By photojournalist Ryan Marchese
Tuesday night Jannus Live became the setting for the celebration of a major milestone in Mayday Parade’s career. The “Three Cheers for Twenty Years Tour” is a love letter to the fans for their support during the past 20 years of MP making music. The band’s intention with this tour was for it to be the culmination of everything they’ve accomplished as well as what’s to come and they nailed it in front of a sold-out crowd.
Hailing from Philly, Grayscale took the stage, delivering a set that resonated with fans through their emotive lyrics and dynamic sound. Their sound bridges the gap between pop- punk and contemporary emo influences. Grayscale made sure to play some of their biggest hits including “In Violet” and “Dirty Bombs” as well as a few tracks from their newest album, The Hart. Atlanta-based Microwave followed, bringing their unique mix of indie rock and pop-punk to the forefront. Their performance explored a blend of older tracks that were much more pop-punk and emo-influenced as opposed to tracks from Let’s Start Degeneracy, which demonstrated a much more experimental and mellow sound that added a dynamic layer to the tour.
Mayday Parade delivered a set that gave a sampling of their impressive career. Their intro included clips of interviews from twenty years ago about the band’s future and why they do what they do. More clips played throughout their set, resulting in one of the most memorable moments of the evening and certainly the funniest. During an interview, guitarist, Brooks Bretts, said he doesn’t think he’ll still be playing shows at 40 years old.
The clip then zoomed in and repeated in slow motion “40 years old” and then repeated even slower, resulting in a lot of laughter from the crowd then cheering.
From the early days of Tales Told by Dead Friends to their latest release, Sweet, the band showcased their evolution while staying true to the sound that has kept fans coming back two decades later. A mix of fan favorites and new tracks were curated for the night, each performed with the genuine passion and raw emotion that have become synonymous with Mayday Parade. The open-air courtyard that Jannus provides resonated with the voices of fans singing along to beloved tracks like “Jersey,” “Stay,” “Ghosts,” and “Oh Well, Oh Well.” “By the Way” and “Who’s Laughing Now” gave fans a sweet taste of the brand-new album. Their set wrapped up with “Jamie All Over,” an explosion of confetti, and a roaring applause and cheers.
Despite a lengthy set and incredible performance, fans still chanted “One More Song!” as the band departed. The evening was a testament to the enduring spirit of Mayday Parade and its connection to its fans. It was a night filled with music, memories, and moments that those in attendance will not soon forget.
