“So come one, come all to this tragic affair…” Fans from all over the world packed the Rogers Centre in Toronto this past Friday. Dressed to the nines in elaborate handmade costumes and outfits honouring the bands extensive career. From the main stage to the B stage, here is your official recap of the night’s events. Consider this your official spoiler warning! Kicking off the night were The Pixies, who took us down a nostalgic road. It felt like the calm before the storm. With the exception of everyone freaking out over “Where Is My Mind?”, popularized by the film Fight Club.
The Black Parade
My Chemical Romance has packed so much into the first half of their set. Not just playing The Black Parade in full, but taking fans into the fictional world of Draag. Complete with a national album, symbolic wheat, a brand new language, a variety of rules that have been changing periodically throughout the tour thus far. And introducing a cast of characters: The Clerk, Marianne and The Dictator. The band are essentially living out some sort of sentence as over the last few shows they have been seen “clocking in” to their shift at the top of their set. With Gerard trying to defy orders, getting reprimanded night after night by the Clerk, devising a sinister plan to break free as the album plays on, and “dying” at the end of the set via dancing clown – who explodes to fully close out the show.
Still following? Great! Quick question – Chicken or Fish?
For the majority of the tour, fans were given “yea” or “nay” signs written in both English and in the language of Keposhka (created by Nate Piekos). The signs lead into an “election”, no matter the answer, the result is always the same. “Ready.. Aim.. Fire!!!”, Gerard yells from the main stage! Four characters are then elected, or, I mean “executed” on the B stage. But Toronto was given “chicken” and “fish” signs. And in glorious audience participation fashion we were asked to choose one, chicken did win and those four folks were shot down again, in case you were wondering.
The End. (Reprise)
As the curtains close on The Black Parade album, the main stage is now engulfed in glorious flames during Famous Last Words. A song that felt like group therapy with some 39,000+ people screaming it together in unison, “I am not afraid to keep on living, I am not afraid to walk this world alone” at the top of our lungs. Some with tears and makeup streaming down our faces. The album opener is performed again; Ray and Frank get taken away with bags over their heads, while Mikey flees the stage. And a now bloody Gerard lays on the floor. Cue the dancing clown! 
B Stage
The band makes their way over to the B stage for a second set to play some deep cuts, fan favourites and their greatest hits including: Helena, Thank You for The Venom, Boy Division and Kill All Your Friends (a Black Parade B-Side). Different songs are performed on the B stage every night, which makes every performance so unique and special, so fans were eagerly waiting to see what the band would play. Toronto got an extra special treat as there were a lot of songs from the 2011 album Danger Days: The True Life of the Fabulous Killjoys played as well. Including my personal favourite, Planetary (GO!). The bands’ beaming faces lit up the stadium, we were so happy to see them – and I think they were equally as happy to us too. Various chants roared through the entire stadium for each of the members, who all looked a little bashful as it happened.
The Future of MCR
My Chemical Romance have created a tour that is so uniquely and carefully crafted, it’s not just “fan service” but a testament to their creativity as artists. Solidifying themselves as one of the greats to come out of the pop-punk/emo scene. The Black Parade is such a staple record, and the soundtrack to so many of our lives, and will continue to be for a very long time.I even overheard some folks in the audience who came from Mexico, who saw the “final” Black Parade show back in 2007 and got to witness them perform it again. Now that is true fan dedication!
The band is set tour Mexico, South America, East Asia and the UK within the coming months and next year. Many fans still have their hopes up for a 5th My Chem album. Although we have no concrete evidence, Gerard did accidentally slip out the word “studio” before quickly making computer beep boop noises to cover it up. Which could mean nothing, right? This band is always full of surprises, but needless to say that they’ll have the utmost support for whatever they decide to do next, be it a new tour, a new single or MCR5. Lastly, check out some exclusive visuals from the concert at the Rogers Center in Toronto just below in our photo gallery featuring The Pixies and My Chemical Romance!
Article & Photos by San Veliz (@spacemanmediaproductions)
