Note: For a slideshow of pics from the Chicago concert, click here.
My Chemical Romance impressed a sold-out crowd last night at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago with a high-octane set heavy on material from their latest album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.
The last time we saw them, the Jersey rockers wore their Sgt. Pepper-inspired outfits and performed the entire Black Parade album from start to finish in a brash display of rock & roll arrogance.
Four years later, as many of the "emo" contemporaries they were mistakenly lumped in with have gone by the wayside, MCR remains one of the most powerful live bands in rock music.
Newly-svelte frontman Gerard Way commanded the Aragon stage from the opening moments of the band's first song, "Na Na Na," his fire truck red hair standing in contrast to the black, goth-inspired look for which he first became known.
Way didn't bother with much crowd interaction, nor did the band offer many ballads to slow the tempo. This was straightforward rock & roll, minus any bells and whistles, and it was refreshing.
It wasn't until the sixth track that the band delved into material from The Black Parade. Way had the entire crowd swaying from side to side on "Mama," which rocked even without Liza Minnelli.
Midway through the set, just as the show was starting to drag slightly, MCR began pulling out its biggest hits: "I'm Not Okay (I Promise)," "Teenagers," and "Helena."
Surprisingly, they skipped recent hit "Sing," opting for an encore of "Cancer," the only true ballad of the night, and their recent single "Bulletproof Heart."
The satisfying Aragon concert reinforced My Chemical Romance's status as one of music's most interesting and capable rock acts.
Check out more of my Chicago live music articles.
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