My Chemical Romance at Rod Laver Arena
After their Australian reunion tour was postponed not once, but twice, the legendary My Chemical Romance returned to Melbourne after 11 years for the first of two stadium shows at Rod Laver Arena. Packing out the stadium across both nights, thousands of fans surged into the venue with a mix of those reliving their teenage years as well as a group of younger fans excited to see the band for the very first time.
Joining MCR in Australia as the support act was another band reliving their heyday; Jimmy Eat World. A big majority of millennials grew up alongside these two bands, whose music and movements paved the way for so many emerging musicians in the alternative scene. MCR’s disbanding in 2013 shocked a whole generation – the reunion tour was our saving grace with the shows finally coming to our shores after three years of anticipation. Throwing on our skinny jeans (which some of us never took off) and a black t-shirt (as is tradition), we were all in for a night filled with nostalgia, in what would chalk up to be one of our favourite shows of the year so far.
Arizona’s finest Jimmy Eat World were tasked with support duties for the night, with frontman Jim Adkin and the band asked to come out to Australia for the original dates three years ago by their close mates My Chemical Romance. Fast-forward to the rescheduled tour dates, Jimmy Eat World lived up to their promises to come to Australia as an extra special treat for audiences to enjoy. A headliner in their own right, Jimmy Eat World have been touring Melbourne every few years since 2001, and with every seat in the stadium filled before the band came on stage, we knew just how special the night was about to be.
Opening with the pounding beats of Futures and Pain, it wasn’t long before the whole crowd was on their feet dancing and screaming to Sweetness – one of the catchiest songs we know and love. Frontman Jim Adkin asks the audience, ‘Are you ready for My Chemical Romance?’ as he tells the crowd just how much the band means to them, both as musicians and close friends. Performing All the Way (Stay) from Surviving and Big Casino from Chase This Light, the band took a moment to take it all in. ‘This is one of the biggest shows we’ve done here. This is one of my favourite places to come. Not a whole lot wrong in the world right now’, as they launch into Futures hits 23 and Just Tonight.
The support slot contained a great number of Jimmy Eat World hits including our favourites Hear You Me, A Praise Chorus and Bleed American. With a great mix from albums Futures and Bleed American to satisfy their dedicated fanbase, the set closed with a stadium-wide singalong of The Middle. With every great support band, you are always left wanting more, and while the band brought everything to their set, we hope they can return to Melbourne and Australia again soon.
While the stage crew starts to clear away Jimmy Eat World’s gear, everyone becomes transfixed on MCR’s set starting to take shape, along with a vacuum-armed roadie dancing onstage to Ginuwine’s Pony. Ten minutes before they’re due to come on, the stage begins to hum and buzz, flashing with red and white light. This gets louder and louder until the audience catches a glimpse of the band sneaking onto the stage – which triggers a crescendo of screams. The stage goes quiet, and the opening notes to My Chemical Romance‘s first new song since 2014, The Foundations of Decay, are played masterfully by lead guitarist Ray Toro. Gerard Way’s vocals ring out through the smoke, as the song reaches its climax and the backdrop falls, revealing an apocalyptic wasteland and Way, who is wearing a power suit, complete with a pencil skirt, stockings, heels and black latex gloves. With every night of the tour having a different setlist, guessing what’s up next is a game we play among ourselves. The Black Parade‘s This is How I Disappear is up next and is quickly followed up by the unreleased Everybody Hates the Eagles, which quickens the pace of the mosh pit that is starting to form in the middle of GA.
The band next launch into one of our personal faves Boy Division, from their 2012/13 compilation album Conventional Weapons, which goes absolutely crazy. The manic Give ‘Em Hell, Kid from second album Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge sees Way screaming along with rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, before Way finally addresses the audience for the first time, thanking ‘the shit out of Jimmy Eat World’ and acknowledging the last ‘wild fucking three years’. The mood changes for The Ghost of You, with Way telling the crowd ‘I like to see lights for this one, but it’s a choose your own adventure’ – to which the audience responds with a sea of phone lights raised in the air. Danger Days singles Planetary (GO!) and DESTROYA are one of many set highlights that night and are made so much better by the view of the crowd bouncing along while illuminated by the stage lights.
Dedicating the next song to Way’s daughter, ‘the coolest fucking person in the world’, hit single Teenagers is up next, and pulls all those seated to their feet. Backing it up with I’m Not Okay (I Promise) and a throwback to the early days with Our Lady of Sorrows, the band showcased a lap of honour with a setlist covering their greatest hits. Just when you think it can’t get any better, the band has everyone singing to Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) and has everyone in tears in the front row when the opening note of Welcome to the Black Parade is played.
The night is still young as MCR as the band tears through House of Wolves, Conventional Weapons track The World Is Ugly and one of our favourite Three Cheers songs It’s Not a Fashion Statement, It’s a Fucking Deathwish. Closing out the main part of the set, the climax and peak of the set come from Famous Last Words and The Black Parade masterpiece Mama which has the stadium erupting in applause as the band wave goodbye (for now). Returning to the stage after crowd chants of ‘MCR’, Way tells the audience ‘you’re so fucking cool’ before they begin to play their first single from 2002, Vampires Will Never Hurt You. Closing out with mega-hit Helena, we participated in one of the biggest and loudest sing-a-longs we’ve ever heard.
For some punters, this was a show they’d been waiting their entire lives for, while for others, this was another tour date they had flown across the country (or world) for. Regardless of whether an old or new fan and all the years it had been since My Chemical Romance released their first album, it was clear to see that the band still resonate so strongly after all these years. The messages and safe spaces they have created and built for such a strong fan base are so undeniable, and will still impact generations to come. A perfect throwback night to our emo days, My Chemical Romance are well and truly back and here to stay. Whatever the case, it’s definitely not a phase.