Concerts Reviews
My Chemical Romance – Long Live the Black Parade: Come for the Music, Stay for the Show
My Chemical Romance took Globe Life Field by storm Saturday night as part of their Long Live the Black Parade Tour. Throughout the night, they captivated the sold out stadium with a dazzling blend of song and theatre, drawing us into the dystopian country of Draag as they played their 2006 album The Black Parade in its entirety. After weaving a story bolstered by elaborate staging, costumes, and pyrotechnics, the group returned to the secondary stage in their street clothes, ending the evening with a warm air of camaraderie as they played an upbeat set of their other popular songs.
Starting the night off right was Garbage, a rock outfit from Madison, Wisconsin. Lead singer Shirley Manson got the crowd moving in no time, driving the energy up with punchy lyrics and a confidence well-earned from the band’s successful thirty-plus year career. They ripped through a set featuring their popular hits spanning the decades, such as “There’s No Future in Optimism” and “Stupid Girl, ” earning themselves new fans with every shredded solo. By the time they closed with “Push It” the crowd was howling for more. It was a high energy start to the night, and the perfect primer for what came next.
MCR took to the stage, adopting the identities of The Black Parade, a once dead band now resurrected to be the propaganda mouthpiece for “The Grand Immortal Dictator, ” who helms the parody fascist nation of Draag. Between classic hits such as “This is How I Disappear” and “Sleep, ” an immersive narrative unfolded. Unique film sequences and staged performances set a darkly compelling tone as lead singer Gerard Way commanded the stage with the ease of a seasoned showman. Fans went wild as he delivered perhaps his strongest live performance yet. The rest of the band (Ray Toro, Frank Iero, Mikey Way, touring drummer Jarrod Alexander, and touring keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac) brought an undeniable synergy through their instrumental strength. Ray’s solos, Frank’s chaos, and Mikey’s stage presence were out in force, while Jamie’s supporting melodies and Jarrod’s driving beats propelled them through the evening. To the delight of fans, portions of the album were expanded and built upon while maintaining the heart of the original works, such as a new set of lyrics to “Mama.”
Fans watched on utterly enraptured, and judging by the elaborate costumes many of them wore, they arrived excited to be brought into the experience. The audience was a sea of black and white facepaint and homemade outfits inspired by the world of The Black Parade. Participation was built into the show, most notably via a staged “election” where fans cast “Yea” or “Nay” votes. When the crowd voted “Yea,” a group of hooded figures were theatrically “executed” in a firing squad scene. Throughout the night, overhead an ominous projection displayed the Grand Immortal Dictator’s reactions to the events of the evening, offering foreshadowing for the audience of what would happen to the band. Songs such as “Teenagers” were echoed by thousands of enthusiastic voices as they heeded Gerard’s call to open the roof with their sheer volume. Adding another layer to the engagement, if you were lucky enough to catch prior shows, you could map out how the story slowly changed with each stop along the tour. All in all, audience participation was off the charts and directly contributed to transforming the concert from a performance into a collaborative community-driven art piece.
After ending the main stage with “This is How I Disappear,” Gerard’s character met his untimely fate at the business end of a dagger, while the rest of the band was hooded and drug off stage struggling by officials in military uniforms. In between sets there was a 10 minute interlude performed by cellist Clarice Jensen that kept the crowd captivated, watching with reverent silence. The band then shed their alter-egos and reappeared in casual clothes for a second half filled with energy and intimate crowd connection, introducing themselves simply as “My Chemical Romance,” a band from New Jersey. They played favorites like “Na Na Na,” “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” “Helena,” and “The World Is Ugly,” as well as a cover of The Smashing Pumpkin’s, “Bullet With Butterfly Wings.” Fans watched on with tear-filled eyes as the band played a set like it was more for enjoying each other than it was for entertaining a crowd.
Overall the show was a testament to MCR’s enduring appeal and ability to transform a show into a meaningful experience for everyone participating, regardless of their current circumstances or even familiarity with the band. The stories they are able to weave through their music are intricate and leave you feeling as though you’ve been given something important to consider. Looking out at the sea of faces at the end of the night, it was clear that My Chemical Romance’s music resonates across the generations and continues to inspire fans.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
August 9, 2025 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium Special Guests: Death Cab for Cutie and Thursday
August 15, 2025 – Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park Special Guest: Alice Cooper
August 22, 2025 – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre Special Guest: Pixies
August 29, 2025 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Special Guest: Devo
September 7, 2025 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park Special Guest: IDLES
September 13, 2025 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium Special Guest: Evanescence
More information on the tour here.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
GARBAGE
All Photo Credit: Parker Graham
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Goldfinger Keep the Pit Moving and the Shoes Flying in Vancouver
On April 17th, the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver felt like a ska-punk time warp, with California punk legends Goldfinger supporting their new album, Nine Lives.
Sullvn got things rolling with a set that didn’t waste any time. Within minutes, hats were flying into the crowd like it was a merch-based game show, and the vibe quickly turned into organized chaos. They brought to the stage Dicky Barrett, former frontman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones for their hit “Raise a Glass”.
Next up was Broadway Calls, proving once again that a three-piece can absolutely shake a room. Their brand of fast, hooky punk tore through the crowd, with songs like “Call It Off” and “Back to Oregon” landing like instant jolts of energy. By the time they wrapped, the room was fully ready for Goldfinger.
Right away, frontman John Feldmann started doing crowd math. “How many of you are under 20?” A few scattered hands. “Over 40?” A lot more hands. He laughed and proudly stated that to still be doing this 32 years later as the best feeling in the world. This wasn’t a band clinging to nostalgia… but they also weren’t about to ignore it.
From there, it turned into the kind of chaos Goldfinger shows are known for, a non-stop blur of songs, crowd surfers, and, of course, the sacred tradition of shoes flying through the air. Somewhere along the way, footwear stopped being optional and started being part of the performance. Pairs were held up like trophies, launched across the room, or lost to the pit entirely. If you managed to leave with both shoes still accounted for, honestly, that’s a personal victory. The setlist leaned into exactly what people wanted. “Here in Your Bedroom,” “Chasing Amy” “Counting the Days”, all the hits, all loud, all sung back at the band like it was a group project. The floor barely stayed still for more than a few seconds, and the security team definitely got their steps in from the steady stream of crowd surfers.
During “Mable,” they pulled fans up on stage to dance, turning the whole thing into a slightly chaotic, very wholesome party. And then… “Superman.” The reaction was instant. Like, no hesitation, full-body nostalgia. The second it started, it felt like half the room got mentally transported back to playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 in their living rooms. Suddenly, everyone knew every word (even the ones they probably didn’t know they knew), and the energy somehow went up another level. It wasn’t just a highlight, it was the moment.
When it wrapped at the Commodore Ballroom, the place was wrecked in the best way – sweaty, shoeless, and buzzing. Still, no one seemed in any hurry to leave.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
GOLDFINGER
BROADWAY CALLS
SULLVN
All Photo Credit: Heather Horncastle
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Face to Face with Sevendust in Riverside, Iowa
For close to thirty years, Hard Rock’s Sevendust has graced hundreds of stages all over the world, playing sell-out shows to rabid fans. The band, fronted by LaJon Witherspoon, has been recognized for its soulful vocals, hard-hitting riffs from Clint Lowery and John Connolly, thumping bass from Vince Hornsby, and monstrous drum sounds and screams from Morgan Rose. Riverside, Iowa was treated to the full Sevendust experience on Friday night.
The Riverside Casino Event Center has played host to events ranging from poker tournaments to keynote speakers, but on Friday it served as the setting for an amazing night of rock. The show started off with Iowa City–local band NonGrata. NonGrata has become very well known in the Eastern Iowa music scene, having opened for bands like Alien Ant Farm, Norma Jean, Archers, and will be opening for DED this summer. Blending groovy guitars with crisp clean vocals and harsh screams, the band delivers a sound that makes you want to jump out of your seat and stage dive. Although Sevendust was the main attraction on Friday night, everyone enjoyed NonGrata. They were a great choice to open the show and get people excited before Sevendust took the stage. NonGrata will be playing shows in Eastern Iowa throughout the year, and Midwest locals should take the chance to see a new band.
After an hour pre-show delay due to the weather, fans were itching to get out of their seats as anticipation for Sevendust taking the stage rose. Riverside was the second show of the One Tour, but there was no sign of early tour woes as the band broke right into Home. The 1999 track off the album of the same name was a great opener, carrying a hint of nostalgia and a whole lot of feeling. Witherspoon made an early effort to cross from side to side, ensuring every fan had the opportunity to interact with him. Stage presence is always among the highlights of a Sevendust show. Fans know they are going to get two things when they go to a Sevendust show: amazing music and plenty of interaction. The great music kept rolling as the second track of the night was a crowd favorite, Denial. The band was joined by hundreds of backup singers who knew every word, creating an ambiance that added essential energy to the environment.
The band seemed emotional in response to how well they were received by the Riverside crowd. After spending significant time in Europe to start the year, Sevendust said it was good to be home. Because these were among the first U.S. shows of the year, American fans had not yet had the opportunity to hear songs from the band’s upcoming album, One, live. The first chance came with the third song of the night, Is This the Real You. Although the Riverside crowd had never heard the song live, that did not stop them from singing along. Sevendust also played two other new tracks from the forthcoming album, Unbreakable and Threshold. Both sounded great live, and anticipation for the new album is high. Based on the reactions to the new material, the album will likely be well received when it comes out in two weeks on May 1.
The focus on new music did not stop Sevendust from breaking into its classics. The setlist was full of songs a Sevendust show would be incomplete without; Praise, Enemy, Waffle, and Black all had their place in the night. It truly was the complete Sevendust experience. The night could not end, however, without an encore of Rumble Fish and Face to Face. Even though the crowd was treated to a 15-song main set and a two-song encore, they still yearned for more. Unfortunately, all good shows must come to an end, but with 25 dates left on the One Tour, there will be plenty of opportunities to see Sevendust again this year.
One comes out May 1.
Check out our favorite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
Upcoming tour dates:
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Lexington, KY
4/22 – Birmingham, AL
4/24 – Mobile, AL
4/25 – Destin, FL
4/26 – Atlanta, GA (supporting Alter Bridge)
4/28 – Dallas, TX
4/29 – Oklahoma City, OK
More information on the band’s website.
SEVENDUST
NONGRATA
All Photo Credit: Ryan Renger