Under the light of a full moon 40 thousand fans young and old gathered to see My Chemical Romance’s theatrical performance of their album The Black Parade.
To open the night Idles a British Punk band hit the stage as fans were still pouring into the stadium. Immediately grabbing the attention of fans in the audience with their unique look the band jumped right in with intense vocals and heavy drums on their original song “War”. The British band consisting of Adam Devonshire – bass guitar, Joe Talbot – vocals, Mark Bowen – guitar, Lee Kiernan – guitar, and Jon Beavis – drums, all threw themselves into the high energy performance.
The audience was quickly drawn in as Joe bantered and called for audience participation, inviting everyone to join in a chant. “Fenway Park you seem like a friendly bunch please get low with idols the band now join in the new British anthem! FREE FREE PALISTINE”
For the final song of their set the band dedicated the song “Danny Nedelko” off their album Joy as an Act of Resistance as “a celebration of the bravery and hard work of the immigrants that built our country” The song is an incredible display of punk values and support of communities that are currently be threatened. During this final song guitarist Mark Bowan leaped off the stage and into the pit to dance and crowd surf.
After a nearly 7-year break from 2013 until 2019 the prolific alt-rock band My Chemical Romance returned to the Fenway stage as part of their first Stadium Tour “Long Live” The Black Parade. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the bands most popular album the band has created a theatrical music performance that takes the audience through the entirety of the album from “The End.” all the way to “Blood”. Unlike other concerts the first half of the night was more than just a performance of their most prolific album the band created an immersive experience bringing the audience to the fictional country of Draag an authoritarian dictatorship. My Chemical Romance dressed in marching band uniforms took on the persona of “The Black Parade” Band.
To open the show, the band brought out guest opera singer Lucy Joy Altus to sing “Over Fields (The National Anthem of Draag)”. The band jumped right into the first song on the album “The End”. The stadium erupted with tens of thousands of voices as fans from the nosebleeds to the pit began singing every word. Voices echoed through the stadium as fans sang along to the album that shaped so much of our youth.
Original band members Frank Iero – rhythm guitar, backing vocals, Ray Toro – lead guitar, backing vocals, Gerard Way – lead vocals, and Mikey Way – bass were joined by Jarrod Alexander – drums, percussion and Jamie Muhoberac – keyboards for tour support.
As the band performed each song off The Black Parade album they shared more than music with the audience. Between songs they delivered small interactions between the band and the regime of the dictator of Draag like delivery of orders and even an onstage fight between the clerk of the dictator and Mickey Way.
Upon entry to the venue fans were given double sided signs used to vote during the show. The night’s vote was for the execution of several officials on stage on trial for “eating all the cake”. When the men were found guilty, they suffered execution by gun shot with Gerard thanking the crowd for their “participation in democracy”. In addition to the official merch, fans gathered throughout the stadium to trade handmade bracelets and pins. Through Facebook groups and other social media forums, many fans joined together for an unforgettable fan project. All around the crowd fans passed out paper hearts designed to go over the flashlight on their phones, one red for “I Don’t Love You” and one green for “Cancer”. During these songs the stands were glowing with thousands of pricks of color from so many fans sharing in the love of the music and band.
The first set culminated in a fiery display as the stage erupted in flames with intense pyrotechnics during the performance of “Famous Last Words” accompanied by a launch countdown in the background. The performance ended with Gerard Way being stabbed by the clerk of the dictator wearing a fully white clown costume. The performance of “Blood” the hidden track on the album was performed by the clown lip-synching to a recording of Gerard Way, while dancing around the stage and removing his overcoat to reveal a suicide bomber vest.
After a brief intermission the band returned to a secondary stage in the middle of the pit area for the second half of the show. The crowd went crazy as they opened with the song “Vampire Money” for the first time on the tour it set a very special tone for the rest of the night. MCR went on to play several of their biggest hits including songs like “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” which the band dedicated to a fan named Ro they met before the show through a make a wish. The band performed several songs off of their first album and even played an unreleased song titled “War Beneath The Rain” dedicated to their booking agent in Boston Andrew Govatsos. Gerard shared heartfelt stories about the bands start with Andrew during Skatefest and the history of the band.
After several more of the bands greatest hits including “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” and “Helena” the night wrapped with “Vampires will never hurt you” from the bands first album I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.
My Chemical Romance Setlist
The Black Parade
“The End.”
“Dead!”
“This Is How I Disappear”
“The Sharpest Lives”
“Welcome to the Black Parade”
“I Don’t Love You”
“House of Wolves”
“Cancer”
“Mama”
“Sleep”
“Teenagers”
“Disenchanted”
“Famous Last Words”
“The End.”
“Blood”
Second Stage
“Vampire Money” Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
“I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
“Summertime” Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
“Our Lady of Sorrows” I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
“Planetary (GO!)” Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
“War Beneath the Rain” Unrelease Song
“Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)” Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys
“Helena” Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
“Give ‘Em Hell, Kid” Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
“Vampires Will Never Hurt You” I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love
The band has two remaining shows in North America:
- September 13, 2025: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
- September 20, 2025: Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta, Georgia
After which the band will be taking a break until the international leg of the tour starts in January 2026.
With the release of Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (Deluxe Edition) back in June of this year fans are hopeful that new music could be on the way.
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
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IDLES
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FENWAY PARK
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