Three Cheers For The Best Parade In Town
A black curtain masks the stage, cloaking everything out of view as the opening bars of 'The End' start to drift from the stage. As the song builds to its soaring first chorus the shroud of black drops to the floor and suddenly before the tiny Bournemouth crowd stand a band whose rise to rock stardom is escalating so rapidly that next year the only venues you can see them in are arenas, a million miles away from the minor room they are playing tonight. For now though MCR have returned to the UK with the aim of playing small venues, to crowds similar in size to those they were entertaining before Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge took off.
Luckily in MCR's opinion a small venue still warrants 100% enthusiasm and they certainly aren't going to put less energy, less sweat and vigour into these shows, and the first night of the tour was testament to this fact. Plunging immediately into 'Dead!', MCR refuse to ease up throughout the hour long set, ferociously and enthusiastically mingling older hits with recent material from The Black Parade so that the energy packed crowd pleasers such as 'I'm Not Okay(I Promise)' sit snugly beside the vaudeville theatrics of 'Mama' whilst old MCR favourites like 'Cemetery Drive' and 'Thank You For The Venom' rip through a crowd sing along with the same intense power as they were doing two years ago.
But this New Jersey quintet aren't the same band they used to be, things have changed and unbelievably it seems to be all for the better. Every member has adopted a showmanship that craves your attention, be it Frank Iero's punk energy as he flays around in his corner of the stage or Ray Toro's continual bouncing and lighting speed guitarmanship. Ultimately though there is only one front man in the group and with his peroxide blonde hair there is no missing Gerard Way as his camp theatrics and sheer over the top actions plays up to the crowd. With comparisons to Queen surrounding their new material, there is no denying that Way comes as close to the next Freddie Mercury as anyone has been able to get. Way commands the stage, offering a theatrical element to the rock show that has been missing for years. He interacts with the audience on an intimate level that truly suggests he cares for the kids that support his band whilst he even allows for some comedy to creep into the act with his amusing English accent. On top of this his vocals have improved immensely, no longer relying on just screaming, and as such the whole band seems to have upped their game, looking very much ready for their arena status.
MCR's return to the UK is a whistle-stop tour, and fittingly their set follows suit. 'House Of Wolves' rages chaotically with a primal intensity that should see it a huge hit come the arena tour whilst 'Welcome To The Black Parade' acts to build a camaraderie as Way and co are drowned out by a zealous sing along. In the end though the night belongs to the simplicity of 'Cancer' with Way disclosing a raw emotion with each line that leaves the excitable audience quiet for the first time all night before they erupt once more to the opening beats of MCR anthem, 'Helena', ending the evening on a satisfying mix of euphoria and commotion.
It may have been short and sweet, it may have been one of the smallest gigs MCR will play but what Bournemouth proved is how far the group of self proclaimed outsiders have come. With a number one single under their belt and an album that looks set to be a must have album of the year, it is understandable that arenas are beckoning. Until then give three cheers for the best parade in town.