Mayday Parade

When people queue outside any other built-up venue, they're often greeted with strange looks, raised eyebrows and the odd passing comment about the madness of people who stand in the cold for hours just for 'some band'. However, when that venue happens to be The Electric Ballroom on Camden High Street, no-one bats an eyelid. Here, no-one is mad. No-one is crazy, weird or strange. No matter how you're dressed, what you look like or who you're waiting to see, people just walk straight past. They pretty much ignore you. And I, along with many other Mayday Parade fans in the same queue, would much rather blend in for once instead of be the target of those all-too-familiar strange looks.

As the venue slowly fills, the first support act of the night hit the stage. The Natives (right), a five-piece rock band from Hampshire, set a fantastic atmosphere for the night as soon as the first note kicks in. Throughout the duration of their short but sweet set, they manage to get the crowd off their feet and thoroughly pumped for the whole gig- something many unknown support acts struggle to do. Their music is solid and consistent; the beat is strong and the vocals are honest. Songs such as This Island and Big Plans have a raw, almost brutal tone to them. In hindsight, this is refreshing in comparison to the typically American pop-punk sound that proceeds them throughout the night. They are tight, gripping and, as their name suggests, thoroughly British. An excellent first choice. 

For the Foxes (above) have a very different sound. They are the second support act of the night and are experiencing their first tour overseas, giving them a humbled image which goes down well for their performance. Undoubtedly, it's good to see a band truly appreciate how lucky they are. However, this sweetness turns slightly too sweet at some points; they are almost bubblegum pop-punk, especially when following a band like The Natives. They use an acoustic guitar, hint at 80's pop influences and even feature a ballad in their set. Not that this is a negative; in fact, The River is a heartfelt song that gives the crowd a pleasant three-minute breather. For the Foxes are just as good as the other support acts, they simply take a much softer approach to the genre. 

The final support act of the night are Arizonia-based band The Summer Set (left). They are much more established than the other bands so far, with two full-length albums under their belt already and a third to be released next year, and it definitely shows. They take the standard up a notch purely due to experience; tireless recording and touring has paid off for this band. Their set is full of punchy pop-rock numbers, churning out one feel-good song after another. There isn't much chance to stop and think about what you're listening to, but you realise it's making your feet tap and your head bounce, and it feels great. Songs such as Chelsea and Young are particularly catchy. Their set simply flies by before your eyes, but you just know you're going to go home and listen to them again because the feeling of fun they produce is addictive. 

So, after what seems like a lifetime of waiting through three support acts, the main event is fast approaching. Fans of Mayday Parade are fiercely loyal and they have been waiting patiently for hours now, so when five figures emerge from the darkness onto the stage, the whole crowd surges forward in united relief and excitement. They begin with a song from their latest self-titled album, Oh Well, Oh Well, which is a perfect choice. As the song begins softly, the crowd get a chance to let the band know they are there by singing along as loud as they can, but it then plummets into the fast-paced body of the song and everyone is off their feet. This charged atmosphere is maintained throughout the night with songs such as Kids in Love and When I Get Home, You're So Dead, songs with great rhythm and gutsy choruses. Older songs are a huge hit, as the crowd go crazy when the undeniable first few lines of Jersey blast out, and when they perform Three Cheers for Five Years, everyone falls in love with it all over again. Just when it seems this crowd will never be restrained, the lights dim and lead singer Derek Sanders sits alone at a keyboard and performs Miserable at Best, their most poignant ballad, and the jumping and screaming comes to a halt. It is replaced by 600-odd people singing at the top of their lungs; in fact, much credit should be given to the crowd in this performance, as they end up singing half of the song by themselves, with the band taking the position of 'audience' for a minute or two. The melodic You Be The Anchor That Keeps My Feet On The Ground, I'll Be The Wings That Keep Your Heart In The Clouds has a similar result, another sing-a-long performance to another lyrically beautiful song. They finish their set with Jamie All Over, which always gives a feeling of being young, carefree and hopeful, making it the perfect song to finish with.

Mayday Parade are always grateful for the opportunities they are presented with and the experiences they have had as a band. Their fans, however, are even more grateful to the band than the band are to them. The reason for this is that Mayday Parade have managed, in three albums, to produce songs that can provoke a whole range of emotions. They have written songs with poetic lyrics and thoughtful meaning, but they've also written songs that are simply about making the most out of life and having fun doing so. Whether happy or sad, you can count on one thing for sure: Mayday Parade always will be there.