My Chemical Romance & Alice Cooper – Citizen Bank Park – Philadelphia (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Review)

PopEntertainment
Aug 17
3 min read

My Chemical Romance & Alice Cooper – Citizen Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA – August 15, 2025

Rock will never die, or in this case we could say that alt rock will never die, either. This past weekend my associate and I had the pleasure of seeing New Jersey’s own My Chemical Romance and Alice Cooper perform at Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia. It’s hard to choose where to begin with these performances, so I suppose I should say that I was blown away by the sheer quality of showmanship to start. I have never been to a rock show before, but needless to say the production was nothing short of incredible. The creativity of artists never ceases to amaze and those with edgier tastes are no exception.

Alice Cooper still shines at his age, rocking as hard as he had in the 70s. It seems nothing has dulled his spirit as he put on a showstopping opening act, not only with some of his most popular songs such as “Poison” or “School’s Out,” but with a heartfelt tribute to the late Ozzy Osborn with Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid.” The amount of respect and love in the rock community was plain to see, not only on stage, but watching it. Fans embodied the spirit of embracing differences and joining together as my associate and I witnessed friendships being made and existing ones strengthened.

When taking the stage, My Chemical Romance blew us away with intricate theming for their Long Live the Black Parade tour. Set in the fictional country of Draag, a dystopian society that takes inspiration from historical dictatorships. The band portrays themselves as updated versions of the Black Parade alter egos, who have been “granted permission” to tour and spread praise of their regime. Throughout the show they are joined by several characters expertly portrayed and driving home the political commentary of the tour’s message.

Gerard Way was a powerful presence on stage, not only due to his vocals, but his acting through the theatrical elements on stage. Emotional songs such as “Cancer” and “Luminance” as well as angry, triumphant songs were incredibly moving thanks to his performance. Hearing the entirety of The Black Parade album was the greatest part of this tour in my opinion. I especially got caught up in the music during their mega-hit “Teenagers,” my all-time favorite song of the band’s. By the first note, I was jumping, dancing, and shamelessly singing/screaming every word alongside tens of thousands of other fans.

Something incredibly important to note is just how amazing the band still plays. Their abilities have not been lost to time, and I was so thankful to have gotten to see their talents live. MCR is nothing short of the voice of a generation for those who have felt outcasted or unseen. What is so rewarding to see is the way their music has spanned over the generation that grew up with their music. Walking through the venue, my heart warmed to see all ages and people coming together to enjoy this odd community. Truly a celebration of being proud to be punk in all the best ways.

There was something freeing about a show like this. I felt no fear and no hesitation to jump and dance to the music I avoided when I was younger. As an adult, it is heartwarming to see younger fans being openly proud of their favorite genre. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything and want to thank My Chemical Romance for their invitation.

Jordan Wagner