It’s an unassuming Tuesday night in Liverpool, and hordes of skeletons are marching by in droves towards Anfield Stadium. As rain lashes down and bemused bus drivers look on, they march onwards, white face paint protected by waterproof ponchos.
The silliness and sincerity of that visual is a pretty decent tone-setter for an evening coloured by theatrics that somehow manage to blend emo nostalgia, Soviet-era propaganda, vaudeville acts and its own Keposhka alphabet. Evidently, My Chemical Romance are kicking off the UK and European leg of the ‘Long Live The Black Parade’ tour tonight.
There’s a lot of lore that goes into the dystopian world-building at play in the show’s first half, which almost feels better left unexplained. Frankly, the ultra-dedicated will always know more than you do (you should see them trade theories on Reddit about the intricacies of the font used on the band’s Instagram stories), and the uninitiated will be baffled.
It’s also far more fun to revel in the visuals without getting caught up in the details. Case in point, staff dole out signs for fans to vote yea or nay in an election before the gig. “I don’t know what it means,” a man in high-vis shrugs. “The band said you’ll all know.”
With everyone situated clutching their signs, the national anthem of DRAAG, the oppressive fictional state the band are “imprisoned” in, rings out before they step on stage. It cheerfully declares that we’ll all die in gloom.
Then another bit of text pops up. “Have fun!”
The thing that stops it all veering too far into theatre kid territory is that, unsubtle as it is, the political messaging is poignant. Formed in the wake of 9/11, My Chem have been political since their inception, preoccupied with crushing grief from the outset. They return to the UK at a time of massive political upheaval, and, at such a time, you really do need the light relief of watching Gerard Way order an execution (as voted for by the crowd!), and then seeing him get stabbed by a clown.
As they storm through ‘The Black Parade’ in full, it’s funny that the album’s meditations on mortality – which had newspapers accusing them of being a “death cult” a decade ago – feel transcendentally joyous. Way gesticulates wildly, and the fans hang on to his every move, screaming along to ‘The End.’, ‘This Is How I Disappear’, and the melancholic ‘Cancer’, the tragedy of the song undercut by the frantic manner in which he clutches a creepy doll.
After a brief interlude backed by cellist Clarice Jensen, it’s over to the B-stage for the second half. The military garb is gone – save for Way’s signature camo jacket, which he whips off to reveal a Liverpool shirt. There’s more old school rock bombast at play here, and by shedding the mad visuals, you get a moment to appreciate the command of Ray Toro, Frank Iero and Mikey Way, with the latter walking down to the barriers and soaking in the adoration.
As well as revelling in the world of ‘The Black Parade’, MCR are also marking the 15th anniversary of ‘Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’. An already jubilant crowd are treated to ‘Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)’ that practically leaves the floor vibrating, and a rendition of ‘Save Yourself’ that sees Gerard break out in an intense dead-eyed stare and almost guttural growl.
“You guys have really cool cemeteries here,” he says knowingly, and everyone readies themselves to scream along to ‘Cemetery Drive’. Iero has broken out the ‘Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge’-era Pansy guitar and goes for his life, before ‘I’ll Hold Them Back’ is played for the first time in four years to rapturous response from Anfield, followed by a slew of favourites in ‘Summertime’, ‘The Kids From Yesterday’ and ‘Vampire Money’.
Shared glances between the band make it obvious how much fun is being had up there. With all of the energy concentrated to the small stage they strut around, they could get lost in the throng, but instead they command it. It’s an assured performance that highlights how much more is being offered here than pop-punk nostalgia, the grit of Way’s vocals always remaining the main attraction.
Later, as the crowd lights up Anfield for ‘Helena’ as the set draws to a close, the fans, in all their finery and facepaint, grasp each other’s hands and twirl. From above, it looks like the dead are dancing. They’re dying in gloom and having fun doing it.
My Chemical Romance played:
‘The End.’
‘Dead!’
‘This Is How I Disappear’
‘The Sharpest Lives’
‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ (followed by “The Election,” with “YEA” result)
‘I Don’t Love You’
‘House of Wolves’
‘Cancer’
‘Mama’
‘Sleep’
‘Teenagers’
‘Disenchanted’
‘Famous Last Words’
‘The End.’ (Reprise)
‘Blood’ (outro)
‘Vampire Money’
‘I’m Not Okay (I Promise)’
‘Heaven Help Us’
‘Summertime’
‘Save Yourself, I’ll Hold Them Back’
‘Cemetery Drive’
‘Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)’
‘Thank You for the Venom’
‘Helena’
‘The Kids From Yesterday’