My Chemical Romance in Seattle

My Chemical Romance
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
07.11.25

The MCRmy Reports for Duty in Seattle

Fans began lining the sidewalks of T-Mobile Park on the morning of July 11th, eager to be the first inside for My Chemical Romance’s sold-out opening night of their “Long Live” The Black Parade tour. It’s been almost 3 years since they last performed in this region, and their return has been eagerly awaited by their loyal followers. The lines wound around the stadium on all sides by the time doors opened. Like a convention of sorts for scene kids and emo babies of all ages, fans showed up wearing elaborate costumes and outfits to reflect their beautiful inner darkness and pay homage to the band by emulating their signature goth/punk/emo stage presence. If any band could summon an entire generation with a single note, it would be by My Chemical Romance.

Violent Femmes were the guests of the night, warming up the crowd with longtime crowdpleasers like Blister in the Sun and American Music, before commanding their engaged audience to Dance Motherfucker Dance – and they happily obliged. Embracing the group’s unique style, younger spectators were intrigued by the musical oddities that make the Violent Femmes’s sound so exceptional, including percussion via Webber grill, the unusual shape and size of the Big Johnson acoustic bass, and the ever popular xylophone solos. Throughout their energized set, the anticipation grew more and more palpable as the sun set over the stadium, signaling to all that the start of the main event was fast approaching.

In advance of taking the stage, attendees were informed of a cryptic set of ‘rules,’ projected upon the towering screens that flanked the stage. The rules vacillated between English and a mysterious cryptogram. Along with these rules, there were black and white portraits of unknown persons who were crossed out in red, brief video clips that included a news reporter, a game show host, imagery of wheat fields and what appeared to be a commercial for a vat of gray soup. Lacking any sound or context, a somewhat ominous feel added to the mystery of how the tour’s premier performance would look and sound.

The theatrics began immediately with a ceremonial offering of wheat, placed upon the stage, and an eerie performance of what would become known to be the National Anthem of Draag – the fictional country in which the story of tonight’s performance would be set.

“Over fields that light the fire in our hearts that burns true. Under wheels of might we cherish, our skies never blue. Like a baby’s fists are broken, then grow strong enough to choose. To pick up the sword and strike the heart of doom, We in Draag have learned to prosper in the gloom. Over fields we live to die under the gloom.”

At last, the stage filled with smoke as the band appeared in their Black Parade attire – a gothic, military-esque ensemble, perfectly fitting the mood of the world they constructed. To the surprise and excitement of the thousands in attendance, it quickly became clear from the opening performance of The End. followed immediately by Dead!, that they would perform the entirety of their 2006 The Black Parade album – in order.

Throughout the act, the storyline of the country of Draag and its leadership by the dictator continued to unfold between songs. When frontman Gerard Way asked the audience to join him in an experiment of democracy by picking up the “Yea” or “Nay” signs that were provided upon arrival, concertgoers cheered eager compliance, ready to participate. This led to a vote, which would determine the fate of four hooded persons who had been brought out on the stage. To the surprise of many, the vote resulted in a shocking outcome that left fans screaming in awe as the band carried on with the show by picking up where they left off, playing the track I Don’t Love You. The story continued to play out between songs, building the chaotic energy with the aid of smoke, pyrotechnics, open flames and ongoing theatrics until it all came to an end with a BANG, and an eerie performance of the hidden track Blood by one of the characters, a clown dressed in white, before the lights went down.

What followed after the angst-ridden conclusion of The Black Parade was a long and beautiful performance by cellist Clarice Jensen, which soon became clear that it was an intermission.

Once the MCR reappeared, taking the B-Stage, they took a moment to thank the fans and all the supporters who made the tour possible. Frontman Gerard Way explained that the rest of the show would be unique at every tour stop, with performances of their most popular songs from the rest of their catalogue (I’m Not Okay [I promise], The Ghost of You, and the ever-popular Helena all made the cut) intermixed with the band’s favorite B-sides they don’t often perform. With the absence of stage makeup, costuming, and dramatic visuals, this second set verged on feeling like an intimate, smaller performance in spite of the sold-out arena in which they played.

Setlist:

The End.
Dead!
This Is How I Disappear
The Sharpest Lives
Welcome to the Black Parade
I Don’t Love You
House of Wolves
Cancer
Mama
Sleep
Teenagers
Disenchanted
Famous Last Words
The End. (reprise)
From A to B
I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
Our Lady of Sorrows
The Ghost of You
Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)
Give ‘Em Hell, Kid
Planetary (GO!)
Heaven Help Us