When a band survives two decades in the ever-changing world of alternative music, it is no small feat. Mayday Parade returned to Pittsburgh with the Three Cheers for 20 Years tour to mark their twentieth anniversary, bringing along a wave of nostalgia and heartfelt gratitude. The sold-out show at Stage AE promised an emotional ride through their discography, celebrating the journey from their 2005 beginnings to their status as elder emo staples. Fans from every corner of the genre filled the venue, ready to scream every lyric as if time had never passed.
Kicking off the pop punk party was Like Roses, who delivered their set with contagious energy and grateful humility. The Bay Area group wasted no time winning over the early crowd, their blend of pop punk grit and emotional honesty creating a solid opening vibe. With catchy choruses and honest lyrics, they came across as both hungry and grounded, and they clearly understood the weight of sharing a stage on this tour. Their brief time onstage still made a lasting impression, Like Roses is one to keep an eye on as they make the emo scene their own.
Grayscale followed with a moodier, more polished presence that gave the evening a deeper shade of emotion. Their lighting was dark and minimal, matching the introspective edge of their songs and the aching tone of lead singer Collin Walsh’s voice. The band leaned into slower, vibier material for most of the set, drawing the crowd in with every slow burn and echoing chorus. It was less about hype and more about atmosphere, and they succeeded in creating a moment that felt heavy in the best way. There was a clear sense that Grayscale was not just opening but participating in the celebration, adding their own layer of sincerity and style to the evening.
Microwave brought a shift in energy that hit somewhere between chaos and catharsis. Known for weaving alt-rock, emo, and post-hardcore into a unique sound, the Atlanta group tore through their set with emotional weight and raw edge. Their songs balanced dynamic shifts and haunting melodies, never losing grip on the crowd’s attention. What really stood out was their ability to make heaviness feel personal, as if every riff and lyric came from something real. By the end of their set, it felt like the venue had fully transitioned into a space built for release.
As the lights dimmed and a wave of screams filled Stage AE, it became clear that Mayday Parade’s set would be something special. Opening with “By The Way” and “Just Say You’re Not Into It,” one of their newest releases and one of their oldest releases, respectively, they immediately transported the crowd from 2025 all the way back to the mid-2000s. The band’s energy was unwavering, and fans matched it with every word, creating a powerful chorus of collective memories. It felt like a time capsule had opened right in the middle of Pittsburgh, and no one wanted it to close.
Mayday Parade didn’t just stay in the past. As the night moved forward, so did the setlist, working mostly chronologically through each release. Later favourites like “Stay” and “Piece of Your Heart” showed how the group’s sound has evolved while still holding onto their signature emotional pull. It was a smart and heartfelt way to structure the show, almost like reading through an old diary. Derek Sanders, surprisingly not barefoot, took moments between songs to reflect, thanking the fans for sticking with them. The gratitude felt real, and so did the growth.
Visually, the performance matched the emotional arc of the music. Bright, celebratory lights beamed during the more upbeat songs, while warm tones and soft strobes embraced the intimate ballads, with bursts of air cannons and confetti to push it all over the top. The band felt locked in and loose at the same time, clearly enjoying every minute of the moment. Whether trading verses, building swells, or just letting the crowd sing the bridge, their chemistry was undeniable.
Mayday Parade’s recently released album Sweet got some love towards the end of the set. When paired with the rest of their discography, Sweet feels like a culmination of the past 20 years. “Pretty Good To Feel Somenthing” is the modern emo anthem the world needed, a breath of optimism when everything else is crumbling. It’s infectiously catchy and impossible not to sing along to. “Who’s Laughing Now” kicked up the energy tenfold. The studio version being a collab with Knuckle Puck, Mayday Parade made sure to bring the hype when performing this one live. It’s a song that’s positivity begging to be moshed to. The entire album is a perfect blend of old-school and modern, nostalgic-sounding riffs and experimental sounds. It’s an album that was made with 20 years of history in mind, with songs that feel like they’ve grown and evolved with not just the band but also the fans who have spent most of their lives with Mayday Parade.
After working their way through 20 years of songs, Mayday Parade closed the night by taking it all the way back to the beginning once more to complete the circle. “One Man Drinking Games” pulled the energy back for a brief moment of somber reflection, before “Jamie All Over” brought out pure catharsis, with the entire crowd shouting every word like their lives depended on it. Confetti fell, arms waved in the air, and for just a moment, everyone was seventeen again, crying in their bedrooms and scribbling lyrics on their notebooks. After 20 years, Mayday Parade is not just a band that was, but a band that is. Still meaningful, still evolving, and still capable of bringing thousands together through shared emotion and timeless songs.
May 20th, 2025
