Nashville, TN | August 13th, 2026

Written by Talia Sigurdson, Photos by Bryce Hall

Welcome back to The Black Parade!

Any Millennials or Gen-Zers who had a Tumblr account know who My Chemical Romance is. This New Jersey band made waves in the early 2000s alternative scene, especially with the release of their second album, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, with smash hits “Helena” and “I’m Not Okay (I Promise).” But it was their 2006 album, The Black Parade, that brought them into the mainstream music world, going on to become RIAA 4x Certified Platinum and selling four million copies worldwide. Despite their impressive success, they decided to take a break from the band to pursue other projects in 2013, but began touring again in 2019 with fans emphatically welcoming them back.

I began listening to My Chemical Romance in 2015. That year and those that followed became known in the Internet subculture as the Yeemo era, when many then-tweens born in the early 2000s became familiar with bands such as Panic! At the Disco, Fall Out Boy, and My Chemical Romance. This alternative renaissance completely shaped my music tastes, and an entire generation seemed to discover the genre at once. Despite being a fan for over 10 years, I only saw them for the first time last year, on the first leg of their North American Long Live The Black Parade tour, and I just needed to go again.

On Thursday, Nashville, home of everything country music, was swarmed by black-clad emos, aesthetics going strong despite the 109-degree heat index, who were ready for the night ahead. This show was the dream of every alternative music listener: a My Chemical Romance headlining show with Pierce the Veil preceding them. As a casual listener of their music, I was astounded by how great they performed live. Their music is intense, energetic, and wild, and a live show only heightened the auditory experience. Performing their hits “Hell Above,” “Play Video,” and “Bulls in the Bronx,” Pierce the Veil seemed to have the audience just as excited for them as they were for My Chemical Romance.

Now, for audiences who decided to go to this show with no previous knowledge of what this tour is about, they may come out of this a bit confused. Between sets, the screens displayed rules for the audience, including Rule 47 “As per usual, panic will be assigned” and Rule 42 “ If you have recently cancelled an appointment, you may receive one (1) credit of convenience.” The Black Parade 2026 tour tells a narrative of a band called The Black Parade, as they perform for the Grand Immortal Dictator in the country of Draag, each date adding more details to the story and the world where they are being reprogrammed and reconditioned into submission. Now the lack of understanding of the lore does not take away from the overall show, but when there are public executions, suicide bombers, and stabbings on stage, it’s normal to be perplexed.

But that’s what many fans love about this band: their creativity and theatricality. This story has spanned 20 years, and instead of simply playing a show they’ve already done, they have found a way to reinvent it completely, allowing fans to theorize and look forward to the next show where the story continues. The band has inspired many fans to show off their own creativity and theatricality through their outfits. Dressed in funeral wear from the “Helena” music video, blood-stained dresses, and parade costumes, these fans have taken the world of My Chemical Romance and made it their own.

The setlist had something for everyone. They kicked off the show playing The Black Parade front to back, where all their theatrics play out, then move on to the B stage for a more relaxed set. Losing their parade getup, makeup, and personas, they come out as themselves to play a variety of songs from their other albums. The Nashville show was especially great, leading off the B stage with “Thank You for the Venom”, heavily showing that Ray Toro is one of the best guitarists in music, and moving to deep cuts “Our Lady of Sorrows” and “Vampires Will Never Hurt You” from their first album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.

There is something truly spectacular about My Chemical Romance shows. Whether that be because of the music, production, or the feeling of community that has spanned the past 20+ years, perhaps all three. If you’re a casual listener, a die-hard fan, or have truly no idea who these guys are, everyone should experience hearing the first note of “Welcome to the Black Parade” live. The Black Parade 2026 tour continues its North American leg before hopping over to Asia, where it all ends in Indonesia at the end of November. Find where you can experience Draag here!