MAYDAY PARADE play HOB/Anaheim Nov. 12 and SOMA Nov. 13
While it’s been a decade since the formation of Mayday Parade, lead vocalist Derek Sanders still struggles with one important question before every show.
Shoes or no shoes?
As the front man of the veteran pop-rock band from Tallahassee, Florida, Sanders would play every show barefoot if his body allowed for it.
“I hate bringing shoes on tour but I also feel goofy wearing flip flops on stage so I try to go barefoot as much as I can. Recently, I started getting pretty bad shin splints from playing long shows and jumping around. It really depends on how my legs are doing,” said Sanders, who turned 29 earlier this year. “I’m getting a little old I guess.”
The band, comprised of Sanders (lead vocalist), Alex Garcia (lead guitar), Jeremy Lenzo (bass), Brooks Betts (rhythm guitar) and Jake Bundrick (drums), is currently in the midst of headlining the annual Alternative Press Tour with Real Friends, This Wild Life and As It Is.
A staple of Warped Tour, Mayday Parade has garnered a reputation as one of the most prolific touring bands across all genres. After a brutal tour schedule in 2010, Songkick named them as the hardest-working band of that year, with 194 shows and more than 74,000 miles logged. Megastars like Willie Nelson and Lady Gaga ranked No.7 and No. 8 that year.
“I used to be a lot more nervous before each show, especially about what I was going to do on stage,” Sanders said. “I was always second guessing myself. We’re at the point where playing these shows has become second nature. It’s so ingrained in us that it allows a lot more freedom to just have fun and not think so much.”
Since their debut EP in 2006, Mayday Parade have released five studio albums, including their most recent effort Black Lines. A noticeable departure from previous albums, Black Lines features a more aggressive, raw sound than the trademark sing-along anthems and moody ballads that propelled Mayday Parade to massive success. Eager to break away from the formula they were following for years, the band decided to bring in well-known producer Mike Sapone, whose previous work includes Taking Back Sunday and Brand New.
“He was on the same page as us with regard to what we wanted to do on this album,” Sanders said. “It’s always a risky thing to go with someone you haven’t worked with before but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything. I thought it turned out incredible.”
While Sanders admitted the group grew bored with the blueprint they were following inside the studio, onstage the excitement remains the same.
“Luckily for us the one thing that never gets old or tedious is touring,” Sanders said. “I genuinely have so much fun every night on stage. It’s my favorite part of doing what we do. Even some of the older songs we’ve played over a thousand times are ones I love playing. We’re still able to have a good time with it all and hopefully that translates with the audience.”
Mayday Parade will play at House of Blues in Anaheim Nov. 12 and SOMA in San Diego Nov. 13.