My Chemical Romance rolled through Tampa, Florida over the weekend for the last show of their North American leg of the “Long Live The Black Parade” tour. The trek features the band playing their seminal 2006 album in full, with each member performing as the fictional band The Black Parade, resurrected from the dead and playing under control of the Draag regime to appease their ruler, The Grand Immortal Dictator. The storyline has progressed through each show, with interactions from outside characters The Clerk, Marianne, Draag soldiers, and the Draag National Auxiliary Band propelling the overarching plot.
Following a performance of “Welcome to the Black Parade,” the audience was invited to participate in a mock election using signs that were passed out prior to the show. At previous shows the signs had “YEA” on one side and “NAY” on the other, and regardless of the outcome of the vote, four people on the B-stage were executed. At this show in Tampa, both sides of the sign were printed with “YEA,” removing the illusion of choice. Additionally, unlike the other shows, at the Tampa gig the “hostages” who were executed were dressed in the same uniform as The Black Parade.
A second set on the B-stage followed the album play through, marking a distinction between The Black Parade and My Chemical Romance. The band walked through the crowd and used a circular stage setup, allowing fans at the furthest corners of the stadium a closer view. This second set included hits from other albums (“Helena,” “Na Na Na”) as well as deepcuts (including “My Way Home Is Through You,” a Black Parade B-side played for the first time since 2008) for the dedicated fans.
Check out photos from their performance in Tampa—along with opener Evanescence—by FLOOD photographer Bella Peterson below.
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
EVANESCENCE
