Mayday Parade at The Pageant in St Louis, Missouri on April 28, 2025
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor Sevauna Photography
St. Louis was a sea of emo hearts and throwback singalongs as Mayday Parade rolled into The Pageant for their sold-out stop on the “Three Cheers for 20 Years” anniversary tour. Celebrating two decades of unforgettable anthems, the Tallahassee natives delivered a night brimming with emotion, energy, and nostalgia. Before Mayday Parade took the stage, fans were primed by opening sets from pop-punk upstarts Grayscale and alt-rockers Microwave.
Mayday Parade
Before the Mayday Parade set began, a nostalgic clip from their 2008 Warped Tour interview illuminated the stage. In the clip, lead singer Derek Sanders spoke on the band’s early days. From hustling to sell CDs outside the Warped Tour gates just a few years prior, then marveled at their growing fanbase. The clip set the tone, of the band’s humble beginnings and their gratitude for the journey.
The setlist was a masterfully curated journey through Mayday Parade’s discography. After kicking off with their latest single, “Sweet,” The band worked backward, delivering the biggest hits from each of their seven albums, ensuring every era of their career was celebrated. From the catchy hooks of Sunnyland to the raw angst of Anywhere But Here.
A standout moment came when Sanders settled at the piano for “Miserable at Best,” one of the band’s most iconic tracks from A Lesson in Romantics. The opening chords sent a wave of chills through the crowd and myself. As Sanders’ voice joined with the deafening chorus of over a thousand fans singing every word. The audience’s voices overpowered the band at times, a reminder of the song’s lasting impact.
The night closed with a high-energy encore. They played “One Man Drinking Games,” a fan favorite that balanced nostalgia with bittersweet reflection. The band unleashed their biggest hit, “Jamie All Over,” a pop-punk anthem that had the crowd jumping and screaming The encore encapsulated Mayday Parade’s ability to blend infectious energy with emotional depth. Mayday Parade’s 20th-anniversary tour was more than a concert, it was a celebration of their legacy and the fans who have carried them through two decades. With a setlist that honored their evolution, the band proved they’re as vital now as they were selling CDs outside of Warped Tour. Here’s to another 20 years of Mayday Parade.
Grayscale
Grayscale took the stage with an electrifying performance with a set that left the crowd buzzing. Kicking off with their high-energy anthem “The Hart,” the band immediately seized the audience’s attention. Grayscale’s set was a well-paced blend of their signature pop-punk grit and emotional depth. Tracks like “Fever Dream” and “Dirty Bombs” showcased their ability to balance raw intensity with catchy hooks. Lead singer Colin Walsh’s stage presence and commanding voice were electric, his banter between songs drawing cheers and laughs.
The band closed with “Not Afraid to Die,” one of their biggest hits from 2023. The audience was jumping, hands in the air, as Grayscale poured every ounce of passion into their final notes. It was a perfect cap to a set that primed the crowd for Mayday Parade’s upcoming set.
Microwave
Microwave, the Atlanta-based post-hardcore quartet delivered a blistering set as the second opener for Mayday Parade. They exploded onto the stage with “Mirrors,” a moody, riff-heavy track from their 2019 album Death Is a Warm Blanket. Lead singer Nathan Hardy’s gravelly vocals instantly hooked the crowd.
The venue erupted when they dusted off “Something Right,” the fourth song in their set, from their 2014 debut album Stovall. Nostalgic fans sang every word as the track’s infectious hooks filled the air. Microwave closed with their most popular song, “But Not Often,” from 2016’s Much Love. Hardy’s raw delivery had the crowd swaying and shouting along, a perfect crescendo to their set. Microwave’s performance perfectly primed the audience for Mayday Parade’s headlining slot.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer Sevauna Photography in St. Louis, Missouri. ©2025.
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