Photographs by Katrina Wong Shue.
Not too many bands can say they’ve managed to maintain constant dominance in the populated genre of pop rock. But Mayday Parade is still going strong after nearly a decade since the release of their debut EP Tales Told by Dead Friends.
Hailing from Tallahassee, Florida, the band formed in 2005 before they even decided on a name. After the success of Tales Told By Dead Friends, Mayday Parade was signed to Fearless Records and released A Lesson in Romantics which spawned fan favourites including
“Jaime All Over” and “Miserable at Best”. They’ve toured all over the world (most recently Singapore) and played in festivals such as Van’s Warped Tour. With 2013’s Monster in the Closet, the pop rockers scored their first Top 10 album on the Billboard 200. As they prepare to release their fifth studio album, Mayday Parade hits the road again with supporting act Tonight Alive for The Honeymoon Tour.
Opening for Mayday Parade was Australian punk-rock band Tonight Alive. Tonight Alive came out in full force for their 40 minute set. Lead singer Jenna McDougall and her bandmates didn’t lack of high-energy during their live performance. McDougall holds her key as she belts out the lyrics to songs like “The Edge” (from the motion picture “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”), and “Lonely Girl” while the band shreds out their instrumental solos. Tonight Alive delivered one hell of an opener which left the crowd pumped for the night’s headliner.
The anticipation was building as fans waited for Derek Sanders, Alex Garcia, Brooks Betts, Jeremy Lenzo, and Jake Bundrick to arrive. The moment Mayday Parade appeared on stage, fans started to cheer as the band descends to their usual spots. They opened with their older yet favourites songs from A Lesson in Romantics and Anywhere But Here (“Jersey” and “Kids in Love”). Each fan was singing to the top of their lungs which made Sanders watch in amazement.
The last time I saw Mayday Parade was in 2009 for the AP’s Fall Ball Tour. It’s gratifying to see how they still continue to thrive by simply being themselves. Their live shows expresses their insanely full of life personality. They love to get the crowd engaged which leaves the audience happy and wanting more. When Mayday Parade performs songs like “Miserable at Best” and “Three Cheers for Five Years”, it prompts an equally spirited response of nostalgia. And there’s no escaping the energy that suddenly fills the room.
The future of Mayday Parade still holds an infinite promise. What started out as a favourite past time between friends, turned into something more (for the band). And as long as fans were still interested in what Mayday Parade has to sing about, Sanders promised they’ll be here for the long haul. I’m pretty sure; these fans won’t leave Mayday hangin’. For the obligatory encore, the band concludes with “Happy Endings Are Stories That Haven’t End Yet” and “Jamie All Over”.
