech. The fact he played through the pain for so long shows his dedication, respect and enthusiasm for his fans and fellow band mates. Way made us all scream out to Frank and the love for him was immense!
The second part of the show was a fast and frantic trip through ‘Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge’. ‘I’m Not Ok’was obviously a mental crowd pleaser, along with ‘You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison’, ‘Cemetery Drive’. ‘Thanks For The Venom’ and fans favourite, ‘Helena’.
My Chemical Romance easily filled Wembley Arena last night with their energy, passion and raw talent. So many fantastic anthemic moments keep coming back me to and will stay with me forever. MCR are one of my favourite live bands and I’ll always be part of The Black Parade. Get well soon Frank!
My Chemical Romance Myspace
Wembley Arena
30th March 2007
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