Gerard Way Supported By Darlia Manchester Ritz 5.11.2014

Gerard Way Supported By Darlia

    Manchester Ritz  5.11.2014

 

(This is a double blog in 3 parts )

 

Part One

 

Today is a special show for any fans of the U.S. band 'My Chemical Romance',earlier this year 'Gerard Way' singer with the band that split 2 years ago released his first solo project album 'Hesitant Alien',singles from it were heavily played on MTV Rocks channel.

 

In October he announced a tour by releasing a handful of dates to promote his new album at small venues across the Cities of the U.K.,so I was first in the queue for a ticket to this one.

 

I was in actual reality No24 in the queue this morning and not early for the other 18 people ahead had queued since 4AM!!,by 8am there was indeed a Huge queue of shall we say 'TheEmoMassive',I actually seen 2 girls I knew from 'Smashing Pumpkins' Tours,I nearly always bump into someone I know .

 

It's all mainly girls at the front down all with hoodies and different coloured hair "ah I feel at home in a rock crowd",everyone is excited and planning where we will stand when we get inside the venue.

 

7pm came and the doors opened I'm not freezing cold as all afternoon it's been unsually sunny for Bonfire Night,supporting tonight are another band I've been meaning to review 'Darlia' a new breed of indie rock band up there with 'Royal Blood' in best bands of 2014 in my opinion,'Darlia' had played a lot of festivals this year 2 of which I went to but due schedule clashes could not see them.

 

Hailing from 'Blackpool' they have been causing a scene with their small gritty shows I attended a small show in Bar Venue in Manchester and was annoyed by the crazy 14+ crowd that it was impossible to watch and listen to the band with crushing and crowd surfing I ended up hanging on to the amps quite annoyed and no review happened .

 

Tonight they are supporting 'Gerard Way' on his U.K. Tour ,so quite a big night for them tonight and an important crowd to crack, the band are promoting their new single 'Our Stars Are Aligned'  which sounds to me like an updated version of U2's 'Hold Me, Thrill Me ,Kiss Me , Kill Me' which is an awesome track so that's a compliment.

 

They settle on stage with singer 'Nathan' directly in front of me on the left,he's wearing those check grey trousers, Black long Sleeved top and trade mark Black Hat,his white blonde locks look darker under the lights,as he quietly utters "Hello Manchester we are 'Darlia' Thanks for coming early to watch us",they begin with 'Nepalm' and promptly go through a good set for a band that have yet to release their debut album.

 

 'Nathan' abruptly whisks himself across the stage with guitar in hand across to the bass player in true rock cliché,the crowd like them but I am loving them I'm finally getting the true 'Darlia' experience and I have to say I like it, 'Candyman' was a great song with an energetic performance and I can see their energy on stage from the vocalist to the drummer they are really on fire tonight,it was at that point 'Our Stars Are Aligned' was played the crowd were getting into it and  followed it with the rough jagged edge guitars of 'Choke On Bones',I was yelling out for my fav 'Dear Diary' which they played to my delight I could see from that song much of the crowd had been awakened as they began waving arms and involving themselves,the band ended with 'Queen Of Hearts' and took the well deserved applause I am fully supportive what 'Darlia' are all about ,Good Show Guys!!

 

Part 2

9.15pm lights go down and red lighting and smoke transform the small Ritz stage,'Gerard's band walk onto the stage to the hysteria of the crowd they are all wearing white shirts and ties,they take to their instruments and the man himself  and icon to millions of schoolgirls and boys across the world walks on stage to kick of with 'The Bureau' and first single 'Action Cat' he's slight in height and dressed in Blue Suit (lookers darker under the lights) with peach pink shirt and Red & White striped tie, with trademark Ginger Cat hair,he looks Amazing !! 

 

He speaks to the crowd  "Have you missed me, I've Missed you" the crowd are in rapture,I can feel it and the floor is bouncing to 'Zero Zero' one of my favs, 'Gerard' come's over to the edge of the stage to give Eye contact when he's singing,this album is very much influenced by 2 of his heroes the first being 'David Bowie' and the latter being less well known to the youth of today 'Gaz Coombes' from Supergrass his vocals along with the clanging piano gives a nod to early Britpop it seems he is a fan of it . 

 

 

He speaks about problems growing up in society and says "Its not been an easy few years,I know so from now on  I don't want to hear any talk of anyones body image, or if they look nice we should love each other Right!!",I was moved by that he knew about fans being bullied at school or in society for how they looked what music they listened what gender bullied for being different for being 'EMO' theres that word again meaning 'Emotional Rock' he understood the people and the kids.

 

 

I can honestly say everyone I met today of different colours of hair,hairstyles and what they were wearing and age or whatever ,were lovely kids lovely people and what I could see from certain people passing judgement by the stares we all got waiting around were very misunderstood  it made me think if I had Blue hair Pink hair would people treat me different and I think they would and the judging has got to stop Music fans ,there I said my bit !!

 

Part 3

 

 

Thankfully tonight is a crowd surfer free zone and I had envisioned being squashed to death but I was quite comfy all night and had a great view of the stage,then we come to the part in show where 'Gerard' picks a person out of the crowd to join him onstage he looks out to the sea of faces and he says "Would anyone like to come up and play tambourine with me"que screams and excitement, he picks out one girl and she rather nervously clambers on the stage laughing and smiling as 'Gerard' put her at ease handing her the tambourine he asks her name she say Roisin (pronounced Rosheen I think) everyone cheers her on not sure which song it was but she did a good job anyway,then he started 'No Shows' which is my fav track and the floor is bouncing like mad with everyone going nuts . 

 

Then it was on with the show and nearly encore time,and the band go off stage  everyone chants 'Gerard Way,Gerard Way' the sound is wonderfully deafening everyone starts foot stamping and he takes to the stage again apparently this next one is a Japanese only release called 'Television All The Time' a slowed down track and ends with 'Maya the Physhic',he thanks us wave's bows and goes off stage the crew remove all the equipement, and  we are all still standing when the last setlist is handed out what is going on? this is strange my accompanier (a girl who travelled from Dublin just to see him major kudos you deserve a mention) tell's me that he just tweeted to say he cant sign outside the barriers on the street so what does it mean I wonder ? I'm pulling out my CD booklet and marker not really believing we are all not moving and still waiting for something but weirdly not being kicked out of the venue as every show,even though most of the crowd behind us have gone, still.. something is about to happen and then it does 20 minutes later,a small figure in khaki green jacket,and stripy top with Ginger hair walks over to us I cant believe it ,it's him it's 'Gerard Way'!!!

 

He walks over the awaiting fans and me and says 'Hi I'm going to sign everybodys stuff so it's Ok' one guy got his 'Hesitant Alien' replica jacket signed by his idol and he then came up to me and I handed him my booklet poster and asked if  he could sign it to me and he even asked me how to spell my name, wow, I said "Its really Nice to meet you,I love your music and the new album" he replies "Nice to meet you too thank you" (he's really polite and his elfin enigmatic looks have never changed since he was in the band) I tell him "I'm glad I seen the show I missed going to see you supporting Muse in 2007" he said "Ah I remember That was Wembley ?" I was stunned he'd supported them with 'My Chemical Romance' at the time of the highly successful 'Black Parade' album we cant have any pics as theres no time I totally understand it's amazing of him to do this no one else has and they should take time to meet fans, but he gladly chats with us and signs everyones stuff, and I notice it almost time to get to the train station 'I say " Thanks, see you again soon" and he's still working through the fans what a guy !! I'll never forget meeting the enigmatic 'Mr Gerard Way' Thank you. 

 

Til next time

 

 

Lmi  x