My Chemical Romance: Hammersmith Apollo: 23/10/10 aka the 24hrs I lost my marbles!
So the great epic tale began really some time ago when I first heard an mcr track but this recent chapter in my love affair with this band started after work on Thursday when I raced in my car over my cousin's Becky's house to leave my car and because she lives round the corner from a tube stop it meant easy access to and from London. After the agony of rush hour traffic I arrived, dumped my bag of overnight things and a quick bathroom pitstop and much mocking from Becky and my Uncle and I was off to meet Katie, fellow killjoy, fan and friend. She also ended up being my blanket buddy for the night.
Reaching the venue and because there was another band playing we had to que down the side of a car park in an area that can only be described as 'shady'. We got branded with a number from one of the other fans at the front and with that I was known as 38.
After an 'encounter' with ticket touts/ fake merch sellers that thought we were weird for queuing all night in the rain and cold and also even more weird for not drinking and me for reading a newspaper. Well anyway they left after selling their t shirts and then the venue workers moved us at midnight to the pens infront of the venue. The police and medical staff came by to give words of warning/ comfort and after we were told that no staff are back on duty til 9am we were left to the night.
Now as a disclaimer I should say I'm probably a LOT of all kinds of crazy so kids; don't camp on the streets of London with just a blanket and a bin bag to sleep on. You won't sleep, you will be so cold that u physically can't stop shaking. When it starts to rain you will get wet and have to huddle in the venue doorway like an actual hobo and u just will not sleep.
So I didn't die
Hurray!
Once we got back in our number order again we bared down for the rest of the day. The long day.
It was still cold, hungry stomachs and more rain late in the day. On the plus side Becky and Hannah arrived later and though in the end couldn't join us we not too far back and Katie and I as usual chatted and laughed with many MCRmy and I got recognised by a few from gigs gone by and from twitter and the lovely LJ. Odd but nice!
The 4 of us had lunch and the shopping centre and then bought some goodies in the poundland. E.g. Candy.
Once back in line it was just a matter of waiting and more waiting. I'll skip to us getting in the venue cause it's better from a story pov. Katie and I got barrier. For those that don't know, barrier is the holy land. The warm up band, Twin Atlantic, were pretty good. I'd deffo give their cd a listen, kinda had a Biffy Clyro vibe and cause they were from Scotland that made it an easier comparison to make.
So when mcr came on the place goes fucking mental. Like seriously someone flipped on the crazy switch and let the loonies out; and I was one of the biggest loonies! I lost control on my mental and physical self. I was thrashing around, banging and throwing myself against the barrier, screaming and wailing like a wild animal. This is the shit I love for!
They opened with the soon to be released album's opener which is a spoken word call to arms and then straight into the new single Na Na Na. Around 50 of us in the front row had card with 'NA' written on so when the chorus kicked in we were flashing them up and down to the beat. I did notice some smirks and smiles from some band members to this too.
All in all the set was amazing with a genuine mix of tracks from all their back catalogue and new stuff: FYI 'Planetary' is gonna blow the doors off your heads. Totally getting a punk rock Bowie vibe from it and 'the kids from yesterday' is sooooo U2 esqe but done by My Chem. They did possibly my fav tracks from all 3 current albums and before they performed 'Cancer' Gerard said a thanks to the fans and mini speech and that pushed me over the edge with the next track and Katie and I were crying and holding hands. Hell, the whole front row was tearing up from what I could see!
The new drummer was introduced, new material and look and after waiting 24hrs in the rain and cold ( from when I arrived to when they came onstage that is) it was more than worth it!
Now picture time. Warning: these photos may contain too much seski bad boy rockers in leather pants, exposed flesh and being awesome!
Katie's overnight protection
Becky and Hannah
Toro filming us!
Performing 'you know what they do to guys like us in prison'
Distance from the stage and barrier
Me and Katie on the barrier
Hannah, me and Becky afterwards, on the way to becky's to eat homemade curry and then we finally got to sleep at 1.45am
I miss the band already and have stated that my future husband must know that he can never have my heart and soul as it belongs to My Chemical Romance. The body is still up for grabs though
Xoxo