Pop Punk band Mayday Parade from Tallahassee, Florida headlined the show at Starland Ballroom on Friday, November 9, 2018. The five-piece lineup features Derek Sanders (Lead Vocals), Alex Garcia (Guitar), Brooks Betts (Guitar), Jeremy Lenzo (Bass/Vocals), Jake Bundrick (Drums). William Ryan Key (formerly of Yellowcard), Oh Weatherly, and The Wild Life opened up the show. It was a packed house with people standing, moving around and singing in an intimate space. Fans who didn’t want to stand for the entire performance were able to sit in the back with a perfect view of the stage.
Shortly after the venue opened, wall to wall patrons were intrigued with a pre-show set by an alternative rock band Oh Weatherly from Dallas, Texas. They played “Lost and Found” which is the first song on the upcoming album release. During their set, the band talked about mental health and how people in the world are struggling with this illness. A very important message was sent out to fans about people who are struggling and how they shouldn’t feel alone.
William Ryan Key, former lead singer from Yellowcard took the stage with a special acoustic performance. Dwyane Christie, one of the current members from the band This Wildlife accompanied him on drums. It really brought back great memories when the crowd sang along to an acoustic version of Yellowcard’s hit song, “Ocean Avenue”. Even though it was mostly a rock show, the audience seemed highly entertained and engaged by a 30 minute acoustic set. Ryan closed out the set with a brand new song from his EP called “Virtue” that will be released on November 30th.
The Canadian acoustic duo This Wildlife took the stage around 8:40pm. This band is known for singing breakup songs with lots of pop, they are different from other Toronto bands because of their unique melodies and heartfelt songs that connects them to the audience. At one point during the show, the band dedicated one of their songs “Puppy Love” to a couple in the audience and then shined a light on the couple while they were slow dancing to the song. Afterwards, one of the Wildlife members played a Blink 182 medley on his ukulele and encouraged the crowd to sing along which fans lapped up. With of accolades coming from the audience, they showed they are a fun and enjoyable band that is worth listening to.
Mayday Parade closed out the show at Starland Ballroom as part of their Sunnyland Tour in which they are celebrating their new album “Sunnyland” that was released on June 15, 2018. The stage was filled with props that resembled trees which made it look like a dark forest. The band played some of their heavier stuff which had the fans crowd surfing during the show, members were jumping on stage, belting out lyrics and raising their guitars in the air while keeping the audience engaged.
Mayday Parade is passionate about their music and the dedication from the fans over the years. They have six studio albums and have worked on several side projects. One popular song that is featured on their new album is titled, “Piece of Your Heart” which has calming lyrics compared to their earlier stuff. This song gives a sense of hope and happiness while lead singer Derek Sanders sings with compassion. If you have never heard this band before I suggest you take a listen to their newest release. This was the first time I saw Mayday Parade live on stage and I was not a bit disappointed.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Kimberly Ann of Garden State Band Connection
