Photo Credit for Featured Photo: Jesse DeFlorio
My Chemical Romance lit up Citi Field in more ways than one with a theatrical performance from start to finish. The heat advisory did not stop fans from lining up at 10 AM for the evening show, dressed in full costumes and makeup inspired by The Black Parade story. Friends were made in line, and within the tightly packed sections, stories were shared of how My Chemical Romance shaped their teenage years. Whether it was parents who brought their kids along or someone who just tagged along with a friend, they had no idea how incredible the show was about to be. If you weren’t a fan coming into the show, you were going to leave one, no doubt.
Scottish natives Franz Ferdinand opened the show promptly at 7PM as thousands of fans filled into Citi Field. A big demand was expected of them from the MCR devoted fanbase, and they absolutely surpassed it. Never once did they feel like an afterthought, but rather the appetizer to the meal everyone was waiting for. With familiar guitar riffs and hit after hit, fans quickly found themselves singing along.
Photo Credit: Bryce Hall
Even before My Chemical Romance took the stage, fans were already a part of the story as prisoner IDs flashed on the screens to report. It made me even wonder if one of them was me, haha. Nothing about their concerts is by coincidence, and every movement is choreographed. Jumping right into “The End” to start the night, the energy soared throughout Citi Field. Gerard Way is a legend at commanding the stage with his presence and the band’s dedication to their storyline. You didn’t just come for a concert, you came to be part of the story, fully immersed.
Photo Credit: Bryce Hall
The production, visuals, pyrotechnics, and sound were all in perfect harmony without a beat missed. I felt as if I were in a movie, making sure not to miss anything happening on stage, from the band members to the extras. Fans were fully compliant to go along with whatever was asked, and cheers were unending. Whether you knew the album in its entirety or not, that opening note of “Welcome To The Black Parade” awakened everyone’s senses like a predator tracking its prey.
Small skits and interludes between songs, along with Gerard engaging the crowd, made you feel a part of the experience. During one of the band’s most emotional songs, “Cancer,” fans received a red teardrop shaped paper from a fan organized projection that they held in front of their flashlights, giving the stadium a red glow that emphasized the heaviness of the song. The band may be seasoned veterans at this point, but their passion has never dimmed for their fans or their ability to command a show.
Photo Credit: Bryce Hall
The most monumental song for me was “Famous Last Words,” when most of the stage was on fire, a nod to the original music video. The heat and passion behind every single fan, including myself, were undeniable as we sang, “I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone.” An anthem still relevant to this day that gives us the words to live by in our current culture.
Photo Credit: Jesse DeFlorio
After a brief intermission, My Chemical Romance made their way to their B Stage to bring more nostalgia back to fans. Starting off with “Honey, This Mirror Isn’t Big Enough for the Two of Us” from their first album was met with screams and cheers. Fan favorites such as “I’m Not Okay”, “Helena”, and “Bulletproof Heart” erupted the stadium that could be heard from outside clear as day walking past. One of the most memorable moments of the night had to be when the band sang “Bury Me in Black”, “Heaven Help Us” and “Give ‘Em Hell, Kid”, which are rarities as of recent tours, so fans were elated when the beginning notes of each were rung. While there may have been 40,000 fans, the intimacy and passion was not halted, which was reminiscent of the early day house shows this band once played in NJ.
At the end of the night, Citi Field was no longer just a baseball stadium. It was the kickoff story to the tour that would expand the Black Parade story further on its remaining dates. My Chemical Romance will continue their tour into October with five monumentally packed nights of guests at the Hollywood Bowl.. Check out the remaining dates to get your tickets now here on their website. You can check out my follow along here.
Special thank you to 2b Entertainment and Warner Records for the incredible opportunity and accreditation.
