My Chemical Romance was finally able to make their long awaited Reunion Tour show at Raleigh, North Carolina’s PNC Arena happen on August 26, 2022 after being delayed by Covid. Emo was in full force at the show with more than one generation of fans in attendance. Some parents had bounded with their kids over MCR’s music and how they saw them on their initial run “back in the day.” They told stories of when they were kids and when Hot Topic used to be dark and scared their own parents.

The line outside of the venue was massive as fans waited for the doors to open. A merch trailer was set-up in the parking lot so fans go get their swag and take it back to their cars. The doors opened and the masses began to slowly make their way inside. They impatiently waited for the music to “hurry up and start!” After Soul Glo and Turnstile delivered great opening sets, it was time for the band that everybody had waited to see. It was five minutes out from the start of teh show and the sound of a chopper flying overhead began to resonate through the sound system and the crowd started screaming! If they screamed that much then, it was going to be very interesting when the band would hit the stage. The house lights went completely down and the band hit the stage and ripped into their new single “The Foundations of Decay.” Lead vocalist Gerard Way’s eye was wrapped in a bloody bandage and there were some of my fellow photographers who were confused and wondering how he injured his eye. I know I found it amusing when they asked me. Ok, back to the show itself. The new single was followed by the MCR classic  “I’m Not Ok (I Promise)”  from from Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. The setlist spanned most of the band’s career minus their 2002 debut Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. On this tour, the band has been treating fans to tracks that they have never played before live. For this show, “Burn Bright” made its live debut. The band ended the show with the two song encore of “Vampire Money” and “Helena.” Overall, it was an amazing show that left just about everyone in attendance exhausted! There was dancing, jumping, screaming, singing, more screaming and more screaming! The screams were so loud at times that it was almost deafining! With the success of this tour, it will be interesting to see where the band takes that momentum once the tour is complete. 

I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price was at the show and snapped up these great shots!