Going to the big rock show isn't something I particularly enjoy if the truth be told. Never been a big fan of arena shows, however sometimes they're unavoidable and it turns into more of an event than going to see a band play some music which often becomes the last consideration, but tonight I entered the cavernous arena with an open mind hoping to see some decent bands deliver the goods.

As the door time is 6pm by the time I usually get to the venue at least one band has already been and gone. However tonight I arrive unfashionably early and manage to catch all three bands playing. Openers LostAlone are a three piece who play for half an hour and, in all honesty, it seemed to me they played nothing special and were truly uninspiring, mixing classic rock with something the Kerrang! kids seem to be force fed these days.

Next up were homeboys The Blackout, hailing from nearby Merthyr with their dual frontmen approach and plying their brand of modern rock and managing to get half the audience to bounce and scream at every opportunity which seems to be the main consideration whilst they churn out a 'Kerrang! by numbers' set. I can't help feel it's a little contrived and all the mic twirling and bouncing on the spot can't cover up the lack of memorable songs. I will admit however that there seemed to be a fair bit of love in the house for these boys but I couldn't help but think that it's done so much better by bands like LostProphets and I get tired of being told to "bounce" and to wave my hands in the air like this or sit on the floor then jump up (something Slipknot did years ago) - if I want to be in a Snoop Doggy show then I'll go to a Snoop show, that said I guess they are doing something right because they did seem quite popular but, alas, it didn't tickle my fancy at all. 

Having been nonplussed by the support I await My Chemical Romance still with an open mind. From the opening intro of 'Look Alive' these New Jersey boys come flying out of the traps to deliver a slick and impressive show that is stripped bare of the 'Big Props' and manage to rock the house as they get down to business with the opening salvo from the latest long player, 'Na Na Na Na Na' followed by more off the new one. In most cases I'd say it's risky business playing so much off a recent album but My Chemical Romance have done this for a while and, after playing the whole of 'The Black Parade' last time out, it wasn't exactly risky business, besides most of the kids in tonight couldn't give a flying fuck, they were going to whoop and holler for every single word and note played regardless. 

One couldn't fail to be impressed with tonight's performance as a lot of thought had gone into the set list (or at least that's the impression I got) and they just got on with it without resorting to asking the audience to bounce or firing confetti cannons or using loads of props and a big lavish stage set. For pretty much 99% of the audience they might as well have just walked on stage and farted, it wouldn't have mattered but, in fairness, Gerard Way and Co. sounded on top of their game as we were treated to a large selection from the new album as well as the best chunks from the back catalogue. There were points during the set where I thought my eardrums were going to burst such was the volume of the screaming - it was quite bizarre at times, more in common with being in a Duran Duran or Take That crowd but this was a modern day rock show. Looking around the audience I noticed the wide range of people from kids (of which there were plenty) to adults in Venom shirts; My Chemical Romance seem to have crossed the divide and managed mass appeal much like Green Day which is no easy thing but it was also noticeable that these boys, unlike tonight's support, had the chops and tunes in the bag which helps when filling arenas like this. There were some real highlights during the set with songs like 'I'm Not Ok' almost bringing the house down along with newer material from 'Danger Days' like 'Bulletproof Heart' or 'Pray'. I don't know what it is about Gerard Way - he's no oil painting and has little banter between songs but he commands the stage and has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand and hanging off his every word. Tonight Cardiff is owned by Mr Way and his able band and they have delivered an impressive set. The hour and a half flew by and it was noticeable how tight the band were and the use of keyboards lifted certain songs which led me to spot some influences like The Cure on songs such as 'Summertime' or the riff heavy 'Destroya' which was spot on.

I left the CIA having seen a band on the top of their game and heard a whole bunch of decent songs, with all the hype that goes with some of the biggest bands being fully warranted in tonight's case. My Chemical Romance were worth the admission fee, no doubt about it. Never mind 'Danger Days', this was happy days!