Setting the Stage: Emo is alive and well in 2019. If you dont believe it, you should have seen My Chemical Romance reunite on Friday night for their first show in seven years. The legendary emo rock band ended the decade with a literal bang, a one-night only gig at Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium, where the scene smelled just like high school except this time around, no one was under 21.

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When famed leading man Gerard Way now 42 years young asked the crowd who was seeing MCR for the first time, the majority proudly raised their hands. Hard to believe these same fans who were scream-singing the lyrics to every single song for nearly two hours had never been fortunate enough to see them in its heyday. Perhaps thats why the show sold out as fast as it did.

And perhaps thats why there was a backup line of more than 100 people outside will call, hoping someone didnt show up to pick up their ticket ,so theyd have the chance to check off their bucket list. Suffice to say, some of these kids were either too young to see MCR in the mid-2000s, or (and this is more likely a scenario) the bands library of hits have never lost its popularity with elder fans.

(Read: `10 Emo Albums Every Music Fan Should Own)

Taking The Stage:Many tears have been shed in the lead-up to the show of the year, either by fans who managed to grab tickets to the sold-out show, or by those who were left in the dust (or around the corner). Needless to say, those tears didnt stop for those who managed to squeeze into the Shrine, particularly when the band hit the stage at 9:45 pm with one of their best-known tracks Im Not Ok, (I Promise). The screams were deafening.

Clearly appreciative, Way thanked everyone several times, at one point, saying, [We were] not sure this was ever going to happen, so thanks for showing up. What then followed was a 20-song compilation of the bands catalogue, which included a live debut of Make Room!!! and not one, but two encores. It was admittedly bare bones, too, eschewing any fancy set pieces or projections for raw energy. Though, at one point, Youth Codes Sara Taylor joined the band on vocals forYou Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison.

After exiting the stage, fans chanted M-C-R with enough conviction and enough times to lure the band back out for their first encore, which included both Vampire Money and mega-hit Helena. Way relished the final moments, teasing, This was a magical night, were having so much fun, before bouncing back to the stage for a final encore, soundtracked by those infamous singular piano notes within Welcome to The Black Parade.

Leaving the Black Parade: As the band tweeted the day before the show, In 2017, we got in a room together to see what would happen. A couple more jam sessions and 39 days of rehearsals later, were ready to show you what weve learned. See you soon. Considering the reception at the Shrine, their renewed skills were more than well received, which now begs the question, What next?

Sadly, the band didnt let on to any of the rumors following the Fender Tweet scandal, which caused fans to spin into an emo-laden frenzy at the hopes of a tour. Seeing how there are already further dates scheduled in 2020 in Japan, Australia, and a one-off with Jimmy Eat World in New Zealand one has to assume a proper jaunt is not too far off from being officially announced.

One can only hope.

Setlist:Im Not Okay (I Promise)Thank You For The VenomGive Em Hell, KidHouse Of WolvesSummertimeYou Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison with Sara Taylor of Youth CodeMake Room!!!!Our Lady of SorrowsNa Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)SleepMamaI Dont Love YouDESTROYATeenagersS/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/WFamous Last WordsThe Kids From Yesterday

Encore:Vampire MoneyHelenaWelcome To The Black Parade

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Live Review: My Chemical Romance Reunite to Fans Both New and Old at Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium - Consequence of Sound