Manchester M.E.N. Arena, 18 February 2011

As I headed off for my third Manchester journey to see My Chemical Romance (twice at the MEN, once at the Apollo) I wonder why these marvellous young rockers don’t give Liverpool’s newish arena a work-out. Maybe it’s because the band’s abbreviated name - MCR - is the same as Manchester’s. Who knows…Who cares… But as the UK’s home of rock the band should consider gracing it with their presence. I arrived in good time at the MEN and park across from the entrance at the NCP car park that on my last visit cost just £3. Now I know we’re suffering a major bout of price inflation at the moment but NCP now charge £6 for MEN events which is robbery with violence…

I arrived at the MEN concourse at close to 6pm to find a couple of thousand (mostly young female) fans eagerly awaiting doors with offical poster sellers enjoying a bonanza at £6 a pop. A massive collective scream thundered through the place as the doors opened and fans headed for the most frontal standing position they could achieve. Judging by the mounds of litter left behind by them I reckon some of the fans must have been waiting for several hours to ensure they were as close to Gerard as possible…

The spoken commentary of ‘Look Alive, Sunshine’ opens the new album and the show as the band ready themselves behind a massive curtain, in front of 10,000 screaming fans. The curtain rises moments later to the album’s second track ‘Na Na Na Na Na…’ with the band hitting the ground like a speeding train. No need for warm-ups, no nervous intro, just spitting musical venom and sounding every bit as good as the studio track. This is My Chemical Romance, surely one of the very best live bands around at the moment - hell, the band’s an object lesson to any band with aspirations to rock-rule.

I’m not the greatest fan of DANGER DAYS, although it houses a few killer tunes, but I do admire the breakthrough THREE CHEERS FOR SWEET REVENGE and it’s where the band heads next with ‘Give ‘Em Hell Kid’. In fact My Chemical Romance’s setlist covers their best songs from their best albums and delivered with minimum chat save for Gerard’s plea to the audience early in the piece asking for fans to watch out for other fans in trouble -several had been taken out prior to the band’s appearance needing medical attention.

The band doesn’t go in for fancy, expensive props but do rely quite heavily on lighting effects which frankly disappointed on the night. Gerard looked like he had a liver complaint while the band generally were difficult to see. It was the only blot on a wonderful soundscape of great songs, great performances and a great audience that waved, swayed and sang their hearts out. The band looked way more casual than usual - gone were the uniforms, in came rock-casual.

My Chemical Romance is one of the best live bands around and on the night, during a show that seemed to fly by, they seemed to up their game another notch - something I wouldn’t have thought possible.

For me and thousands of fans, a night to remember.

The Band

Frank Iero - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Ray Toro - lead guitar, backing vocals
Gerard Way - lead vocals
Mikey Way - bass guitar
Michael Pedicone - drums (Touring)
James Dewees - keyboards, percussion, backing vocals (Touring)

Setlist

Intro: Look Alive Sunshine, Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na), Give ‘Em Hell Kid, Planetary (GO!),
Hang ‘Em High, Sing, Vampire Money, Our Lady of Sorrows, Mama, The Only Hope For Me Is You, Summertime,
I’m Not Okay (I Promise), Famous Last Words, The Ghost Of You, Destroya, Welcome To The Black Parade,
Teenagers, The Kids From Yesterday, Helena, Cancer, Bulletproof Heart