 Gerard Way of MCR (Photo by Chris Gordon) My Chemical Romance (Photo by Chris Gordon) Matthew Bellamy of Muse (Photo by Jamie Zabludowski) Chris Wolstenholme of Muse (Photo by Jamie Zabludowski) Gerard Way and Bob Bryar of MCR (Photo by Chris Gordon) Gerard Way of MCR (Photo by Chris Gordon)
April 22, 2007
BankAtlantic Center - Sunrise, FL
By Leah Pritchett
Complete silence spread over the BankAtlantic Center. I pushed and shoved my way through the crowd, trying my best to see what so mesmerized everyone. A white hospital bed was slowly rolled onto the stage and you could hear a heartbeat thumping through the speakers. Suddenly a familiar voice began to chant a haunting tune: "Now come one come all to this tragic affair.”
And there was Gerard Way, dressed in a patient’s gown, wiping his hand down his pasty face, smearing his black eyeliner and singing the opening track to The Black Parade with anguish and despair. He raised his hands in the air and slowly got up from the bed. When the band kicked into “Dead!” he let out a fierce yell and ripped off his gown to welcome all to My Chemical Romance’s second headlining tour.
From the depths of the polluted avenues of New Jersey, My Chemical Romance captivated South Florida fans with a one-hour set of The Black Parade, which they played in the same order as their concept album. The energy in the arena was high, especially after a sensational performance by English rock band Muse, who sang songs like “Hysteria,” and one of my favorites, “Time Is Running Out.”
As My Chemical Romance ripped through the album’s 13 songs, they used a wide range of stage props. This included a large screen, which displayed an image of 42nd street in New York from the 1930s, and embellishments such as black and white confetti that led you to believe you were actually marching in a parade with the band. They also had fire explosions, which added a more melodramatic effect to their songs “Mama” and “Famous Last Words.”
Much to my surprise, after recreating The Black Parade live, My Chemical Romance had another set in store based on the Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge album. The backdrop changed to a black sign that read REVENGE inside a circle of guns. MCR slipped on their old worn out leather jackets, faded black jeans and dirty sneakers, and rocked out to songs like “Give Them Hell Kid” and “Cemetery Drive.” They closed the show with one of their biggest hits “Helena.” This last half of the show was clearly dedicated to the fans that have been with MCR from the beginning, but some of the newer fans may have been put off due to the fact that the set didn’t have exploding bombs or a dancing Helena.
I’ve been to every show that My Chemical Romance has ever put on in South Florida, and honestly, this was the one of the most mind-blowing shows I have ever been to. With teary eyes and a joyful smile, I stood clapping my hands in amazement, feeling touched and completely satisfied.
Email Leah your thoughts: outloud@outloud.com
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