My Chemical Freak: My Chemical Romance All The Time

By: Sheena Barnett

The Memphis in May Beale St. Music Festival didn’t earn the nickname “Memphis in Mud” for nothing.Of course, it wouldn’t really be Memphis in May without a ton of mud and rain.

My best friend, Hannah, and I went to Memphis Friday to celebrate our birthdays (hers was in March; mine’s tomorrow). I can’t give you guys a full recap of what happened this weekend, but I can tell you what we experienced – and it was quite an adventure. And since it’s long – more after the jump!

Hannah and I went to see one of our favorite bands, My Chemical Romance. We had planned to see other acts, like Joan Jett and Ben Folds, but the My Chem stage was already getting full so we decided to stay there so we could get close to the stage for My Chem.

We got there just in time to watch Flyleaf. I’ve listened to this Christian rock band a little bit here and there, but never seen the group live. Flyleaf was pretty good – very energetic.

Then, after Flyleaf, a good rain set in. The stage guys set up the next band’s equipment, but then they had to come back and cover up the instruments because the rain was washing up on to the stage.

Hellogoodbye was next. The rain was so heavy they couldn’t perform for a while – and, actually, from what I hear, other acts at this time had to cancel, like Ben Folds.

The rain finally slowed down enough so that Hellogoodbye could take the stage (and the lead singer was in yellow gym shorts, which were a little scary, but I digress). I never really liked the group’s single, “Here (In Your Arms),” but I really enjoyed the rest of the songs the band performed. Pretty awesome set – especially considering it started pouring again during the set.

After Hellogoodbye, the stage guys started setting up My Chem’s equipment – but, of course, it started raining and the equipment had to be covered again.

Finally the rain let up, and My Chemical Romance took the stage. I think the band realized we’d been standing outside for about five hours in the on-and-off pouring rain, so the guys in the band really let loose. Lead singer Gerard Way said he couldn’t remember the last time guitarist Ray Toro played so hard he broke strings.

I couldn’t give you a set list but here’s a list of songs they played: “Give ‘Em Hell, Kid,” “Headfirst for Halos,” “Welcome to the Black Parade,” “Teenagers,” “I’m Not Okay,” “I Don’t Love You,” “My Way Home is Through You,” “Kill All Your Friends,” “Famous Last Words,” “Cemetery Drive,” “House of Wolves,” “The Sharpest Lives,” “This is How I Disappear,” “Mama,” “You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison,” “Dead!”

I think the band had planned to finish with “Helena,” but it was raining pretty hard and lightning, so I think they just barely cut the set short. Still, I’ve seen MCR three times and this was hands down the best show. Only the hardcore fans stayed through all the rain, so it felt like an intimate club gig (but with lots of rain and lightning, of course). I was happy to finally hear “Kill All Your Friends” live, and I love love love “Headfirst for Halos.”

By the end of the night, the rain had soaked through our ponchos, our makeup had been clear washed away, we were soaked to the bone and my shoes may in fact be ruined. It was still the best show ever.

As Hannah and I were leaving the park, a guy asked us if the MCR show as worth it to stand in the rain that long, and we said in unison, “YES.” He turned to somebody else and said, “That My Chemical Romance show must’ve been something – people are still leaving from it and they look rough.” lol.

And, another awesome adventure – before heading down to the park for the festival, Hannah and I went to the Peabody Place to meander a bit. We were upstairs when Hannah whacked me on the arm. I looked up and there were two of My Chemical Romance’s guitarists, Ray Toro and Frank Iero. They were headed to the movies with an absolutely massive bodyguard.

I’ve interviewed, oh, about everybody, actually met Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest, accidentally ran into AFI, but this was the first time I really got starstruck. I just couldn’t say anything. So we let them go on into the movies. But still, it was awesome to see them out.

A lot of the videos from the festival are obviously pretty bad due to the rain but I just found this video that has clips from several of the songs MCR performed. We were about at this same place, only on the other side of the stage.

Video by:  fairysister