MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES ON OPENING NIGHT OF KIA FORUM RESIDENCY
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES ON OPENING NIGHT OF THEIR KIA FORUM RESIDENCY
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A SOLD OUT FIVE NIGHT RESIDENCY AT L.A.’s KIA FORUM
TRB WAS AT OPENING NIGHT LAST TUESDAY
READ THE FULL SHOW REVIEW WITH CONCERT PHOTOS BELOW…
Gerard and that Flamethrower
For a band that first came onto the scene at a time when it seemed like many of that generation were carbon copies of each other or just very surface-level. My Chemical Romance has easily been the band that has stood the test of time astutely navigating an increasingly challenging music industry. One where bands come and go or quickly lose their identity and creative freedom somewhere down the line. So to hear that My Chemical Romance was to return in 2019. A band that stuck their roots AND experimented. The band whose songs many of us adored in our teenage and young adult years when we felt unsure or worse about ourselves was back. Waiting two more years would only cause the feverish excitement around this reunion to grow.
On each of the five nights, the band featured different opening acts. For night one, they had Youth Code, an EBM (Electronic Body Music) and Industrial music duo, then the band Taking Back Sunday. Youth Code shook up the crowd. Unfortunately, much of it was still arriving. Lead vocalist Sara Taylor has a visceral and fierce stage presence. Something that truly opened up the show and what would ultimately be five nights of incredible music. Taking Back Sunday took to the stage next, with the crowd slowly filling up and even TBS taking note of that. The guys of Taking Back Sunday put on a fast-paced, energetic eight-song set. Frontman Adam Lazzara pulled out some sweet dance moves with every swing of his microphone. They ended with their 2006 classic and biggest hit, MakeDamnSure.
You could feel the weight of the two-and-a-half years reverberating throughout the forum. Hearing the crowd chant MCR! MCR! as The Foundations Of Decay familiar signature buzzing sound began to whirl until silence. My Chemical Romance takes to the stage under the cloak of darkness, with frontman Gerard Way walking out dressed as a cheerleader holding an actual flamethrower! Wait... what just happened? Before anyone can digest that, the band launches into The Foundations Of Decay, the first new song from the group in years, and it sounded just as harrowing and insane live. It was the perfect way to reintroduce the band in a city that can quickly become jaded. The band has never sounded better and more in sync with each other live. The band said early on that they were playing whatever they wanted each night, and that's what they did.
My Chemical Romance then proceeded to hopscotch their way through their back catalog, playing with finesse and intensity. The crowd sang along, chanting, dancing, and even crying. Nostalgia had hit hard for many as the band went from songs like This Is The Best Day Ever, which has a harrowing punkish lean. To the power pop strut of Na Na Na, each of these tracks are two albums apart. Other songs like Planetary (GO!), DESTROYA, and Teenagers had the audience go from head banging to straight-up booty shaking. Also, that night the band pulled out, Desolation Row for the first time since 2011. One of the most unique and edgy Bob Dylan covers. The show ended with a two-song encore with songs from their first album, I Brought You Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. The moving heartache of Skylines and Turnstiles and the haunting euphoria of Demolition Lovers. Songs that both truly encapsulate why we fell in love with the music in the first place.
HEY VIOLET // CONCERT REVIEW + GALLERY
Pop Rock band Hey Violet delivered an highly energetic and fun set at The Troubadour this past Thursday (May 30th), to an enthusiastic crowd of fans. The opener was Pop R&B newcomer Sage Charmaine whose stage presence was effervescent, her songs spunky and fun. Yet it was clear the audience was there for Hey Violet. The band having just released two new singles "Close My Eyes" and "Better By Myself". The latter which I reviewed here. The band walked out to massive cheers and a crowd that knew every single line and lyric. Lead singer Rena Lovelis voice was surprisingly sweet set against Electro rock numbers and she overcame the slight sound issues earlier in the set very well. Her crowd interaction was amazing. Rena shook hands, gave hugs, and handshakes as she sang even jumping into the crowd at one point, nearly causing some of her fans to freak out. For Hey Violet crowd interaction with fans is key. The band despite how young they are, are all pros. Rena's sister and drummer Nia Lovelis is lively on the drums and the back-beat of the band. Guitarist Casey Moreta is a jack of all trades in Hey Violet truly rounding out the band. The addition of touring live bassist Hayley Jane Batt (who had to learn 15 songs in a week) rounded out to a high energy and fun show at The Troubadour. Check out my gallery from the gig below and the full set list as well.
HEY VIOLET // The Troubadour Set list
All We Ever Wanted
Brand New Moves
Better By Myself
My Consequence
ODD
Queen of The Night
Pure
Unholy
Guys My Age
Where Have You Been (All My Night)
Close My Eyes
Viva La Vida (Coldplay cover)
Clean
Break My Heart
HEY VIOLET // Socials
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Thanks to Capitol Records for the invite out!
Don't forget to subscribe to my emails and like always for the latest and best in music, entertainment and pop culture be sure to stay tuned with The Reclusive Blogger!
Until then,
Brittney x
