Panic! At The Disco - O2 ABC Glasgow, 2/5/11

Well, having only just recovered (only exaggerating a little bit) from Monday night, it's now review time. Last time I saw Panic was 2008, and it was a very different band on stage that night - and not just physically with two new members. It was amazing to see a band come in to their own and give a fantastic show.

Opening with new single Ready To Go, the crowd immediately entered into the spirit of things, singing along and jumping around like mad. Thinking that this was already great, the atmosphere kicked up a whole new level with But It's Better If You Do. Even a technical glitch in the middle of the gig (which the band handled fantastically - something a lot of others would have found awkward) couldn't dampen the atmosphere, and led to a vocal rendition of the guitar to George Michael's Careless Whisper from the unbelievably talented Brendon Urie.

Personal highlights included Lying Is The Most Fun and Hurricane, but it was a strangely (or not so strangely) emotional Camisado that stole the show for me. With Careless Whisper, Fat Bottomed Girls and How Soon Is Now? as fabulous cover versions, this was a show to remember - and it really will be remembered as the coming of age of an incredible band.

-faithfulradiowhore

REVIEW: My Chemical Romance, Glasgow SECC, 15/2/11

The curtain was down, the lights were down... it was finally time. After two average support bands, people spotting, and an ice cream, the main event was about to begin. With Look Out Sunshine ringing out across the arena, the first notes of Na Na Na began to play over the top. With no further ado, the curtain dropped and the show was off.

Rioting through an hour and ten minute set (minus encore), the crowd were treated to new favourites and old classics. Personal highlights included Hang 'Em High, I'm Not Okay, Sing, Famous Last Words and of course Cancer, a song that had the crowd singing along - there was literally no other sound coming from them. The wonderful thing about watching MCR (and there truly are so many wonderful things) is that there's never any sense that they'd ever want to do anything else. Their stage movements are so fluid too - there's no awkward moments of vying for attention or unwittingly moving in to each other's space.

There's so much more I could say - the fact that more than once that night I heard someone nearby speaking the heartfelt words 'My Chemical Romance saved my life', the fantastic merch (I am so regretting not buying an 'Art Is The Weapon' tee along with my Better Living Industries (BL/ind) one), or that the crowd were screaming every time a picture of the band flashed up on the screen while we were waiting - but I'll leave you with this: every moment of that gig was a simple reminder of why I adore music. That's how you know a band are truly loved.

-faithfulradiowhore

My Twitter updates for the night:

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My Chemical Romance - I'm Not Okay

My Chemical Romance gig tonight, and in honour of that, the song of the day has to be I'm Not Okay. What caught my attention for this song first of all was the video - I've never seen anything quite like it, and that appealed to me. It feels like forever ago watching the video back, but it was the start of a life long love affair with the band. I'm Not Okay is a riotous anthem for the outcasts, so say what you want, wear what you want, and be whoever the hell you want. You're not alone.

-faithfulradiowhore