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: aespa Close North American Tour With a Futuristic Spectacle in Vancouver
My K-pop education continued on October 11 as aespa brought their SYNK : COMPLæXITY Tour to Rogers Arena in Vancouver. After seeing TWICE in January and IVE in August, this was my third concert foray into K-pop. I was excited to see how aespa would compare, and the answer was a little different from my first two experiences. Where TWICE brought the fun and IVE delivered its own polished pop spectacle, aespa leaned into futuristic visuals, heavy electronic production and choreography that rarely let up.
With no opening act, the stage belonged entirely to Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning. Vancouver marked the final stop of the North American leg before the group heads to Europe in January, making this the last chance for fans on this side of the Atlantic to see the production for a while.
There had been some concern about Giselle’s participation after she left the stage five songs into the group’s October 9 show at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. Thankfully, she was back in Vancouver. Both she and Winter mentioned having a cold, but you wouldn’t have known it from their performances. Neither appeared to let it get in the way, and both delivered strong performances throughout the night.
The show opened with “LEMONADE,” immediately filling Rogers Arena with heavy bass, electronic beats and futuristic visuals. The production was massive, but the sound mix occasionally worked against the group. At points, the bass threatened to overpower the vocals, which was frustrating when four singers this capable were onstage.
“Switchblade” and “Whiplash” kept the momentum going before aespa reached back to its 2020 debut single, “Black Mamba.” The choreography remained sharp, and the group’s ability to move between demanding routines and vocal passages without losing its composure was impressive. “WDA (Whole Different Animal)” brought a harder hip-hop edge, with Giselle’s rap standing out against the heavy production.
The concert was divided into five acts, with cinematic video segments building on the group’s fictional universe. The story occasionally felt like a lot to keep up with, particularly for someone who hasn’t followed every chapter of aespa‘s mythology. Still, the visuals gave the show a clear identity. The production had a narrative thread running through it.
The second act offered a welcome change of pace. Karina introduced “Count on Me” on a piano, leading into a softer arrangement that let the members’ voices take centre stage. “Camouflage” and “Angel #48” continued the dreamier stretch. These moments were a reminder that aespa doesn’t need a wall of bass and flashing screens to hold an audience’s attention.
The solo and duet stages were among my favourite parts of the night. Giselle and Ningning brought a relaxed feel to “Lollipop,” while Karina and Winter took a more energetic approach with “Serenade.” Each pairing had its own character, making the performances feel distinct rather than like variations on the same routine.
The four solo performances gave the members even more room to show what they could do. Ningning’s “I Love You But I Gotta Let You Go” built from restrained verses into soaring high notes, while Karina’s “16 Bit” relied on a more understated, moody delivery. Giselle showed a softer side on “BYEB4HELLO,” moving beyond her usual rap role, and Winter’s “Saddle Up” put her choreography and stage confidence front and centre.
These performances made a strong case for the individual personalities within aespa. The group’s sleek, coordinated image is part of its appeal, but seeing the members step outside that format made the concert more interesting.
The heavier material returned with “Armageddon” and “Bite,” followed by a run of choreography-driven performances including “Next Level,” “SHAKIN’” and “Supernova.” The dancers added scale to the show, and the synchronized routines looked particularly effective against the digital scenery. By this point, the production had made its point: aespa knows how to turn its music into a full arena experience.
The pre-encore dance challenge was a fun change of pace, with cameras scanning the crowd and giving fans a chance to show off their moves on the big screens. The segment ended with an (shy) audience singalong to “Roll” before aespa returned for “Yeppi Yeppi” and “’Til We Die.”
As someone still getting to know K-pop, I appreciated the range. The spectacle was impressive, but the quieter songs and individual stages stopped the night from becoming one long sensory overload. The sound mix could have been better, and some of the storyline went over my head, but those were minor complaints in a show packed with strong performances.
TWICE got me curious about K-pop, and IVE gave me another reason to keep exploring it. aespa made a convincing case for sticking around. Their Vancouver show was loud, visually striking and full of personality, with four performers who could hold Rogers Arena’s attention even when the production threatened to steal it. That’s a solid way to close out a North American tour.
Upcoming Aespa – SYNK : COMPLæXITY’ World Tour Dates:
01/14 – Manchester, United Kingdom @ AO Arena
01/16 – London, United Kingdom @ The O2
01/19 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
01/22 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
01/24 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
01/26 – Berlin, Germany @ Uber Arena
01/29 – Milan, Italy @ Unipol Dome
01/31 – Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
02/02 – Paris, France @ Accor Arena
More information here.
Concerts Reviews
LØLØ Brings her ‘God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour’ to the Pearl in Vancouver
LØLØ brought her second headlining tour – aptly named “God Forbid a Girl Goes on Tour” – to Vancouver this week, a first for the Canada-born artist. We’ve been a fan since we first heard “Death Wish” back in 2021, which seems like it was yesterday, and we aren’t going to overthink that right now. That being said, we’ve been waiting a long time for this night, and what a show!
We’ve been frequenting The Pearl more and more lately, and like so many others this show was sold out and packed wall-to-wall. There was a small mob for the first opener of the night, Dawson Gamble, and the floor was packed by the time Con the Artist took the stage. When LØLØ appeared, it was all plaid miniskirts and devil horns from the stage to the merch booth.
When the lights went down, LØLØ’s voice boomed over the speakers, narrating excerpts from a journal. LØLØ is not a choreographed, over-polished pop princess. Like so many artists that grew their audience from nothing, she does her best to connect with individuals in the audience. She takes her time, holds their hands, and during one memorable song, brings them on stage to dance.
“I think that people don’t want perfection,” she told Rolling Stone earlier this year. “They just want to see a live show and a special moment.”
LØLØ was very upfront about her adventures online, finding her voice, and time spent during COVID, and from the vibe you have to assume the audience had been there with her the entire time. From “The Floor is Lava” to “Faceplant,” all the hits were covered and sung along to. Speaking of which…
Must Hear Songs by LØLØ (In Our Humble Opinion):
• “death wish” (Single, 2021)
• “Hot Girls in Hell” (falling for robots, 2023)
• “u turn me on (but you give me depression)” (falling for robots, 2023)
• “Let It Go” (A Whole New Sound (Disney), 2024)
Fun fact: LØLØ was featured on a 2024 Disney punk album alongside Simple Plan, Magnolia Park, and Yellow Card, to name a few iconic bands. Check out her version of “Let It Go” from “Frozen.” It’s unexpected and a lot of fun.
LØLØ ‘s first moment of viral fame was her cover of “Hey There Delilah,” updated and sung from Delilah’s perspective. Pulling Con the Artist back on stage for a duet gave the crowd a wonderful, heartfelt moment that was honestly quite touching. Not everyone’s favorite song, but a lovely moment for everyone in the audience.
LØLØ, with several incredible songs in her library and with a stack of “Warped Tour” appearances already in the books, seems poised to breakthrough to the next level. She’s electric on stage, and animated, and we can only dream of the day she is given more space to play. Until then, another highlight concert of 2026, and something to think about until her next visit!
LØLØ Setlist:
• the devil wears converse
• pretty little wreck
• god forbid a girl spits out her feelings!
• THE FLOOR IS LAVA!
• debbie downer
• me with no shirt on
• the punisher
• 2 of us
• u turn me on (but u give me depression)
• faceplant
• Hey There Delilah
• death wish
• delusional darling
• junkie
• DON’T!
• dumbest girl in the world
• wish i was a robot
• hot girls in hell
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery. Thanks for attending the show with us and for checking out our review!
LØLØ
All Photo Credit: Jason Martin