My Chemical Romance Takes Over Target Field
Oh, yes. This is gonna be a fricken SHOW.
Having been a fan if them for decades, seeing My Chemical Romance live has alluded me. Schedules not lining up, too spendy, sold out. On and on the reasons go. Lots of delightful swirling elements to battle with. But finally, the day came. MCR was heading to Target Field with their Black Parade Tour celebrating 20 years of one of the best albums this side of the millennium (released all the way back on October 23rd, 2006 if ya can believe it.)
First time at Target Field for a show versus a baseball game, so was curious how sound would be. Familiar with the layout, walked around for a touch before snagging a Summit IPA which came to a little under 20 bucks post tax and pre tip. Thankfully had a brew at Killen’s Irish Pub a couple blocks away from the stadium to make my wallet scream slightly less, parking was ‘event rate’ so five bucks an hour even for meters around there. Wanted a snack, too, so grabbed a loaded nacho for about 16 bucks from concessions (classic potluck style, ground beef and cheese and sour cream with pico on Tostitos. Not bad.)
Time for some opening act magic! Not being familiar with Sleater-Kinney since it’s a bit out of my typical genre wheelhouse, but really dug what they were putting down. Cranking it since 1994 from Olympia, Washington, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein lead the band so well. Being a mega fan of the show Portlandia which was co-created by Brownstein with Fred Armisen, knew she was a talented smart cookie before she strummed a note. Elated to see she is just as talented with a microphone and guitar in her hand. Rock girl cool with punk explosiveness, Sleater-Kinney fit the bill fabulously. They played for around 40 minutes, giving the audience enough of a taste to get to know them. I bet their club and smaller venue shows are a riot, def need to experience them in that type of venue next. Fantastic performance.
Little breather between acts, walked around the stadium for a bit to soak in more MCR atmosphere. The outfits were everything. Sweet facepainted mugs on smiling faces, cute early 2000s alt girlie cuties with belts as ties and button down shirts and skirts. Plenty of neat goth attire and chain pants clinking through the cement halls. Not all Millennials like myself, huge amount of younger folks hanging out. Heard from security it was well sold, and def felt like it. The energy was high and bubbly, seemed like everyone truly wanted to be there and experience the show. Met some adorable teens that were giving out homemade friendship bracelets, scored a sick black and red one!
The schtick level was on point as well, the show was littered with My Chem’s dystopian concept. Draag, the Black Parade’s fictional totalitarian country has some pretty powerful imagery, and the theme was layered lovely throughout the entire performance. Beginning the show with the fake nation’s national anthem “Over Fields” sung by incredibly talented and costumed for the gods Lucy Joy Altus, who played "Marianne." From the bold red and black aesthetics and military punk chic decor and dress to the Grand Immortal Dictator drinking from a 24 pack of Coors on a thrown in the audience watching along with us, My Chemical Romance’s dedication to a theme is unmatched. And man, Gerald Way is king of stage presence. It was almost impossible to stop watching him do what few can, and seemingly effortless.
Igniting the crowd with his every soulful yowl, he sounds better-than-record great live. Can see why tickets fly when up for sale, wow I was so impressed. Some of my favorite songs they played, hard to just choose a few, but “Sleep” and “Famous Last Words” were particularly thrilling. Half of the show was on the main stage, then after a slight break, moved to a smaller Stage B in the meat of the floor audience. It was also irresistible not to fall into the trance of yelling along every word with the rest of the audience. Having over 20 songs to soak in for their two hours of hypnotic rock and roll, don’t know how anyone couldn’t become a fan of them. As gentle heat from bountiful pyrotechnics wrapped my body and cool summer breezes swirled throughout Target Field, looked at my fellow concert goers fully relishing the moment with me.
Sewn into countless souls, My Chemical Romance are indeed the legends you know them to be. 11/10 show.
