Gerard Way : Live Review

Gerard Way was the lead singer for the band My Chemical Romance, which disbanded back in March of 2013. Gerard is not the only member who went and did their own thing. Since then, the former members of MCR, which were Frank Iero, Ray Toro and Mikey Way (Gerard’s brother), all went in different directions with how they wanted to play music.

I have seen Frank Iero’s band once so far, but I haven’t seen any of the others acts. I love each and every member of MCR, but Gerard has always had a special place in my heart. When his album Hesitant Alien came out, I was all on that! And when he announced a tour, I jumped on the gun and bought tickets right as they came on sale!

That was back in April. Fast forward to the week of the show in October. That week was a hell of a week for me. Two days before the concert, I was so deep into everything else that I had forgotten about the show. Then on the day of the show, my friend Darion and I drove over to Marquee Theatre, waited in line to enter, waited and bought band merch and waited even more for the opening band, Tape, to come out and play. Once their awesome set ended, I couldn’t wait for Gerard to get on stage to watch him perform!

I’ve only seen MCR once before they broke up, and that was in the fall of 2007. Once the music stopped and the lights went out, THAT’S when I started to get giddy with excitement. I was screaming my head off when Gerard came out and waved to the crowd. When he was walking center stage, all these memories from when I saw them flooded into my brain and even all the times when I would watch MCR’s music videos and interviews. It brought me back to my childhood when my problems seemed big but were so simple. It even helped when Gerard dressed like how he was back in the ‘Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge’ era.

The set list that he performed was incredible. He started with “The Bureau”, just like on Hesitant Alien. He played several songs off of the new album, played two songs I’ve never heard before, and then ended the set with “No Shows”. After “No Shows”, Darion and I left so we could be one of the first people at the gate that he was hopefully signing at.

After what seemed like hours, Gerard tweeted out that unfortunately he could not schedule a signing. Since he tweeted after the show, by then a huge audience was waiting around the gate. His tour manager came out with a box and apologized for Gerard not coming out, but said it we wanted to five Gerard a gift, we could place it in the box.

A couple months earlier, Gerard tweeted about the incense Nag Champa and how he absolutely loves it. I myself just recently discovered and gotten into Nag Champa around the same time and was crazy for it. I just so happened that I had an extra box, so I brought it to the show to give to him. I quickly wrote a note explaining how he and his music still helps me out in my life. Even though I would have liked to talk to him about it in person, I placed the incense in the box with a sense of relieve, that even though I didn’t talk to him personally, I still felt like I connected with him.

This show was something else. I felt like I was a teenager again and that my problems seemed to disappear when he jammed. Even though I didn’t get to meet him like I hoped, I still had the opportunity to give him a sentimental gift that was inspired by him. Throughout the show, after every song, Gerard would always say “thank you”, to the crowd. I feel like the present I gave him was a thank you to him. Gerard Way’s performance and show was incredible. Without a doubt, I would highly recommend going to see him if he swing by. He’s simply amazing.