If you’ve ever considered yourself a My Chemical Romance fan then Gerard’s solo stuff will certainly not disappoint you. You’ll also be pleased to hear that he’s still one of the best guys in music too.
One of the main things I remembered from my first MCR live experience in 2007 was the intensity of the night. It was as if it bounced between the band and crowd all evening. Gerard’s first ever solo London show was no different. His adoring fans still there, still as intense as they were 7 years ago and still screaming along to every lyric like they’d been listening to the album on repeat for years.
It’s always a bit awkward when one of your favourite bands breaks up and one of them goes solo afterwards. You’re almost forced to be curious about it and nervous that if it sucks you’ll start listening to them less. Never fear, for Gerard this is not the case. The songs are oozing with the same passion and intensity that My Chemical Romance are known for. The lyrics are just as strong and meaningful and the performance of them still so powerful with G’s unique stage presence still in fine form. Gerard has come up with his own twist to the music his fans already loved from the MCR era and highlighted it in songs like ‘No Shows’, 'Get The Gang Together’ and 'Drugstore Perfume’. 'Action Cat’ and 'Millions’ were also incredibly well received by the sold out Koko.
Gerard doesn’t do a great amount of talking onstage but when he does it’s always an important or personal opinion in between having an abundance of socks (new ones) thrown at him. On Monday night he touched on transgender issues, female empowerment, being non judgmental towards people’s appearance and that it’s okay if you’re a barista who loves or hates your job. He lets everyone know that it’s okay to be whoever they want to be and for this reason he’s still one of the most important role models for a lot of fans.
Some of his best quotes from the night:
'Young women, you’re going to be in charge and everyone’s terrified and I love it’
'If you’re transgender, or friends with someone who is and you treat them well, I love you’
'It’s really fucking easy to not comment on someone else’s body…but I like your face’
'Baristas are some of my favourite motherfuckers’
Another 'oh-my-god-he’s-so-lovely-moment’ was when he recognised some fans in the audience who attended the first ever MCR UK show many years ago and said 'I’ve watched you guys grow up and you’ve watched me get old, thank you so much for coming’. I’m fairly sure everyone in the room waited for them to pass out from the acknowledgement from their hero.
Towards the end of the show he spoke about his touring plans for next year and mentioned he hoped to be back in the studio recording again by next September and after a humble encore his solo debut in London had come to an end.
It’s become a known fact by fans that Gerard will do signings after shows if he can and on Monday night a few hundred fans lined up outside the venue after the show in the hopes it would be one of those lucky nights. By midnight at least 300 fans who persisted in the cold got to meet Gerard who signed and spoke to every single one of them. They would go into the signing giddy with excitement and nerves and walk out crying or screaming from happiness. Seeing the effect one person has on these kids is brilliant. Kudos to you Gerard.
-Renae B
Gerard Way’s debut solo record Hesitant Alien is out now and available where all good records are sold | streamed.
