My Chemical Romance is scheduled to perform at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA on September 9, 2023 as part of their highly anticipated reunion tour. As one of the most popular rock bands of the 2000s, My Chemical Romance has generated huge excitement among fans since announcing their reunion in 2019. Their upcoming Philadelphia show is sure to attract thousands of passionate “Killjoys” eager to see MCR live again.
With massive concerts like this, fans are often curious who will have the honor of opening for the headliner. Opening acts provide newcomers incredible exposure playing for a captive crowd, while helping to excite the audience and set the tone for the main event. For their Philadelphia date, My Chemical Romance has selected two rock bands with their own cult followings as supporting acts.
Thursday
The first band opening for My Chemical Romance in Philadelphia will be Thursday. Formed in 1997 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Thursday became pioneers in the emo/post-hardcore music scene of the early 2000s. They are best known for hits like “Understanding in a Car Crash” and “War All The Time” off albums like Full Collapse and War All The Time. Thursday built a passionate fanbase during their heyday, drawing comparisons to bands like The Cure and Joy Division with their angst-fueled lyrics and intense live performances. However, Thursday disbanded in 2011 after 13 years as a band.
That changed in 2016 when Thursday announced they were reuniting, to the delight of their nostalgic elder millennial fans. The band has since toured periodically, often sharing bills with bands they came up alongside during the 2000s. Thursday continues evolving their sound on comebacks like their 2020 album Kill to Love You. Their deep discography gives them plenty of beloved throwbacks to incorporate into their supporting set at the Philadelphia My Chemical Romance concert.
Turnstile
Joining Thursday will be Turnstile, a hardcore punk band based in Baltimore, Maryland. Formed in 2010, Turnstile built a reputation in the hardcore scene for their energetic, mosh-friendly live shows. Their 2018 album Time & Space broke through to wider acclaim, landing on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart. The band continued gaining mainstream momentum with their latest album Glow On, released in 2021. It debuted even higher at #30 on the Billboard 200, supported by singles “Holiday” and “Blackout.”
My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way has directly cited Turnstile as an influence on the band’s current sound. The heavy, high-octane songs of Turnstile will help ignite the passion and release the pent-up excitement of My Chemical Romance fans. Their progressively punk leanings make Turnstile the perfect choice to open the show in Philadelphia. Expect crowd surfing, thrashing mosh pits, and walls of death when Turnstile takes the Wells Fargo Center stage.
Why These Openers?
The pairing of Thursday and Turnstile as opening acts indicates My Chemical Romance is eager to capture the spirit of multiple eras. Thursday rose up alongside My Chemical Romance in the 2000s emo explosion. Their reunion represents nostalgia for “guyliner” rock and the heyday of Hot Topic. Meanwhile, Turnstile grabs the current punk zeitgeist by the throat with their cathartic, high energy shows. Together, these two acts summon the past and future of intense, emotional rock music.
My Chemical Romance is celebrating their storied history on this reunion tour, while also progressing forward musically. By selecting Thursday and Turnstile, two bands also known for blistering live sets, My Chemical Romance is signaling they intend to bring Philadelphia an epic night of unforgettable performances.
Set Times
Doors are scheduled to open at 6:30 PM for the Philadelphia show on September 9, 2023. Turnstile will take the stage first around 7:00 PM. As the opener, expect them to play roughly 30 to 40 minutes. Next up will be Thursday performing a set approximately an hour in length. My Chemical Romance will headline the night, coming on around 9:00 PM for a full 90+ minute reunion extravaganza. These are estimated set times, subject to changes in the actual schedule.
What to Expect from Each Act
If you are attending the Philadelphia show, here is a better idea of what each band will bring to the table based on recent sets:
Turnstile
Turnstile are sure to open their set with high octane new songs like “Holiday” and “Mystery” off Glow On. Other recent tracks like “I Don’t Wanna Be Blind” and “T.L.C.” are also likely. Since they are opening, expect Turnstile to lean on their thrashing punk bangers to get the crowd energized quickly. They should also mix in a few slower cuts like “Drop” and the anthem “Real Thing” to give fans a chance breathe.
Thursday
Given their catalogue spans over 20 years, Thursday has a deep well of material to draw from. They will almost certainly play favorites like “Understanding in a Car Crash” and “Cross Out the Eyes” for the nostalgic MCR faithful. Look for at least a few throwbacks off albums like Waiting and War All the Time. But Thursday will also want to showcase their continued evolution and power on new songs like “Turning Sheep Into Goats.” Their setlist should thus feature a career spanning mix of old and new.
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance’s setlist on their reunion tour has drawn heavily from hit albums Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and The Black Parade. Singles like “Helena,” “Welcome to the Black Parade,” and “Famous Last Words” are concert staples. Deeper cuts like “Kill All Your Friends” and “Demolition Lovers” should also make appearances. As this tour is promoting My Chem’s comeback album Danger Days, expect a larger share of tracks from that record compared to past tours. However, the band knows the classics are what fans are dying to hear again live. Look for at least 60-70% of their set to be vintage MCR.
Don’t Miss the Show!
With three outstanding acts set to perform, the My Chemical Romance reunion show in Philadelphia is destined to be an incredible night for punk and emo fans. Hearing MCR classics like “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” live again is worth the price of admission alone. But getting to experience the raw energy of Turnstile combined with Thursday’s trip down memory lane will make this a can’t-miss concert. If you have the opportunity, snag tickets to the Philadelphia date now before they sell out!