OREM - It took just a few songs of My Chemical Romance’s set Wednesday for the combination of glam-rock moves, hard-rock riffs and unabashed adoration from fans to spark a memory.
It was a memory of Tommy Gnosis, the beautiful man-child in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” who copied Hedwig’s songs and style and turned them into platinum. I’m not saying My Chemical Romance leader Gerard Way and his band stole anything that was on display at the nearly full McKay Events Center, but the group owes a debt to the artists who no doubt inspired “Hedwig;” within My Chemical Romance’s songs and stage show you find the sparkly bombast and hard-rock of Queen and early David Bowie, abetted by a love of dark lyrical imagery appealing to goth kids.
To record company executives, My Chemical Romance must seem like the dream combo of hook-filled songs, visual appeal and teenage angst. Judging by the thousands of kids screaming along to Way’s lyrics, those executives would be right. After nearly nonstop touring since the mid-2004 release of its breakthrough album, “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge,” My Chemical Romance put on a high-energy show highlighted by some of the biggest rock hits of the year.
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Back in the day, New Joisey's My Chemical Romance was a scrawny little quintet singing about vampires and opening for the Movielife and Finch. Of course, "the day" refers to its early 2003 tour -- before MCR upgraded from Eyeball Records to the major label Reprise Records, before its sophomore CD, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, sold gold and before vocalist Gerard Way stopped speaking to his former BFF, the Used singer Bert McCracken. In fact, My Chemical Romance v.2.0 is bigger, badder, and more emo and goth (although less intoxicated) than its former self. But catch its first headlining
It's been a big year for My Chemical Romance. The New Jersey emo band's second album, last year's "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge," finally drew the notice of mainstream music magazines like Rolling Stone.
My Chemical Romance also scored a gig opening for Green Day and headlined this summer's incarnation of the Warped Tour. Now, with a third album due in November, the band is headlining on its own, with Alkaline Trio and Reggie and the Full Effect.
The tour stops Sunday, Oct. 16 at the Connecticut Expo Center, 265 Rev. Moody Overpass, Hartford. Tickets are $19.99 for the 7 p.m. show.
The hardest-working band in New Jersey, My Chemical Romance, are going to to release CD/DVD set entitled "Life On The Murder Scene" sometime early next year.
According to MCR's label Reprise, the whole package isn't finished just yet, but it's been already unveiled that the CD portion will feature rare tracks and demos, while the DVD is going to be packed with videos, live performances, online content and an exclusive video diary that tells My Chemical Romance's story from the very beginning.
The cover looks quite curiously, while simply replacing the watercolored couple on the front of the band's
Saturday night's Tsongas Arena lineup vacillated between two distinct musical idioms – call it metal-core, punk-pop or plain old whiner's delight, but never has rock 'n' roll this volatile sounded so tuneful.
Opener Reggie and the Full Effect played a short set of throttling hardcore (complete with uvula-scraping screams), blended with curiously radio-friendly riffs.
Alkaline Trio followed with a dexterous, authoritative performance.Alternating between two lead vocalists, the Chicago-based band played with a seasoned maturity that made for the gig's most pleasant surprise.
Plenty of body
Satisfying the youthful taste for trends, the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford entertained hundreds of vigorous scenesters by hosting three bands: Reggie and the Full Effect, Alkaline Trio and My Chemical Romance. Current times call for energetic and emotional soundtracks reminiscent of the 1980s underground punk scene. The three bands that entertained the audience Sunday delivered what the masses asked for.
Kicking off the night with Reggie and the Full Effect set a nervous tone for the audience in regards to the caliber of the following acts. Reggie's set list consisted of song after song of indistinguishable noise, giving the illusion