C=T contributor, Molly Müeller, decided to hit up Hot Topic last week before swinging by East Colfax to get her dose of Gerard and Co.
My Chemical Romance-Common People (Pulp Cover live on BBC Lounge) [mp3]
I have to be honest from the beginning; I went to this show to cover My Chemical
Romance and due to prior engagements I didn’t catch the Architects at all and only saw
part of the Neon Trees. Neon Trees had done a garage session for KTCL earlier that day
so they were pretty much ready to go. I can tell you that lead singer Tyler Glenn sang
an excellent rendition of Happy Birthday to Gerard Way of My Chem who turned 34
yesterday. After that they went into the song “1983” and naturally the big hit “Animal.”
On to My Chemical Romance. If you are unfamiliar, this is a band from New Jersey
that had somewhat “Gothy” origins but have evolved on to a much more poppy sound.
The band originated while Gerard and his brother Mikey Way were in high school; after
school Gerard moved to New York City to become an illustrator but ended up coming
back to rock and roll to front My Chemical Romance. (As a side note, Gerard has written
a comic book called the “Umbrella Academy.)
The majority of their fan base is around 16 to 20 years old and the kids were lined up
more than a block long by 2pm. MCR happens to have a rabid fan base. The kids in the
front had tents so I assume they spent the night on Colfax; I’m sure much to their parent’s
chagrin.
The show began with Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) from the new album
Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. This of course sent the crowd
into frenzy. Strangely enough, Gerard kept inserting his own “Happy Birthdays”
between the first few songs. Typically you don’t sing that song on your own behalf. It
was kind of dorky, for lack of a better word. A lot of the setlist contained songs from
the new album but a highlight from The Black Parade was “Mama” and the song that
was stuck in my head all day “House of Wolves.” Another highlight was “I’m not Ok (I
Promise”) from Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and of course one of their biggest hits
“Helena.”
Now I understand that many of the readers on this site may not be familiar with this
band’s music or may just hate it, but the show is explosive. They put their hearts into
every performance and the Fillmore was packed to the hilt with fans that sang along to
EVERY song. I had so much fun I bought a T-shirt. What a dork, for lack of a better
word.