Item: My Chemical Romance at Dodger Stadium
Author: Gerry Hwang

Gerry Hwang July 31st, 2025 - 12:00 PM

RAGE. WAR. DESTRUCTION. BUT ALSO! NEW BEGINNING! AND HOPE!!

These are some of the usual takeaways from the iconic emo and pop-punk band My Chemical Romance – and especially from their nostalgia-inducing performance at Dodger Stadium, which took place on July 27^th, 2025. The concert was part of their Long Live: The Black Parade North American stadium tour, celebrating the band’s emblematic third studio album The Black Parade (2006). The July 27^th performance was their second night of their sold-out Los Angeles show – yet again illustrating the continuing prominence of emo music even to this day.

Without a doubt, My Chemical Romance’s performance was filled with early 2000s throwback energy for the emo fans of both younger and older generations. But even more so, despite performing a whopping two and a half hour long setlist, the band’s indefatigable energy was astonishing – especially with the first half of the performance consisting of the entirety of The Black Parade, as with the second half showcasing the band’s popular hits over the course of their 24-year long career. Along with the mesmerizing vocal and theatrical performance by the group’s lead singer and frontman, Gerard Way (now 48 years old), the first part of the show offered a unique interpretation of the fictional narrative from The Black Parade.

The studio album follows the story of “The Patient,” as the album progressively illustrates the fictional character’s diagnosis of cancer, followed by reflection of his cherished memories, contemplation of death and the thoughts of his afterlife. But for their stadium tour, My Chemical Romance reimagined this narrative to take place in a fictional dictator-ruled country named “Draag.” This reinterpretation of their 19-year-old album not only offered a fresh take on its original themes and messages for the longtime fans, but it also illustrated the punk band’s continued dedication and commitment to storytelling in their live music performance.

After the youthfully vibrant opening performance by alternative rock group Wallows (it’s also interesting how varying rock artists are scheduled for MCR’s opening acts in different cities and regions for their stadium tour), the stadium screen then illustrated a series of parodied propaganda videos and audience mannerism rules written in Keposhka – a fictional language made specifically for MCR’s latest stadium tour. As one of the rules hilariously warned, “Please do not throw hair.”

Then, with an introductory theatrical performance of showcasing a fictional dictator entering the stage, the band members of My Chemical Romance commandingly marched on to the stage – with all the members wearing military-inspired stage outfits (the same look from their music video of Welcome to the Black Parade), as if performing under this fictional regime. And of course, Gerard Way appeared on the stage with his signature smoky eye shadow and pale face paintings. Along with flashy stage lights and smokes grandly illuminating the band members, My Chemical Romance opened with the slow yet emotionally explosive performance of their first song of the night, “The End.”

Especially with immersive theatrical skits playing in between the set, My Chemical Romance’s performances of the songs from The Black Parade were beyond exceptional – all contributing to the feels of a dystopic and post-apocalyptic world with the sound of emo and punk rock. To name some of the highlights from the first part, it included the performance of “Welcome to the Black Parade” with the audience singing along through its entirety, a confessional performance of “Mama” with literal flames erupting from the front stage (along with a stunt man being on fire during the song), as well as exhilarating performance of “Teenagers” with a parodied propaganda video playing in the background (a suitable choice considering the anti-establishment nature of the lyrics). The first part of their set ended with the powerfully performative delivery of the last song from the studio album, “Famous Last Words” – with Gerard Way being theatrically killed off towards the end of the song, along with the band members supposedly being dragged off by fictional military figures.

Then, during the transition to the second part of the set, composer and cellist Clarice Jensen played a calming cello solo song “From A to B.” And after the building anticipation, the band members of My Chemical Romance (now all wearing casual retro outfits from the early 2000s) reappeared on the center stage of the stadium to now perform some of their career-defining songs. The second half of the MCR’s performance was filled with hopefulness and resilience – as some of the highlights included high-octane performances of “Helena” and “Na Na Na,” as well as the cover performance of The Smashing Pumpkins song “Bullets with Butterfly Wings.”

My Chemical Romance’s reimagination of The Black Parade as a dystopian epic was an ingenious, bold and clever way to reinvigorate emo spirit amongst the punk fans of all generations – especially with a theatrical spectacle that is quite rare amongst the modern-day live music events. The punk band’s sold-out show at Dodger Stadium was a testament to the emo’s everlasting influence, even to the future generations of punk rock – and perhaps of the everlasting influence of My Chemical Romance to today’s music fans.

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