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: LP Brings ‘All Is Not Lost’ Tour to Vancouver
On September 5, multi platinum singer-songwriter LP brought the All Is Not Lost Tour to Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre, delivering a performance that moved effortlessly between vulnerability, power, and pure rock-and-roll energy. The night also carried a special significance: the tour celebrates the 10th anniversary of Lost on You, the record that helped transform LP from a respected songwriter into a global phenomenon.
Known professionally as LP, Laura Pergolizzi has spent years carving out a space that is uniquely their own. Before becoming internationally recognized as a recording artist, LP established themselves as a songwriter for major artists including Rihanna, Christina Aguilera, and Celine Dion. Their own breakthrough came with “Lost on You,” which went to No. 1 in 18 countries and eventually surpassed one billion Spotify streams.
Inside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, LP’s music felt much more immediate. Their unmistakable voice moved from restrained and intimate to explosive within moments, giving songs such as “Muddy Waters,” “The One That You Love,” and “Lost on You” a sense of urgency that is difficult to recreate outside of a live setting.
The evening’s setlist reflected both sides of LP’s career. The first part moved through newer material and familiar favourites, including “Shelly,” “Tokyo Sunrise,” “Love Is All I Have,” and “Chasing & Waiting.” Later, the performance shifted toward the Lost on You celebration, bringing some of LP’s most recognizable songs into the spotlight.
It was the kind of moment that makes a concert feel bigger than the room. The song that introduced LP’s voice to millions became a shared experience between artist and audience, with the theatre singing along to every familiar line. After nearly a decade of the song living its own life around the world, hearing it performed in a packed Vancouver theatre gave it a renewed sense of intimacy.
From behind the camera, there was another layer to the experience. Photographing LP meant constantly watching for the moments between the obvious ones. The dramatic poses and powerful vocals naturally create striking frames, but some of the strongest images came from the quieter details, the concentration before a verse, a hand wrapped around the microphone, a fleeting expression beneath the stage lights.
LP is an artist who gives a photographer plenty to work with. Their movement across the stage feels instinctive rather than choreographed, and their performance style carries the same unpredictability as their voice. One moment can feel completely still; the next can explode into movement.
That contrast became one of the defining visual elements of the Vancouver show. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre also suited the performance. Rather than feeling distant or oversized, the venue allowed the audience to remain close to the emotional centre of the show. LP could command the room without having to overwhelm it.
There was also a sense of celebration throughout the night. Ten years after Lost on You, LP is still performing the songs that changed the trajectory of their career while continuing to introduce audiences to what’s next. The tour combines material from the upcoming album with a special presentation of Lost on You in its entirety, making the show feel like both a look backward and a step forward.
That balance is what made the Vancouver performance so compelling. LP isn’t simply revisiting an old record. They are showing how those songs have evolved with them and how they continue to resonate with an audience that has grown alongside their music.
By the final moments of the night, the feeling in the theatre was less like watching an artist celebrate an anniversary and more like witnessing a career still in motion.
For me, photographing LP in Vancouver was an opportunity to capture that evolution in real time: the voice, the movement, the vulnerability, and the electricity that has made LP such a distinctive live performer.
Ten years after Lost on You, the LP still has something to say and judging by the way Vancouver listened, people are still more than willing to hear it.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
LP










All Photo Credit: Raphael Arthur
Concerts Reviews
LIVE REVIEW: Icons Deep Purple & Kansas Bring A Legendary Celebratory Night of Surprises To Abbotsford’s Rogers Forum
I don’t say this lightly, but both Deep Purple and Kansas absolutely put on a hell of a show. Since 1968, Deep Purple have basically been the godfathers of live rock performance. Don’t believe me? Go look up their Guinness World Record for “loudest concert,” which they snagged back in 1972. That same energy, that same wall of sound, made the trip across five decades and landed right here for the band’s headlining North American tour stop in Abbotsford. Original drummer Ian Paice is still holding it down, now joined by guitarist Simon McBride, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Don Airey, and vocalist Ian Gillan. Sure, only one original member remains, but somehow the whole group still nails the spirit of what made Deep Purple, well, Deep Purple.
They tore through 16 tracks that night. “Smoke on the Water” got the loudest reaction of the evening, no surprise there. “Diablo” and “Perfect Strangers” also landed big, and “Highway Star” kicked the whole thing off on an absolute high. And when I say the crowd was into it, I mean it. Fans who’ve followed this band for almost fifty years were pressed right up against the barrier trying to get as close as possible. That closeness paid off too, with an incredible light show and Simon McBride ripping through solo after solo. Honestly, McBride was the highlight more than once, stepping up so Gillan could catch his breath between songs. Given how much those vocals demand, that rest was more than earned.
Like I said, “Smoke on the Water” was the main event for Abbotsford. It’s one thing to describe it, but actually watching the buildup, seeing the bandmates grinning at each other because they knew exactly what was coming, that was priceless. Then those notes kicked in. You know the ones. Every Guitar Center employee’s nightmare. The whole arena became one voice, singing along to a guitar riff like it was a chorus. It was the moment of the night, the kind of thing every rock fan dreams about experiencing live. That wave of energy carried all the way through to the final song, “Hush.” If you were a millennial who spent way too much time on Guitar Hero 2, hearing this one live gave you full goosebumps. This was the band’s first big hit back in 1968, and in 2026 it still hits just as hard. The crowd treated it like more than an encore. It felt like everyone in that room knew they might not get another chance to see Deep Purple live, and they soaked in every second of it. When the house lights finally came up, Abbotsford just stood there in awe. Deep Purple‘s legendary status was on full display, and nobody in that crowd wanted the night to end.
Check out our favourite photos of the night below or head to our Facebook page for the full gallery!
DEEP PURPLE








KANSAS





All Photo Credit: Marquise Monno
