By Clara Ridabock
For wweek.com
Oh, 2004. Who remembers 2004? It was the year My Chemical Romance came out with their commercial smash, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. Tweens and Teenagers all over the world fell to their knees to worship at the altar of frontman Gerard Way, insisting that they were “Not Okay,” and they promised. Hot Topic was suddenly a massive chain, and boys with greasy black hair and red eyeliner popped up all over the place. My Chemical Romance was not just a band-they were a way of life. They defined the generic “emo kid” of the early 2000s.
Today, things are a little different. The band’s latest album, 2006’s The Black Parade, is a huge step away from their old ways. Gerard cut his hair, guitarist Frank Lero got married. The Black Parade is quite the opposite of Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. To be blunt, Three Cheers says they’ve given up-The Black Parade says they’ve grown up.
The crowd at the sold-out Crystal was so aggressive that I was told to stay out of the photo pit for at least half of the first song. Beefy security guards pushed all of their body weight against the barriers to keep them upright. When My Chemical Romance finally took the stage, the crowd went nuts. Many fans jumped over the barrier and fought to get closer to their idols. The band ate up the wild attention and fed off the crowd’s energy. MCR’s first song was no slow start-they threw us immediately into a roaring, fast paced set that did not slow until the encore. They played everything-new hits (like “Famous Last Words” and “Teenagers”, which is hilarious) and the songs that made them famous (“I’m Not Okay, I Promise”).
There are many things you can call the boys of My Chemical Romance, but poor performers is not one of them. Gerard Way (with his wild arm movements and gyrating hips) takes on a modern Freddie Mercury persona on stage, making the crowd go even crazier. The band filled its set with plenty of ‘witty banter’ (“There is a strong stench of marajuana in this venue”) and professed their deep love for Portland. “There is no where else in the world you can find a vintage Helio [Sequence] 7-inch,” said frontman (and new Portland resident) Gerard.
So scoff all you want, doubters who scoff at the idea of seeing My Chemical Romance in concert-there are few bands that can put on a show like these guys. They’ve made it crystal freakin’ clear that they too are now way better than just okay. They’re doing just fine, thank you very much.
MORE PHOTOS BELOW…
Review & Photos by: Nilina Campbell
For Localcut.com
On the MAX ride from the Zoo to Things From Another World comic book store (where My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way would be signing his own graphic offering, The Umbrella Academy), I squealed to my travel companion (and LC podcaster) Arya Imig about all about the things we might expect. What length will Mr. Way’s hair be!?!?! Will he have decided to go back to bleach blond?!?! What will his nose look like in person?!?! How much more beautiful will he be than in photos and My Chemical Romance’s ever-more-epic music videos?!!?!
Well, we got there and, expectedly enough, there was a long line of people parked in front of the store (under the undermining drizzle), waiting for their chance to own Way’s scrawl. We circumvented the line by asking for Aaron, the store’s district manager, who shepherded us inside-ahead of the mob that ranged from the predictable emo kids to older adults who were there as actual fans, parents or eBay resellers. Things From Another World brought out the big guns for the event-not only extra staff, but a plethora of security guards.
Aaron informed me that the photogenic Way wasn’t too stoked on having a camera there, but as long as I wasn’t too obtrusive, everything was cool. Gerard Way, resistant to photography? His face was made to be in front of the camera! So behind a red velvet rope I stood, shooting away as Gerard greeted teenage girls.
When we left, Arya remarked on how gracious and down to earth Gerard seemed to be-to the extent that he wondered if Mr. Way might have had to work on it. But we kinda decided that indeed he had not, as he came off as so authentic and authentically kind. He shook everyone’s hand (except for mine. I’m not offering my hand to Gerard unless it’s in marriage and given he has a wife that is not moi, well…). While red roses and feather boas decorated the table beside him, other things handed to him included a guitar (that had been buffed so his signature would not wear away) and a magazine. That was my favorite interaction…
The magazine was given to Gerard by the girl who had shot the photos of MCR inside of it. He recognized her the second she stepped up the table. They went back and forth over whether he could keep it or if he would sign it and give it back to her. Way got to keep the magazine, and in exchange offered the woman his phone number. Not as some groupie hook-up, mind you, but because he knows how to treat his fans right. His personal assistant-type friend got her number and they arranged a meet-up the next day following a meeting that Gerard had. Anyone know what that meeting was about? I hope it was in regard to real-estate, so that Gerard becomes even more of a PDX resident than the rumors testify to. I mean, how awesome would it be to have Way and his art decorating Floating World (the hipper comic shop across the river) every First Thursday?!!?!
Oh-and as the photos prove-there was nary a bullet proof vest in sight. Expect 50 Cent to follow the new trend and to start rocking more denim…
By: Trish
Via her BLOG
Photos belong to Trish also.
OK…you My Chemical Romance fans! Here’s something to eat your heart out about. Take a look at the pictures above.
Yes, that is Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance in a picture with my daughter (the really short brunette in front with G’s hand on her shoulder).
She had a backstage special pass to meet the band along with her friend and her family.
How, how, how can this happen, you say?
Well, ya jus’ gotta know the right people, folks and that’s all there is to it.
And the other picture…well, yes it is true. That is Ray Toro sitting on my daughter’s lap. He’s a nice fella. Loves his fiance…really.
And the next picture. That is Frank Iero alright with his brand new, custom made guitar by the guy next to him, Steve Zabriskie. Steve is my daughter’s best friend’s dad.
My daughter had a great time talking with these guys before and after the concert in Portland, OR. at The Crystal Ballroom.
Even more fun, her picture will now be on My Chemical Romance’s myspace site, hopefully soon.
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By: StrangePhantom on LJ
Blog found HERE
Gerard Way Signing 4/08
Well, I’ve been waiting for someone else to post a much more awesome re-cap of the signing Gerard did Tuesday at Things From Another World in Portland… But no one has, so I’ll post my crappy, second-hand retelling of the event…
I go to school in Eugene, and happen to have most of my classes this term on Tuesday, so unfortunately, I could not attend. So, I did what any college student would do: I sent my mom xD
My mom, being the awesome person that she is, went, taking all my Umbrella Academy comics with her, as well as buying the special edition with the cover Gerard drew when she got to the store.
After an hour of standing in line with screaming fan girls and such, mom finally got to Gerard, which took much longer than it should have since people were rude and decided it was ok to cut (for shame).
Gerard was sitting in the back of the store, hunched over a table, with sunglasses on. And, for all the people who give him a hard time about wearing sunglasses indoors…. think about this. The lady in front of my mom walked up to him, shoved a camera about a foot in front of his face, and took a picture, with the flash on. He’d be blind by now if it weren’t for those Ray-Bans.
Anyways, he shook her hand and asked her name, and my mom mentioned she was there on behalf of me, who had class, to which he replied “It’s good she stayed in class.” Here’s the rest of the not-verbatim conversation that sorta went like this:
Mom: Yeah, she’s an art major at the University. She wants to intern this summer at Dark Horse.
Gerard: That’s really great!
Mom: How do you stand the screaming?
Gerard: You know, I don’t know.
Mom: Well, thanks a lot, and enjoy your stay in Portland.
Gerard: Thanks! I really like it here.
Eh… so yea, that’s what my mom told me went down. Some people in line were pretty chill, one woman got her iPod signed, a ton others were trying to hurry so they could stand in line for the show later that night at the Crystal Ballroom (did anyone go, btw???). They ended up closing up about a half hour early since no one was there actually, which I kinda *headesk* at that thought, thinking I could have had an actual conversation about art, or comic books, or cake with him. I think mom had a rather exciting time, although you would never hear her admit it.
