My Chemical Romance @ TheSydney Entertainment Centre(30/11/2007)

Mon 3rd Dec, 2007 in Gig Reviews

The last time My Chemical Romance were in Australia they played the BDO and a couple of disappointing side shows. The disappointment didn’t lay in the music but in the lack of a dramatic stage show, especially with the theatrics surrounding their then current single and album, The Black Parade. MCR played an impeccable set with an incredible stage presence but true followers couldn’t help feeling a small speck of disappointment at the simply dressed band and minimalism of the stage. This time however, they didn’t leave a smidge of dissatisfaction in their army of teenage fans.

The excitement of the young crowd electrified the room as soon as the stage darkened in anticipation of the entrance of the band and erupted into a thundering roar as soon as MCR took to stage. Sparing no cost, every sense of the crowd was simulated to overload with incredible lighting, regular displays of pyrotechnics and a massive backdrop depicting a pack of vicious red-eyed wolves. Gerard Way claimed the attention of every audience member from the moment he set foot on stage, demanding full participation from the crowd and had everyone including the chaperoning parents on their feet for the entirety of the show. Hate him or love him, the man’s presence on stage is alluring as attested by the hundreds of screaming teenage girls that followed his every gyrating movement.

Once again MCR tour Australian shores with a missing member, this time drummer Bob Bryar was out of action due to a wrist injury and replaced by – œa good friend, Tucker’. Fortunately this didn’t affect the show and the replacement drummer played every song including House of Wolves as though he penned the songs himself.

The vigorous set was well crafted from an arsenal of hits from both The Black Parade and Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge. Songs like This iI How I Disappear, Do you Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison, Teenagers and I’m Not Okay sent the crowd into frenzies most climaxing with flame throwers, fireworks and massive sparklers. The frenzy was juxtaposed with regular spats of mobile/lighter waving ballads like Helena and I Don’t Love You.

Highlights of the show were a guitar solo by the exceptionally talented Ray Toro and an intense rendition of Cancer by Gerard accompanied by the keyboard. The final treat was Famous Last Words exploding into a final display of fireworks and flames. Considering the poor quality of acoustics in the Entertainment Centre, MCR impressively overcame any shortfalls of the venue and put on one hell of a show.