My Chemical Romance Bring "The Black Parade" to Shaky Knees 2025

There’s something special about seeing a band live when you know you’re their final stop. My Chemical Romance turned Piedmont Park into a theatrical storm. They came out in full costume, characters in a grand rock opera.

They played the entire Black Parade album to start the show with the cornerstone being “Welcome to the Black Parade.” The crowd erupted at every familiar line. When “Mama” hit, the stage was bathed in deep crimson. Flames shot up. Sylvia (Charlotte Kelso) sang the mother’s part with a haunting presence. Everything was happening as if we were in some gothic cathedral, built from amps and pyros. 

MCR stayed in character the whole evening. Between songs, the stage design, the out-of-this-world pyrotechnics, and Gerald’s theatrics it all served a higher purpose; to elevate the music. When “Disenchanted” played, thousands of voices rolled back at them. “Cancer” brought tears to many fans around me. And when they finally closed their nearly two hour long set with “Helena,” the crowd screamed in return.

My favorite part is the community the MCR has. It’s awesome seeing older emo fans mix with the younger generations. Everyone was in it together, and they needed to be. You can’t stand at the barrier all day with how hot it was without taking care of each other, sharing snacks and water. 

Walking away from the stage, ears ringing, still singing Helena, it was a successful closure to day two of Shaky Knees. My Chemical Romance left me eager for the third and final day.

Review by: David Saxum; Photo by: Roger Ho/Shaky Knees Festival

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