There are certain bands and albums that have the ability to transport you back in time, and Thursday night felt like 2006 all over again, when My Chemical Romance played to a sold-out Nissan Stadium in Nashville. 

As the headliners were getting set to perform, I couldn’t help but look around the stadium in sheer amazement. If somebody had told me back in 2005 that My Chemical Romance was one day going to be headlining NFL football stadiums, I would have thought they were certifiably insane. 

I still remember the first time I heard the band, in the fall of my junior year of high school. My TV lived on Fuse – an MTV-like channel that showcased big names, as well as up-and-coming bands. One of those music videos that was on a constant rotation was “I’m Not OK (I Promise),” the first single off of My Chemical Romance’s sophomore album, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge. I was instantly hooked. Yes, the song was catchy, but the video perfectly captured the band’s personality. It was quirky, fun, and hilariously mocked the typical rom-com high school movies. 

As a choir nerd with a love for musical theater, I was instantly mesmerized. Not long after that, I got my hands on the album, and it remained in constant rotation. To this day, it remains one of my all-time favorite records. 

In the fall of 2006, I moved into my dorm for my first year of college. As I was still adjusting to college life, pop culture fell by the wayside. I recall lying down to read for one of my classes when my roommate put on the MTV Video Music Awards just for background noise. Next thing I know, I hear the presenter announce My Chemical Romance, and I instantly shot up with my eyes fixated on the TV. I’ll never forget seeing lead singer Gerard Way with his bleached blonde short hair, dressed up in a black-and-white suit, and the now-famous introduction for the band’s single “Welcome To The Black Parade.” Other than what I had seen and heard on the TV that night, I knew nothing more of the band’s project, but I was instantly hooked. 

Once the new record, The Black Parade, had a release date, my best college friend and I were already making plans on how early we could get to the record store. The day the album was released, we ditched class a little early (sorry, mom and dad) and headed to the nearest store, each buying a copy. Before we left the store parking lot, we put that CD in and began the first of many listens. We must have sat in my car for nearly three hours, listening to each track multiple times, as we were enamored with it. The rock opera was grandiose, dark, and captivating, and our ears didn’t want to stop listening. 

Fast-forward 20 years to this past Thursday night, and I couldn’t help but get a little teary-eyed. As the opening notes of The Black Parade’s first track, “The End.,” were being performed, I couldn’t help but feel pure joy. Seeing more than 60,000 fans singing along to the tracks this past Thursday brought out all the emotions, even ones I didn’t expect. As that first tune played, I leaned over to my friend and apologized because I would be singing along the entire night. 

While there was a sense of nostalgia in the songs performed, the show itself was theatrical, with a distinctly campy feel. Before the band took the stage, the actors in this show set the mood that the main characters were part of a Soviet Russia-esque country, or as Way put it, “tonight’s programming is brought to you by the Ministry of Complimentary Reconditioning.” 

Additionally, the My Chemical Romance singer dedicated the band’s performance to Grand Immortal Dictator, who watched from the soundboard in his throne. While MCR performed The Black Parade, it was hilarious to look back at the south end zone Jumbotron, as the camera was fixated on the dictator throughout the band’s entire time on stage.  

There were some other silly moments throughout the show. Midway through the performance, Way hosted a “game show” for three contestants, which ultimately ended with them meeting their demise by way of a firing squad. Without too many spoilers, The Black Parade was put to rest with an explosive ending, which had the Grand Immortal Dictator standing and saluting the performance.

My Chemical Romance wasn’t done, though. Following a 15-minute intermission, the band made its way to the B-stage in the middle of the floor crowd, where they played some tracks off their other records. The joy came from finding surprises for the audience, including tracks that weren’t featured on their albums, such as “Ambulance.” But the band did make sure to include fan favorites, including “I’m Not OK (I Promise),” before concluding the night with “Helena.” 

For longtime fans like myself, My Chemical Romance delivered the optimal performance. As the show concluded, I once again couldn’t believe that I got to witness MCR headlining a sold-out football stadium. As someone who listened to their albums alone in my car or with a handful of friends, it was nice to see that I wasn’t so alone all along, and that 60,000 individuals were on my team. It was a beautiful sight.

This review was written by contributor Zach Birdsong. Photos courtesy of Bryce Hall.