Consistently, predictably, dependably, unwaveringly ERRATIC

... the band is over.

Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We've gotten to go places we never knew we would. We've been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.

My Chemical Romance

The fucking fuck? What? New album? All their plans? What? What the hell?

I don't even know what I'm feeling right now except for utter confusion. Where the hell did this come from?


 

I'm still exhausted but, thanks to hot showers and judicious use of the heatpack, not too sore now.

That was a pretty amazing night. I'm just going to babble, okay?

The setlist was the same as for the Brisbane sideshow - 21 songs! The only ones I'm a little fuzzy in recollecting are Our Lady of Sorrows and Give 'Em Hell, Kid and since I get some of the earlier songs mixed up, I'm not surprised. Don't ask me what happened when because I was too busy trying watch and listen and dance and not fall over to remember things that clearly.

Gerard - sexiest dork! He was prancing around the stage, blowing kisses, licking his hand, doing 'parade steps' during WWTBP and I swear he was skipping at one point. They released giant balloons during Planetary (Go!) and Gerard popped several, getting glitter all over himself. He was down on his knees and singing more than once. But during Cancer, a vague thought I had at the BDO reoccurred much more forcibly. Gerard was up on the dark stage, all in black, spotlit from behind, arms extended, head up, glowing - and I'm thinking, 'Someone's written an AU with Gerard the revivalist preacher, right? Possibly of his own religion. Seriously, someone's written this, right?!'

Ray - I couldn't see much of Ray this time, which was a shame. I did get a partial view of his solo as he was arching back very nicely - and I'm thinking 'I WANT AN UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW, PLEASE. Damn.' Apparently he came out for the encore smoking a cigarette? I missed that.

Mikey - still too cool for school, Rockstar Bassist, even without the sunglasses. He was leaning back so far he seemed to be horizontal at times. All angles and lines, long, loooong lines of Mikeyway. Nghh.

Frank - I couldn't see as much of Frank this time, either, but he did seem to be moving around more. He was wearing the cardigan but maybe only one layer underneath? He took the cardigan off as he left the stage, revealing a long-sleeved red and white t-shirt, then used the cardigan to mop the sweat off his face. Oh, Frank. Also, I've always been surprised at the number of Orgasm Face photos of Frank out there. Um, yeah, I'm not surprised any more. Jesus, Frank.

I didn't see the brother hug between the Ways but I did see Mikey grin at Gerard. Full out grin and it was gorgeous! Also, Frank, Mikey and Gerard having a little huddle before one of the early songs. At one point Gerard had the crowd shout 'Hi, Charlotte!' to someone who was ill and couldn't make it to the show. He also went off on a tangent about the deliciousness of orange juice and how he was just going to drink it straight from the jug but he thought he should show a bit of class and drink it from a cup. There was also something about the jug guy who kept the cups filled but I had people screaming in my ear so I got a bit confused. Then Gerard's saying, 'Now you know all our secrets.' I mentioned sexiest dork, right?

The crowd was pretty intense, more so than the BDO, I would guess for several reasons. At the BDO:
1) A lot of people had already seen other bands and were hot and tired already.
2) It was hot and humid to start with.
3) The crowd wasn't composed entirely of die-hard fans.
4) The stage was higher so people weren't quite as crazed about getting to the front.

I was about ten rows back, almost centre, to start with but during the first half of the show I was getting shoved around between 10-20 rows back. A lot of people were getting out, on their own or being lifted out. Gerard reminded everyone after the first and second songs to pick people up if they fell down and take care of each other and would we promise to do that? Everyone yelled yes, of course, and mostly people seemed to be good about that. I might have tried to get out, except that I wanted to see the band not just hear them and being short, I had to be near the front for that. But I was within a few metres of the stage by the encore and I'm glad I wasn't any closer! People were still being really pushed around at the barrier. Ow. I nearly fell more than once and it was hard to concentrate on the music at times but it was still an experience! I was completely soaked in sweat when it was over, long braid and all.

I met up with Pip (we got separated in the pit) and to her, it hadn't been that intense. She actually left the pit during the slower songs because 'they weren't as much fun to dance to' but she is considerably taller, stronger and fitter than I am! And her idea of 'too much' is the kind of pit her husband enjoys - last show he was at, he emerged minus his shirt, jeans half-shredded, bruises everywhere, saying, 'that was awesome!' ... no, thank you. No.

We had avoided the parking station and instead walked back across the park across from the equestrian centre to a side street. It was lovely and cool and quiet and when we got to the car, I stripped off my wringing wet shirt and put on my new merch shirt (which was also soaked by the time we got home.)

The only real suck of the night? Was losing one of my merch shirts in the pit. At the BDO, I saw a black tshirt with the Wanted pictures of the Killjoys but they were sold out of my size, so I was hoping they'd have it at the sideshow. They did and I bought it along with a grey My Chem shirt before the show and tied them to the straps of my little bag. By the time the lights came up, the black shirt was long gone and the stand was sold out (hence why I had bought it beforehand.) *sigh* Someone bagged a free shirt and I'm out of pocket for the shirt I really wanted. Oh well.

It's all done! No more shows for me. *sadface* If I had the money, I would so follow them to Adelaide. I am so glad I got to see them.

 

Less than 48 hours until MCR perform at the BDO!

I'm letting myself get excited now. I've been trying not to think too much about it because, honestly, I've been feeling so sick this month, I've been afraid I wouldn't make it to either show. Last week I was thinking I might make it to the sideshow but the BDO was out. Then I was thinking that I might make the BDO provided it wasn't too hot (well, no. It's going to be 25C and raining. Mud ahoy!)

Now? I think I'm going to make it to both! Taking the train to Olympic Park, hopefully meeting some fellow fangirls, watching just the MCR set, then going directly home. Rest, sleep, rest, go with Pip to the sideshow. It's looking hopeful!

Watching The Kids From Yesterday vid made me want to see them all the more. (I teared up watching this which left me going ... wtf self?)

 

And I rather love rosalui's original vid with the voiceovers, too.

 

I'm going to get to see these guys live.

*g* That's fucking awesome.