▣Chase Field | Phoenix, Arizona  ▣Saturday, September 6th 2026
▣Journalist: Orion Knight

There are concerts you go to because you like the band, and then there are concerts where you realize you’ve been waiting most of your life to be in that room. My Chemical Romance at Chase Field in Phoenix was the latter.

Before The Black Parade marched into Phoenix, hometown heroes Jimmy Eat World had the enormous task of opening the night. I had never seen them live before either, and they were incredible.

The moment the opening guitar riff of “The Middle” rang through Chase Field, the entire stadium erupted. Chills immediately ran through my body hearing that many people cheering and singing the lyrics at the same time. Jim Adkins’ voice sounded exactly like the records I grew up listening to. If I had never heard their music before, I would’ve assumed I was watching a band in its prime rather than one that’s been doing this for more than 30 years.

Then it was finally time for My Chemical Romance.

I’ve been waiting 20 years to say that.

I vividly remember being 14 years old and begging my mom to take me to Best Buy in 2006 so I could buy The Black Parade. We listened to that album in its entirety for what felt like a year straight. I think it’s incredibly rare for an album to earn the title of a true “no skip” album, but The Black Parade has always been my number one choice.

Now, at 34 years old, I was standing inside Chase Field about to hear it live for the first time.
MCR opened with “The End.” before launching into “Dead!” and “This Is How I Disappear.” Initially, I was surprised they didn’t open with “Welcome to the Black Parade,” but it quickly made sense. They weren’t simply playing the hits. They were taking us through the album in order, the same way so many of us had experienced it for the last 20 years.

When that unmistakable opening piano note of “Welcome to the Black Parade” finally arrived, I turned around to look at the crowd.

That’s when it hit me.

Thousands of people filled Chase Field, screaming every word back at the band. I actually teared up a little because, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was 14 again. I was that emo kid dressed entirely in black, listening to my favorite band without a care in the world.

Looking around only added to that feeling. Fans wore Black Parade uniforms while others dressed as Gerard Way from the “Helena” music video. There was such an overwhelming sense of belonging in that stadium. These were my people. I found myself headbanging and screaming every lyric with everyone around me until the very end.

Phoenix also became an especially meaningful night for the band.

Just one day earlier, on September 5, MCR’s friend Andy “The Butcher” Williams had passed away. During the Phoenix show, the band dedicated “Boy Division” to Williams, with his wife and daughter in attendance. Knowing how fresh that loss was made the moment especially heavy. This wasn’t simply another song on the setlist. It was for their friend.

Then Phoenix got something no MCR audience had ever experienced before.

The band performed “The Light Behind Your Eyes” live for the first time ever.

For a band with a history spanning more than two decades, witnessing the live debut of a song is already special. For it to happen the same night I finally got to see them after 20 years of being a fan made the experience feel almost unreal.

Concert reviews are supposed to maintain some level of objectivity, but I’m not sure that’s possible with a show like this. Music attaches itself to our memories, and The Black Parade is permanently attached to mine.

Twenty years ago, I was a 14-year-old emo kid begging my mom to drive me to Best Buy for an album.

On September 6, I stood inside Chase Field watching the band that made it perform that album from beginning to end.

My Chemical Romance gave me everything I had waited 20 years for and somehow still managed to give me more.

Check out the photos provided by MCR’s Team now!

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

Check out their websites for more info –

Jimmy Eat World

My Chemical Romance