Mayday Parade just announced a world tour with Real Friends, As It Is and Mongolia Park, for the eleven year anniversary of their self titled album. As It Is will be joining them on the European tour dates, unfortunately not the American ones.
This really resignated with me for multiple reasons. For starters, its mind boggling that this album came out ten years ago already. The even bigger reason though is because Mayday Parade was the first album I got sent prior to its release, and Mayday Parade was not only my first big interview, but they're the ones that gave me my first photo pass. This was in the early stages of Immortal Music, so much so that I had to hunt to find the original review, and in the process discovered the recap from that night was posted on Blogspot.com, not my website due to technical difficulties I was facing at the time. If anyone wants to read that recap, please click here. Looking back at it, I wouldn't say its my best work, but I'm very grateful to have the memories all written out. It was truly a night I will never forget, it started everything for me. And introduced me to my love of photography, which I previously hadn't really discovered. I still remember the email in which their manager gave it to me, which was not under a professional email, I might add. I had no idea what I was doing yet, and was completely winging it based off what I thought I should be doing. I probably should have started by making an Immortal Music email address, that came soon after though. Over email, their manager had asked me to send over my interview questions not long before the show. I had been under the impression it would be an in person interview, so I asked. Upon hearing that, he apologized but said they were going to be a bit busy that day, but offered me a photo pass and a meet and greet ticket. I polietly accepted, while personally going, "What the hell is a photo pass?" I honestly thought it was just part of the meet and greet, or some sort of VIP badge. It wasn't until we were at the show and I saw a girl with the same sticker I had been given come out of the pit. I asked her about it, and she asked why she didn't see me down in the pit. If I remember correctly, whatever band was next up, she ended up dragging me up to the barricade herself. Me and my tiny, hot pink $75 camera from Walmart. That night unlocked so much for me, it unleashed a rush I had never experienced before, and if I'm hoenst, that itch has been coming back. With Covid-19 still running rampant, the idea of a show has felt a little uncomfortable, despite there have been several I've wanted to go to. But this one just feels right. I was there for the first one.....why not be there for the 10/11 year anniversary? I sincerely want to just mask up, sanitize, social distance when I can, and just go. So in honor of this, before I request the pass, I want to revisit all the Mayday Paraade albums, as well as review the newer ones I never reviewed. I also plan to sit down and review some, if not all of Real Friends' work, as well as Magnolia Park, who I am not currently familiar with. This just feels right and I'm excited to potentially make a proper return. We've already begun, by bringing on a new writer Hali Neal, and are discussing a few other creative ideas as well. Hali actually just saw Real Friends' live as part of the Pure Noise tour, which frankly just makes this feel even more appropriate, due to timing. The original Mayday Parade tour I'm speaking about was called the Noise Tour, and that one just passed. Gotta love when things all line up. Please stay tuned, we're hoping to get a lot of things going here very soon. While you're here, please let me know what your favorite Mayday Parade album is, and if there's any concerts you're looking forward to attending soon. I'll be back soon with multiple reviews. Meanwhile, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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On September 25, 2021, State Champs, Real Friends, Four Year Strong, Bearings and Just Friends brought pop punk back and live music to Revolution Live. Bearings was the perfect way to kick off the night. Singer Doug Cousins commanded the stage with an energy that was hard not to like. His impassioned vocals complemented the drums, bass, and guitar well. The crowd screamed out the words to two of their songs, one of which was "Eyes Closed", off 2018's "Blue in the Dark". Just Friends was up next. They brought relaxing but fun energy with their blend of funk punk. Singer Brianda Goyos León brought the sultry, sweet voice and some sexy vibes by shaking her butt and gyrating. They had a well-done upbeat number with some serious drumming from Ben Donlon.
The band thrives on crowd participation with asking for hands in the air and turning on cell phone flashlights. The crowd responded to both of these by turning on their own cell phone flashlights and putting their hands up. Singer Sam Kless also dedicated a song to all the single people out there: "I Wanna Love You", off 2018's "Nothing But Love". They also did a new acoustic song where, unfortunately, Kless was flat at first but did harmonize well with Goyos León. The further they got into the song, though, it was clear that, on his own, he wasn't particularly attention getting. Four Year Strong followed Just Friends. They had a new song where the only requirement from the crowd was to "bang your fucking head". The crowd was into them, screaming when they played songs they knew and when the band asked if anyone had new album "Brain Pain". Overall, the set was pulse pounding with Jake Massucco's drums reverberating in chests across the room. Dan O'Connor's vocals featured both screams and passion. The band had technical difficulties during the set and handled it like seasoned professionals, using that time to talk to the crowd. They did "Get Out of My Head" off of 2020's "Brain Pain" and the guitars translated well to the stage with the heaviness making you want to bang your head. It made one person in the crowd want to crowd surf. Next up was Real Friends. This was the first tour for them without former lead singer Dan Lambton. As such, it's definitely weird hearing someone else sing "Mess", "Get Better" and "Me First", songs that are surely incredibly personal to Lambton as at least two of them deal with his struggle with bipolar disorder and substance abuse. New vocalist Cody Mauro did well though and he never missed a note. He even got the crowd into it by extending the mic for them to sing several times, which they did. The band also had some of their new songs in the mix with "Storyteller". "Storyteller" continues the soul-bearing tradition of Real Friends with mournful guitar and lyrics like "You're indifferent/I've been wearing thin/Starved of apology/This hunger's crippling/I can hardly speak/Lips are trembling/So far in disrepair/You put me here...". This writer loves it when music makes her feel things and Real Friends does that so well. Mauro also brought the energy that was contradictory to said lyrics. It's more than welcome, though, and makes for a great show. Next, the stage darkened and a "Family Feud" intro played over the speakers. Minutes passed. Then lights went up and lead singer of State Champs, Derek DiScanio, bounded onto the risers set up on the stage. Flanked by guitarist Tyler Szalkowski, bassist Ryan Scott Graham and drummer Evan Ambrosio, the band launched into songs ranging from new single "Outta My Head" to "Criminal" to "Secrets" to covers of "Stitches" and "Chicago Is So Two Years Ago". Sadly, the sound wasn't great. This writer heard the drums and backing vocals well but couldn't hear DiScanio's vocals clearly, if at all. The bits this writer did hear, though, were very well-done. Like in "Outta My Head", DiScanio brought some fun energy to the upbeat song. He also asked the crowd to jump and they obliged along with a lot of crowd surfing. They didn't make the crowd wait a long time for the encore either where they played "All You Are Is History" and "Dead and Gone". Hilariously, NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye" played over the speakers after the show ended. This show ignited a feeling of being alive and fulfilled for the first time since the pandemic started. Like this writer was exactly where she needed to be both personally and professionally. Pictures from this show are coming soon! Check us out on Facebook or Instagram to see them! Written by Hali Neal |
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January 2022
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