Mayday Parade brought their Three Cheers for 20 Years tour to Austin, TX on May 3 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. With a four band bill, the venue filled up early buzzing with a crowd of nostalgic millennials waiting to see the band that got them through the years of young love, heartbreak, and typical emo phase breakdowns. Sorry, it’s not a phase, mom. Like Roses opened the show, commanding the room with anthemic sounds and self proclaimed songs for the “sad bitches.” Next up, Philadelphia-based Grayscale took the stage playing through hits from their 10-year discography; fans who have been going to pop punk shows for a while are at least familiar with their music. Direct support came from Atlanta-based band Microwave, their visuals stunning and stage presence enchanting (and they made a new fan in me!)
All of a sudden, an old video flashed upon the stage screens – a young Derek Sanders, Brooks Betts, and Alex Garcia appeared – the sounds of the old interview hushed the eager crowd. Seeing the young band made the crowd erupt in laughs and cheers. Finally, Mayday Parade emerged, playing through hits from every album they’ve artfully crafted over the last 20 years – Eras Tour style, of course. Starting off strong with “By The Way” from their newest album, Sweet, Derek Sanders sat at the piano, the instrument we all associate with our favorite nostalgic Mayday Parade sounds. Seamlessly transitioning into songs from their debut EP, Tales Told By Dead Friends, the crowd screamed the lyrics along with the band with an energy of pure catharsis. This show felt like the purest form of escape from reality, even for just a few hours. With pure appreciation and love on the band’s faces, they played through fan favorites from the past 20 years, closing out the show with hits “One Man Drinking Games” and “Jamie All Over.” In the 10 years I’ve been seeing Mayday Parade on tour, I have never seen the band beaming with such gratitude and basking in such love like I did for this tour. Congratulations on 20 years to Mayday Parade, and here’s to 20 more.
