Words and Photos by Katherine Cardinale
My Chemical Romance kicked off a second North American leg of their The Black Parade Tour, equally successful as the first, on a cool evening in early August. The tour was announced in celebration of one decade since the release of their critically acclaimed, fan-favorite record The Black Parade, which is a rock opera concept album that follows the story of The Patient, who has been diagnosed with cancer and embarks on a journey to the afterlife. Since its release in 2006, the album has had a profound impact on pop culture and brought people together as a result of its themes of mental wellbeing, mortality, death, and grief.
The band’s first night headlining Citi Field in Queens, New York, came to many fans’ excitement following the success of their shows at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey last year. The evening featured elaborate costumes, fan projects, support from Scottish indie rock band Franz Ferdinand, and an incredibly well-produced show from MCR themselves.
As soon as the doors opened at 5:30pm, fans decked out in black flooded into the stadium, eager to trade “freebies” with others, purchase band merch, and find their seats. Lines were long, but the temperature outside was just right, which made waiting a little more bearable. During the opener’s set, the crowd clapped and cheered along enthusiastically. They were introduced to an array of songs from Franz Ferdinand’s discography, including The Dark of the Matinée, which was the first song on their setlist and from their debut album, the fan favorite No You Girls, and Take Me Out, which was thoughtfully dedicated to Frank Iero and his family. The crowd energy skyrocketed as soon as the opening notes began to play, solidifying Franz Ferdinand’s continued legacy in the indie rock scene.
My Chemical Romance began their set with “The End,” which also serves as the opening track off The Black Parade. The crowd remained captivated as the entire album was played in order. One of the highest points of the night was when the opening note of “Welcome to the Black Parade” played, as it has served as an iconic pop culture moment for years (and probably will for decades to come).
Following the first part of the set, the band moved to the B Stage and played a number of B-sides and fan favorites for an extra-long encore, including “Bulletproof Heart,” “I’m Not Okay,” and “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na).” The mix of excitement at each song that was played and nostalgia for the early 2000’s and 2010’s created the perfect mood for the evening.
My Chemical Romance did an incredible job blending perfect production with Gerard Way’s flawless vocals and well-crafted visuals. Their tour continues in the United States through October and goes overseas once more, where the group will be playing shows until the end of November. They are a must see, and you can purchase tickets here!
Loudspeaker Collective 