"US rockers My Chemical Romance Are Certainly No Killjoys" [Huddersfield Daily Examiner]

VENUE: Manchester Evening News Arena

BY: Andrew Hirst

ANTICIPATION for My Chemical Romance was huge – but could they live up to the hype? Absolutely and the reason is they come to gigs armed with killer riffs, even more killer choruses and an all-round package that’ll leave a lasting impression long after the last note has faded away.

The lighting at Friday night’s gig was nothing short of spectacular – a multi-coloured extravaganza that changed with the rhythm and at times just simply exploded into white-out.

And then with three top quality video cameras in action – two right up at the front – the production was spot-on with the images changing by the second on the two huge screens as the classic songs reached their thunderous climaxes. They brought live even more to life.

It meant you didn’t miss anything no matter where you were in the huge MEN arena. The standing area was a thriving mass of arms-in-the-air jubilation and the seats were redundant once the band hit the stage.

Gerard Way may be the flame-haired frontman, but the entire band has the ability to enrapture as they rattled through ‘the good stuff’ predominantly from latest concept album Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys.

Crowd pleasers included Sing, The Last Parade, The Only Hope For Me Is You, Summertime, Na, Na, Na, (Na, Na, Na, Na, Na,Na,Na, Na, Na) – even I could sing along to that one – and the ultra vicious Destroyer.

Teenagers fires right from rock’s heart, but Gerard didn’t forget those dragged along by teen kids by dedicating The Kids From Yesterday to all the parents. Aw, thanks Gerard, for reminding us of our long lost youth.

It was so packed at the front MEN staff had to shoot water into the open mouths of those caught up in the sway and Gerard implored his devotees to pick anyone up who had fallen.

“Don’t leave them down there,’’ he yelled. “Don’t leave anyone down there.’’

So health and safety and art rock can go hand-in-hand.

Judging by the crowd’s reaction forthcoming single, the intense pogoing Planetary (Go!) is set to be huge, firing them even further into the superstar stratosphere.

Source: Examiner