When real things happen to imaginary people

MCR posted a teaser video on their website. The opening notes of "Welcome to the Black Parade" play, while a white flag with a stylized black "X" flutters. The video ends with "9/23/2016".

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

My suspicion is that Warner Brothers is going to release a special 10th anniversary edition of The Black Parade. (Because GOOD GRIEF it really has been 10 years since that album was released.) My geebly fangirl hope is that the band is going to reunite for a tour. I really doubt that's what's going to happen, BUT A WEARY FANGIRL CAN HOPE, DAMMIT.

Yes, I saw the news about MCR.

Friday March 22, 2013 | Posted by: MCR

Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We've gotten to go places we never knew we would. We've been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure.
My Chemical Romance
http://www.mychemicalromance.com/news/

I admit it, I feel kind of numb.

MCR released The Black Parade six years ago today. It doesn't seem like it was six years ago, not even a little bit.

I realized they're now the band I've seen the most in concert, which is a little crazy when I also realize I didn't start going to their shows until The Black Parade era. (Yeah, I couldn't bring myself to go to Warped, even tho' I thought they were adorable and I really liked Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge.) Since December 2006 I've seen them on the KNDD holiday show, the Black Parade tour, twice on the "Black Parade is DEAD" tour (also known as the "NAP, MOTHERFUCKERS" tour), and twice on the World Contamination tour. The only band I've seen close to that many times is The Cure; yes, angsty boys in eyeliner playing guitar is a thing for me.

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Steamcon! This weekend! Today is my last day in the office until Tuesday of next week. This year's theme for Steamcon is Victorian Monsters, so I expect to have a lot of fun. It's also the first Steamcon I will actually be Wearing A Costume for, instead of just slightly fancier JilliWear. No, I'm not going to tell you what the costume is, but I will post photos on Saturday night.

But first, more dayjob stuff, and Goth Upkeep tonight.

Wheeee, second MCR show! I didn't have anywhere as clear of a view of the stage (Showbox SoDo is notorious for this), but the energy was just as high, and the sound quality was slightly better.

Helena was wrenching. Cancer hit me even harder than it did on Friday night. But the final song of the night? VAMPIRES WILL NEVER HURT YOU. So I have now seen them perform it twice, and am incredibly happy about it.

Two pictures:


The Stroppy One very kindly wrote this on my arm for me, before I left the house.


What I wore, including my new leather motorcycle jacket, which I found at Buffalo Exchange today, for $15. Mmmm, Deathrock Victorian, let me do more with it.

Many, many thanks to cass404, minim_calibre, and the Infamous BlueJay, for being my concert-going companions. And extra-special thanks to the Infamous BlueJay for deciding I needed an Apocalypse Mouse shirt from the tour.

Tomorrow, if all goes well, a new GCS lesson will be posted.

Whoo, tonight is the Portland MCR concert! To say that I am looking forward to this show would be putting it rather mildly. And then on Sunday, the Seattle MCR concert! Two MCR shows in three days! Lemme see your jazz hands! [/obligatory Killjoys reference]

Oh, and everyone wish me luck: because I am exactly that crazy, I entered the drawing to be selected as a "Road Reporter" for the Seattle show. The prize is photo passes and attending the Meet & Greet, and then you have to send them your write-up of the show within 10 hours. OF COURSE I entered the drawing.

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In other news, April Fool's Day. No, I don't do April Fool's jokes or pranks. I spend the day being wary and suspicious of everything, which makes me kind of cranky. (I don't LIKE being wary and suspicious! That's not my default setting, dammit.)

Today is Goth Upkeep Day. Hair dye, having the Stroppy One trim my bangs, and manicure & pedicure. And laundry. And writing. Much writing, I hope.

The eBay UK auction for the (ridiculous, I know) Gerard Way -designed velvet jacket is getting perilously close to my spending limit. While I am not fond of auction sniping services, does anyone have a recommendation for a good one that will work for a US buyer bidding on a UK item?

(Yes, I want the jacket that much. I would have the Infamous BlueJay help me do some very careful tailoring to it, and yes, I would wear it. Possibly to one of the upcoming MCR shows, with flouncy skirts and a lace blouse.)

I hope all of you are having a good weekend.

WHY YES, I HAVE THE RIDICULOUS VIDEO OF THE NEW MCR ALBUM RUNNING RIGHT NOW.

It's an almost hour-long video with song breaks and commentary from Dr. Death Defying, in his lair at WKIL. More of their LARPing, and I am utterly charmed by it. Also, I want a plush toy of Apocalypse Mouse. Someone find me one!

(Yeah yeah, I've got stuff to do today, like make lunch and go renew my ID. But ZOMG NEW MCR.)

("DESTROYA"? Fantastic.)

Let's see: the nice MCR site sent me a download of "Save Yourself (I'll Hold Them Back)" (it will send the download to anyone who gives them their email addy); "Zero Percent" (the b-side for "Na Na Na (Na Na Na)") was "leaked"; and "Sing" (the new single) has been released, with a trailer available for viewing on their website.

I WANT THE ALBUM NOW. RIGHT NOW. (I also want the comic book. And tour dates.)

MCR is playing a handful of dates as part of various larger line-ups for radio station holiday shows. NOT one in Seattle, dammit. I have to wait until the official "World Contamination" tour dates are announced for the US, and hope for Seattle to be on the list. I mean, I'll quite happily travel to PDX to see them, and am planning to no matter what. (Yes, I will travel to go see the silly MCR boys. Don't even try to look like this information surprises you.)

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Okay, now I have to come up with the energy to unpack, and then to start making chicken soup. Guess who came back from L.A. fighting off a cold? Yeah, let's just hope it doesn't turn into the plague that's been going around Seattle.

Over there in LJ, I have posted a tutorial for the blood spatter manicure. Boy are people going to look at me funny when it's not October and I'm still painting my nails like this.



In other news, I have failed to get any substantial writing done on the fiction project for, oh, a few days now. I open up the file, write a few sentences, and then get stuck. It's not that I don't know what is going to happen, because I do! But getting the words out of the dark and cluttered part of my brain where they're hiding? That is a bit difficult right now. Which, of course, makes me freak out and get even more stressed, and that doesn't help the writing process any, either. Gaaaah.

(Really, I am getting kind of freaked out about my inability to make any headway on the project. The Self-Esteem Monsters in my head *love* this sort of situation, because it gives them an opportunity to slither out of their caves and whisper things like "WE KNEW YOU WEREN'T REALLY A WRITER. THE FIRST BOOK? A FLUKE. WHY ARE YOU TRYING, YOU'RE A TALENTLESS HACK." I am trying very hard to ignore the Self-Esteem Monsters, because I (mostly) think they're lying. But some days it's harder to do than others.)

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So. Should I pre-order the upcoming MCR album from iTunes, even tho' I am going to assuredly want a physical copy of the CD? I suppose if I get myself the digital version, I can put the physical version on my holiday wish list, thus ensuring my parents can indulge in the Christmas tradition of buying me music performed by pretty boys with loud guitars ...

Full track list and release date for the MCR album! 15 tracks, to be released November 22nd. Whee! I wonder what sort of super-deluxe limited edition is going to be offered for sale. Yes, I will probably purchase said fancy version. (I admit it: not only do I have the fancy version of The Black Parade in the pretty velvet box, I have the special edition of The Black Parade Is Dead with a Dia de los Muertos mask. I was very excited when I figured out that I had gotten the mask Gerard designed.)

"Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)" has its US release to iTunes on Tuesday the 28th! I am hoping the video is released at the same time. Please?

I am not going to get to watch Vampire Diaries tonight, as I got a late start to some stuff I needed to do. I will not be able to see the season premier for Supernatural tomorrow night, as at the time it airs, I will be off to the gothy club with the StuntHusband. So I will watch them both on Saturday night, while I prep for the Giant Gothy Yard Sale that happens on Sunday.

Fandom glee! I keep seeing posts from people talking about wanting to put together Fabulous Killjoys -themed costumes. Eeeee! So fun! So ... totally not my thing, so I won't be going to quite that fannish extent, but I am very excited to see what other people do. (Look, Black Parade could almost have been costumed out of my closets, that one was a no-brainer for me.)