Not one, not two, but three shows swept the Philippines as Mayday Parade held three concerts in Manila, Cebu, and Davao and made waves of nostalgia and emo music we love the band for.

Mayday Parade successfully completed three shows with a kick-off concert in Manila where they filled up New Frontier Theater on October 27, 2023.

The Tallahassee, Florida-based rock band with members Derek Sanders, Brooks Betts, Alex Garcia, Jeremy Lenzo, and Jake Bundrick healed yet again the inner emo we all needed healing that night, with hits after hits the band has released for their 18 years in the music industry.

Anywhere But Here

The setlist they played was nothing short of what we expected and even more as the band also made sure that they told us what we meant to them over the years.

“I don’t know what we did to deserve you guys… what an incredible feeling,” vocalist Derek Sanders told the crowd, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard a crowd sing as loud as you guys are singing right now. Thank you so much!”

The band pointed out as well that it has been 5 years since they touched the Philippine shores, pointing out the pandemic that stopped the world and said, “It has been way too long since we got here!”

It has been way too long for a Mayday Parade parade here. To prove their influence and to show off to the world that they still have loyal fans here, the Filipino fans sang over a technical difficulty with the speaker and continued to sing with the band like they were on karaoke and there was no technical turmoil ongoing. The band showed professionalism and didn’t even waver for a second in playing, and the crowd did the same. It was an incredible sight, seeing a musical relationship so solid that no force would interrupt nor stop their bubble of musical exchange.

One of the notable performances of the night was when they slowed down the setlist with Derek Sanders sharing some intimate thoughts he had that he knows the fans can relate to. “I don’t usually talk about my personal life but it’s been difficult for me so this means a lot performing in front of you guys.” He shared and took the keyboard with their drummer Jake for “Three Cheers for Five Years”, one of their oldest songs. One of the best things about a band that has been playing this long is they are harnessing their energy from a source that is deep within each of the band and the fans have gone through over the years. That’s why every song hits hard, even if it’s slowed down and solemn.

“I feel like EMO music is alive in 2023!” That indeed is true as the ensemble continued to sing through the setlist and delightedly pointed out that the band was formed in October 2005. “That’s 18 years ago! To be able to still be doing this, traveling to Manila? Thank you guys for the love.

Bands these days do this small peek-a-boo treat for adults where they tease the fans a little bit and “leave” and then come back for an “encore.” Mayday Parade skipped all that. “This is the part where, maybe we would… you walk off stage and if you guys wanted me to come back and do a couple more. But can we just kinda skip that part and hang out and play two more songs for you guys?” They did and they ended the night on a high with “Jersey” and “Jamie All Over” which put the band on the map.

“This has been an unbelievable experience, thank you so much for the love. Thanks for singing so loud, thanks for being in this room with us. Thanks for supporting live music and rock and roll in 2023! We’re Mayday Parade, we love you all very much. We will come back and see you as soon as we possibly can!” Derek said last as we’re sure they got that Manila bug that will want them to keep on coming back for more. No other crowd in the world is as dedicated and as loud as we are and judging by the full house crowd for the Mayday Parade that night, it shows that no Mom, EMO music is not just a phase; it’s a part of our lives.

Words by Arielle Elep; Photos by Kerwin De Dios