My Chemical Romance thrilled fans with an extreme, theatrical performance of their groundbreaking contribution to humanity, “Welcome To The Black Parade,” inside a packed house at Oracle Park in San Francisco on July 18.
The explosive show was set in a dystopian city, led by a dictator referred to as “His Grand Immortal Dictator,” and highlighted by mind-blowing moments that included opera singing, a cello solo, and stunning pyrotechnics. The crowd was also given the opportunity to engage with the band by collectively deciding the fate of a group of political prisoners.
played out on stage by waving their yes or no signs up in the air.
MCR is currently on their “Long Live The Black Parade” stadium tour celebrating almost 20 years since their seminal cult album was first released.
“Growing up listening to My Chemical Romance I would have never thought I’d be able to ever see them in concert,” said Natalia Ledesma, who drove from California’s Central Valley to see the show. “This experience was once in a lifetime. One of the most theatrically beautiful, head-banging performances I’ve ever seen.”
The band performed the entire Black Parade song list, and then surged on with classics like “Thank You for the Venom,” “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” and “Helena.” Amazingly, they also unveiled a cover of “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” as a homage to the Smashing Pumpkins.
Concertgoers showed out in their best MCR gear. Some fans were decked out in black and red while others, inspired by the theatrics of the performance, dressed up resembling characters from the world of “The Black Parade.” Long opera-style dresses and roses were common amongst some fans as well as blood splattered shirts. The audience was just as immersed into the world as the elements on stage.
Named one of the top 500 albums by Rolling Stone in 2020, ‘The Black Parade’ has significantly impacted emo culture, punk music, and transcended the concept album into a pillar of alternative-rock history.
My Chemical Romance’s tour continued to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for two nights on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27.
Other dates also included Arlington, TX; East Rutherford, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Toronto, ON; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; and Tampa, FL.
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