Onstage, they’re using the same ‘charred cityscape’ backdrop they have been all year. More attention-grabbing is Gerard Way’s ensemble. Adding to the cast of characters we’ve seen the frontman inhabit recently, he comes on with face wrapped in a floral headscarf and massive sunglasses, eventually shedding an overcoat to show that he’s wearing a dress and high heels, too. It’s a compelling show of contrarian anti-rock star eccentricity.
And what a show it is, bolstered by a setlist of bulletproof, set-piece bangers. The Ghost Of You still aches with tragedy and doomed romance. Thank You For The Venom ignites with pit-stoking fire. A mid-set salvo of Helena, Teenagers and This Is How I Disappear showcases the melodrama, mischief and mayhem that have always been at the heart of MCR. Dropping Welcome To The Black Parade, Famous Last Words and I’m Not Okay (I Promise) side by side late on underlines their qualifications as bona fide 21st century rock heavyweight headliners.