Newcastle Metro Arena Review: organised-sound.com
LostAlone are a very strange band to be opening this evening's show. Despite their admirable efforts in crowd involvement and ability to switch between self-proclaimed "heavy metal" and "death metal" guitar riffs, their place on this tour remains a mystery. After releasing their debut album well over three years ago, and disappearing completely from their infamous support slot circuit at about the same time, they stand as a fairly irrelevant offering, and the crowd seems to agree.
In massive contrast, main support comes those welsh wonders in The Blackout. Coming onstage to an introduction of PJ and Duncan's 'Let's Get Ready To Rumble', even the most cynical onlooker would crack a smile. Buoyantly commanding the stage instantly, front men Sean Smith and Gavin Butler get to work quickly on riling the crowd into a frenzy. Blasting through all of their hits, the band barely stops to breathe in between friendly banter and microphone swinging galore. Favourites 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things' and 'It's High Tide, Baby' produce some wonderful singalong moments, whilst new track 'Higher and Higher' sounds fantastic in a live environment. Their energy is infectious and it's clear that, by the time they end on the electrifying 'I'm A Riot? You're a Fucking Riot!', the crowd are ready and prepared for tonight'´s headliners. Job done.
In the build-up to their entrance, slogans and comic book-esque images are projected onto video screens at either side of the stage. Every time a Killjoy appears, the audience squeals in delight, and it´s not long until the black curtain in front of the stage drops, revealing My Chemical Romance in all of their colourful glory. Opener 'Na Na Na' is nothing short of anthemic, with the crowd already singing every word.
Despite the outwardly extravagant nature of their latest album 'Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys', the band let the music do the talking this evening: their stage set up is basic, and their backdrop is mainly commanded by a powerful light display. But even so, it feels simple, maybe even a touch raw; just the way rock and roll is supposed to be.
Plunging into 'Give 'Em Hell, Kid', from MCR's arguably defining album 'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge', the band are on top form, and prove that their old and new songs alike are still as powerful as ever before. Latest single Sing' is epic, 'Planetary (GO!)' is insatiably fun and `Vampire Money´ stands as a beautiful display of punk rock arrogance.
Confidently blasting through a twenty-one track set list, the band visit songs from all four of their records to date; including the spectacularly cathartic 'Our Lady of Sorrows' from debut album 'I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love'. Heavily punctuating their stage time with 'Danger Days' offerings, the songs sound fresh and energetic, while old classics like 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)' and 'Helena' still receive electrifying reactions.
Surprisingly however, we see only four songs from their chart-topping 'The Black Parade', including the wonderfully melodramatic 'Welcome To The Black Parade' and still genuinely spine-tingling 'Famous Last Words'
Ending on an incredibly intense rendition of 'Cancer' - there is even one split second where the entire arena stops and is completely silent - the band finally launches into 'Bulletproof Heart'´: a great ending to a fantastic show, proving once more why My Chemical Romance are still one of the most dangerous bands of modern times.
[SOURCE+PICTURES]
In massive contrast, main support comes those welsh wonders in The Blackout. Coming onstage to an introduction of PJ and Duncan's 'Let's Get Ready To Rumble', even the most cynical onlooker would crack a smile. Buoyantly commanding the stage instantly, front men Sean Smith and Gavin Butler get to work quickly on riling the crowd into a frenzy. Blasting through all of their hits, the band barely stops to breathe in between friendly banter and microphone swinging galore. Favourites 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things' and 'It's High Tide, Baby' produce some wonderful singalong moments, whilst new track 'Higher and Higher' sounds fantastic in a live environment. Their energy is infectious and it's clear that, by the time they end on the electrifying 'I'm A Riot? You're a Fucking Riot!', the crowd are ready and prepared for tonight'´s headliners. Job done.
In the build-up to their entrance, slogans and comic book-esque images are projected onto video screens at either side of the stage. Every time a Killjoy appears, the audience squeals in delight, and it´s not long until the black curtain in front of the stage drops, revealing My Chemical Romance in all of their colourful glory. Opener 'Na Na Na' is nothing short of anthemic, with the crowd already singing every word.
Despite the outwardly extravagant nature of their latest album 'Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys', the band let the music do the talking this evening: their stage set up is basic, and their backdrop is mainly commanded by a powerful light display. But even so, it feels simple, maybe even a touch raw; just the way rock and roll is supposed to be.
Plunging into 'Give 'Em Hell, Kid', from MCR's arguably defining album 'Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge', the band are on top form, and prove that their old and new songs alike are still as powerful as ever before. Latest single Sing' is epic, 'Planetary (GO!)' is insatiably fun and `Vampire Money´ stands as a beautiful display of punk rock arrogance.
Confidently blasting through a twenty-one track set list, the band visit songs from all four of their records to date; including the spectacularly cathartic 'Our Lady of Sorrows' from debut album 'I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love'. Heavily punctuating their stage time with 'Danger Days' offerings, the songs sound fresh and energetic, while old classics like 'I'm Not Okay (I Promise)' and 'Helena' still receive electrifying reactions.
Surprisingly however, we see only four songs from their chart-topping 'The Black Parade', including the wonderfully melodramatic 'Welcome To The Black Parade' and still genuinely spine-tingling 'Famous Last Words'
Ending on an incredibly intense rendition of 'Cancer' - there is even one split second where the entire arena stops and is completely silent - the band finally launches into 'Bulletproof Heart'´: a great ending to a fantastic show, proving once more why My Chemical Romance are still one of the most dangerous bands of modern times.
[SOURCE+PICTURES]