|
My Chemical Romance / Rise Against Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI Dec. 13, 2006 |
 MCR |
 MCR |
|
Story and photos by The Bon Bons My Chemical Romance is riding it's wave of success with a change in look (well lead singer Gerard Way at least) and change in musical direction. On their latest record Welcome to the Black Parade MCR stroll away a bit from their signature style of music which was laced with elements of back breaking guitars, brit-pop goth and punk/emo leanings.
The new music breathes life anew with it's glam-rock subversive edge
and cabaret theatrics.The show started off with "The End," "Dead!" and and the heavy handed guitar laced "This Is How I Disappear" (which are also the three songs that open Welcome to the Black Parade). MCR's chaotic rhythms and joyous celebrations of death and dying melded into a fantastic foray into the intelligent and dark side of rock n' roll. Gerard Way is turning into a rock chameleon with his black suit and pants cut off just below the knees and large combat boots and strikingly bold blonde hair. His stage theatrics are quite entertaining as he poetically preens and poses during the delicious guitar solos. The pop hooks ran rampant on "I'm Not OK (I Promise)" and "Cemetery Drive." The searing guitar of Ray Toro exploded on numbers like "Welcome to The Black Parade" and "Thank You for the Venom." Closing their maddeningly entertaining and explosive set were the sinewy and dark "Cancer" and the sizzling "Helena" - where the band's penchant for melody also made the dark themes even more ominous. Chicago boys Rise Against opened with "Survive" and "Injection" that packed enough thundering wallop to introduce the impending musical storm ahead. Rise Against's music is rife with dark melodies, punishing lead guitar, a brutal beat and brooding screamo vocals. Lead singer Tim McIlrath took his able band of musicians from apocalyptic soundscapes to the darker corners of punk. Songs that highlighted the talented band's penchant for bristling fast paced rhythms and nitro injected punk were "State of the Union," "Chamber the Cartridge," "Good Left Undone" and "Ready To Fall." Rise Against (who Gerard Way said that "Rise Against is one of our all time favorite bands in the world") will be opening for My Chemical Romance on their upcoming tour. It's a marriage made in rock n' roll heaven. |
| MCR and Rise Against Set lists: | |||
|
MCR: The End Dead! This is How I Disappear I'm Not Ok (I Promise) Cemetery Drive Mama Welcome to The Black Parade |
I Don't Love you Thank You For the Venom Teenagers Give 'Em Hell, Kid House of Wolves Famous Last Words You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison Cancer Helena |
Rise Against: Survive Injection Blood to Bleed Give It All State of the Union Chamber the Cartridge Good Left Undone |
Like the Angel
Drones Bricks Prayer of the Refugee Swing Life Away Dancing For Rain Ready To Fall |
 MCR |
 Rise Against |
 MCR |
 Rise Against |
 MCR |
 MCR |
 Rise Against |
 MCR |
 MCR |
 MCR |
