Easter Davy

INO AWARDS...

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Concert: My Chemical Romance
Date: February 25, 2007
Place: Liacouras Center

(Warning: Spoilers)

I paced down the long line of people waiting outside of the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia. The faces were very different as I got farther and farther down, there were many of your typical "emos," donning striped shirts and eyeliner. There were also some very unexpected faces that didn't seem to fit there, there were children as young as 8, and adults that looked like they could be in their late 40s. But I knew that all of these people were there for the same reason:

To see a band that needs no introduction: My Chemical Romance.

I did not get to see the doors until about a half an hour after I arrived (I got there at 5:40), but I believe that the security were teasing the guys in the front of the line by opening and closing the doors. I heard many loud screams of relief before 6:00, only to be accompanied by an "aww," shortly after.

But, I must be boring you, so let's get to the part where I got in. OK? I quickly ran to the security to get checked, I was fine, I didn't dare to bring a camera only to be sent back to the car to put it back. Then I got an X on my hand to get access to the floor, and ran down the steps. After much struggle, I finally got a nice spot right where I knew Ray would be.

About 45 minutes after I was settled in my nice spot, Rise Against came on. I'm not going to go into detail with this (I don't know the band very well), but 2-3 songs in, I literally felt actual physical pain in my ears. The singer held the microphone too close to his mouth, and all of the songs sounded the same to me.

Rise Against left (I have to admit, I was pretty happy), and I got to have some conversation with the 30-something next to me. She was a big fan, and she told me that her daughter, a big fan also, and that she'd be coming too.

Well... she came. Just a few minutes before MCR came on (ooh! Exciting right? He's gonna talk about when MCR came on soon!). Well, she was a flat out teenie bopper. Every time they saw a little glimpse of someone walking back stage my ears were invaded by the horrible, high pitched shrieks of a 12 year old girl.

But, now on to the real "concert review." Woot!

The lights darkened, a towering black curtain stood on the stage. A gurney rolled out on the stage. There was a man lying down on it. Then, a few muted chords were struck on to an unknown acoustic guitar. The man sat up, it was none other than Gerard Way.

He sang out the first few lyrics of The End., and as the chorus struck, the black curtain opened to reveal the other four faces of the band: Ray Toro, Bob Bryar, Mikey Way, and back from his illness, Frank Iero (which I newly discovered is pronounced "eye-air-oh," which is how Gerard pronounced it). Gerard ripped off his hospital gown, revealing his Sgt. Pepper's-esque costume. The band proceeded to play the WHOLE Black Parade album. Some highlights of this set:

* The stage is amazing! First there's a 3D city scape in the back that has a big clock tower that says "The Black Parade" on it, and then during WTTBP it opens up to reveal the background city from the video.

* Gee introduced us to the new member (he's not replacing anyone), the keyboard player, Mr. James Dewees! He had A Mac Laptop with him and it looked like he was playing the sound effects before Mama through it.

* During the guitar riff before the Liza Minelli part in Mama, there's TONS and TONS of PYRO! It was really hot and right behind Bob's drumset! There's like 6 "fire shooters," or whatever they're called. They also did this in the beginning and end of Famous Last Words.

* Disenchanted, I don't even need to say anything but AMAZING.

* Bob's drumset rotates!

* At the end of WTTBP they blasted out tons and tons of confetti! I saved some.

OK now, right after FLW was finished, The Black Parade left the stage. "Blood" was played on the speakers during this little queue and then, finally MCR came back for an encore (it was kinda their first song if you know what I mean, because TBP was their alter ego). They came out in their "Three Cheers" gear and blasted out the powerful chords of "I'm Not Okay." Some highlights of this set were:

* Right before they played Fashion Statement Gee pointed to Bob as he played a little beat and then pointed back to us and made us scream. He did this about 8 times before they started playing the song.

* Ray's mom was in the crowd! We sang Happy Birthday to her and she was all smiley and stuff. Ray was looking up at her conducting and smiling, it was cool.

* I believe it was during Thank You For The Venom, but Frank actually CAME OFF THE STAGE and up to the barricade! He literally stood right in front of me! I came so close to touching his guitar but the security blocked me.

Setlist (I'm probably gonna mess it up):

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

Encore:
I'm Not Okay
It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Deathwish
Give 'Em Hell, Kid
Cemetary Drive
Thank You For The Venom
The Ghost of You
You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison
Helena

<------ Not my video
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