Mayday Parade bring Honeymoon Tour to Upstate Concert Hall Albany, NY 10-19-14 w/ Tonight Alive, Major League, & PVRIS

Florida’s Mayday Parade wasted no time getting themselves back on the road after a successful run with the summer’s Vans Warped Tour, by announcing their headlining The Honeymoon Tour.  Not to be confused with Ariana Garande’s upcoming 2015 The Honeymoon Tour, Mayday Parade has assembled a lineup of supporting acts; Tonight Alive, Major League, and PVIS.  Slated for 26-dates, Mayday Parade brought The Honeymoon Tour to the Upstate Concert Hall in Clifton Park, NY on Sunday, October 19th, for what was sure to be a fantastic night. A long line of fans showed up early to ensure they found a good spot to stand and experience the concert.

Up first was New England’s Alternative Rock band PVRIS. Signed to Rise Records over the summer, PVRIS has been a work in progress, reforming their image and sound along the way. Currently the group has released the singles “St. Patrick” and “My House,” from their forth coming album White Noise, due out November 4th. Playing the songs to a well received reaction, lead vocalist Lynn Gunn’s showcased an extremely powerful voice.  On top of intensity she exhibited, she also displayed incredible range and control with her singing, which could be heard on other songs such as “Fire.”  Cheers erupted from the crowd throughout their performance and whenever the music would slow down, spotlighting the bright talents of Gunn. Huge things are coming for this group, so be sure to pick up a copy of White Noise.  

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New Jersey’s Punk-influenced Major League took the stage next with an energetic set consisting of a great mix of new and old favorites. Together since 2009, the band released a string of EP’s prior to their No Sleep Records debut Hard Feelings in 2012.  Now rising in the ranks, the band find themselves ready to show audiences what they are made of.  Opening with “Wall Flower,” and playing other songs like “”From States Away,” really got the crowd engaged and involved in the set. Keeping the energy flowing, they played new singles “Kaleidoscopes” and “Pillow Talk” off their upcoming November 4th release There’s Nothing Wrong With Me.  Frontman Brian Joyce stressed how much it meant to the band if people gave the record a listen, whether they bought it or merely streamed it. Proving to entice the senses of listeners, both songs were very well done and seemed to raise anticipation for the release of the album. Even if unfamiliar with the words to the songs, everyone still jumped around enjoying themselves. Also, dedicating the song “Homewrecker” to anyone with a troubled home or whom is a victim bullying, Joyce stressed how important music is for him personally and how it will always be his escape. Major League did a fantastic job of emphasizing the importance of music while putting on an equally impressive performance.

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Australians, Tonight Alive provided direct support for The Honeymoon Tour, marking their return to North America for first time since their run with The Used back in March. As label mates to Mayday Parade their supporting slot was extremely fitting, seeing the tremendous strides they have taken with extensive world touring building their name.  From the minute they took to stage with their song “The Edge,” off of 2014’s Spiderman 2 Soundtrack, the crowd was on their feet and screaming along. The energy did not diminish at any point during the set and continued to increase with each song they played. Performing predominately tracks from their most recent release, The Other Side (2013), the set also included favorites such as “Listening.”   Lead singer Jenna McDougall introduced “What Are You So Scared Of?” as the most important song the band has ever written. Naturally, Tonight Alive had the full attention of everyone in the room as they played the track, taking the energy to an entirely new level. They closed out with “Lonely Girl,” which is always a crowd favorite, and a fantastic way to end a set.  Each time Tonight Alive comes to North America the response from audiences seems to get better. It will be very interesting to see how many more people come out next touring cycle specifically to see them perform.

Mayday Parade were ready to take stage in front of a crowd that had been thoroughly warmed up by the acts prior to them. Becoming a fan favorite over the years, Mayday Parade has very impressive and extensive discography which became solidified with 2013’s Monsters in the Closet. Comprising a song selection of well-known pieces from every album, it seemed as if the band took ample time to arrange their set carefully. Getting the crowd excited early, “Kids in Love” helped the audience embrace a feel good vibe that creates a carefree and happy energy amongst them. Slowing things down a bit, vocalist/pianist Derek Sanders and drummer/vocalist Jake Bundrick performed “Miserable at Best” and “Three Cheers for Five Years.” While creating a calmer atmosphere and a relaxed mood, the crowd sang along as passionately as they did for heavier tunes. Giving the audience a chance experience the fantastic vocal abilities of both Sanders and Bundrick, this portion of the evening resonated in the hearts of spectators.

Bringing the energy above and beyond, they closed out with fan-favorite track “Black Cat” as everyone sang and bouncing along. Returning for an encore which ended with “Jamie All Over,”  Mayday Parade had everyone in the building mesmerized until the very last note.  All of the bands put on performances that will keep fans coming back time and time again.  Do not miss a chance to see all the bands on the Honeymoon Tour as it continues through November 14th, wrapping up Mayday Parade’s home-state.

Tour dates:
Nov 1 – Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall
Nov 3 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
Nov 4 – Seattle, WA El Corazon
Nov 6 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Nov 7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
Nov 8 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
Nov 10 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
Nov 11 – Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
Nov 12 – Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
Nov 13 – Tallahassee, FL @ Sidebar Theatre
Nov 14 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues

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