Mayday Parade // Live @ Andrew J Brady Music Center // 5.18.25 -

Article and Photos: Linda Carlson

Cincinnati, OH – Mayday Parade’s Three Cheers for 20 Years Tour stop in Cincinnati was a resounding success as four bands gave the attending crowd a full evening of rock.

The night started with emo-pop Like Roses, a Berkeley, CA band comprised of Amy Schmalkuche (vocals, rhythm guitar), Devin Zamora (vocals, lead guitar), David Adametz (drums), and Kayla Gonzalez (bass). This up-and-coming band’s 20-minute set of raw, passionate punk was enjoyable but seemed a bit brief.

Next was Grayscale, a pop-punk band from Philadelphia, PA. Formed in 2011, the band is Collin Walsh (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Kyne (lead guitar, vocals), Dallas Molster (rhythm guitar) and Nick Veno (drums). Since 2017, the band has released an impressive four studio albums, and is currently promoting their latest, The Hart. They played a mix of alternative rock, pop-punk with emo influences, creating an atmosphere that resonated with the audience.

Pop-punk Microwave, from Atlanta, GA, was the final opener, with Nathan Hardy (guitar, lead vocals), Tyler Hill (bass), and Tim Pittard (drums), with Lucas Daniel Jones (touring guitar). Formed in 2012, the band has released three studio albums, the most recent, Let’s Start Degeneracy, in 2024.

The three openers successfully warmed up the crowd for headliner Mayday Parade. Prior to the band entering the stage, an early video interview from Vans Warped Tour was played on the two large video screens behind the stage. At the time, they were 19 years old. They described how Mayday Parade was formed from two Tallahassee bands that disbanded – the guys knew each other, and Mayday Parade was born.

The video interview was a testament to how a band progresses from a youthful group of dreamers to a seasoned sensation.

All band members have been with the band since 2005, which is impressive for a long-running band: Derek Sanders (lead vocals, piano), Alex Garcia (guitar), Brooks Betts (rhythm guitar), Jeremy Lenzo (bass, co-lead vocals), Jake Bundrick (drums, co-lead vocals).

The set started with Sanders at the piano, singing an acoustic rendition of “By The Way.” He would perform at the piano several times during the set, including “Miserable at Best.”

Between the piano sets were incredibly spirited performances. The band members took full advantage of the vast stage at the Andrew J Brady Music Center, moving, jumping, spinning… Two platforms at the front of the stage repeatedly showcased the individual band members, who hammed it up to the cheers of the fans.

Appropriately, as the tour is celebrating the band’s 20 years of rock, the band played songs from each of their studio albums, taking the crowd through their musical journey in chronological order:

By the Way

Tales Told By Dead Friends

Just Say You’re Not Into It
Three Cheers for Five Years

A Lesson In Romantics

Jersey
I’d Hate to Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About
Miserable at Best

Anywhere but Here

Anywhere but Here
Bruised and Scarred

Valdosta

Terrible Things

Mayday Parade

Oh Well, Oh Well
Stay

Monsters In The Closet

Ghosts

Black Lines

One of Them Will Destroy the Other

Sunnyland

Sunnyland (Snippet)
Never Sure
Piece of Your Heart

What It Means To Fall Apart

Heaven (Snippet)
One for the Rocks and One for the Scary

More Like A Crash

More Like a Crash

Sweet

Pretty Good To Feel Something
Who’s Laughing Now

Encore

One Man Drinking Games
Jamie All Over

Twenty years has not dampened the band’s energy, nor the enthusiasm of their fans. The band remains youthful, with elements shining through of those 19-year-old boys in the opening interview video, but they have been enhanced and polished by time.

A great night out! Check out the tour schedule for a performance near you.

More photos from the night in the carousel below.