Well that didn't suck.

By the end I was two back Stage Toro. And while I've been right up front before I've never been this close at a My Chem show because it was a low stage and Gee did declare "Fuck this barricade!" (it really was a shit barricade)

They were really happy to be there. They started off with NA NA NA, then Desolation Row. They were all just on fire. The three people between me an Ray were short so I had pretty much primo hand view for each solo -- not that there was much to see that sucker has some blurry hands.

There was a triumphal return to the thing. We'd likely all been there at MSG when Gerard got all maudlin and "If we never play again..." and when he brought it up it was strangely personal for all 210 people in the room. He kept doing his bounce-on-the-audience "stage dives" and then grinning like a little kid. They all kept sorta hugging each other. It was redic. At one point, for no discernable reason, mid song, Ray trucked across the stage and snuggled each one of them. IDEK... IDEK...

The new songs all went off like wildfire. This is, I believe, the correct set list:

Look Alive Sunshine / NA NA NA NA (NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA)
I'm Not Okay
Desolation Row
Planetary (GO!)
Sing
Helena
House of Wolves
Teenagers
Kids From Yesterday

And, yes, there was copious lean-and-cry on that last one amongst my little gang. And, yes, we looked up to see Gerard watching us with his crooked little smile...

We "ONE MORE SONGed" them back and when they lit into Welcome to the Black Parade what I thought was an engaged crowd lost. their. fucking. minds.

The whole thing is a little bit of a blur, really. Very emotional. There should be a lot of video up tomorrow, I'm the one with the blue hair.

Wow, Trudy. That sounds amazing. So glad they've found the joy again.

I can't even pick favorite songs from Danger Days yet, but I will say that I found myself singing the chorus from Bulletproof Heart repeatedly yesterday.

Trudy, I'm blindingly jealous, but so glad you got to go. I can't wait to see them live.

For the Patrick Stump fans among us.

I think Danger Days is the best CD I've bought in quite a while. I've never really listened to much MCR before but I bought this on a friend's rec, and I am just thrilled to pieces with it. Excellent from beginning to end.

Have you seen the videos, Mala? There is going to be a third in the series:

First is NA NA NA [link]

Then is Sing [link]

Got into the FUSE taping today. Lots of standing in the rain, lots of hurry-up-and-wait, lots crew between us and the band BUT COMPLETELY RAD AND ENTIRELY WORTH IT.

Afterwards half a dozen of us hung out long enough to say 'hi'. Mehdi came out and said "Sorry, we have to get over to MTV, can't really stop" but Frank did anyway (as he's Frank and DOES NOT OBEY) because he brought us greenroom bagels. D'awwwww.

Have you seen the videos, Mala?

I had not, but now I'm going to watch them A LOT.

OH FRANK.

I've been earwormed with alternating "Save Yourself..." and "Destroya" for two days now. It's not a bad thing, actually.

Okay, music peeps. I have a Christmas music emergency. What are some good holiday compilations, danceable, maybe includes some country or current artists, but mostly realtor Christmas party stuff. I've pulled Manheim and Guaraldi and Setzer and a couple of things, but really, I need cheap high number of tracks albums.