Live Review: Mayday Parade at O2 Academy Oxford

As far as the weather is concerned, Great British Bank Holidays have a tendency to be a little grim. This one was no exception, yet it was in these cheery conditions, living up to every stereotype about the British weather, that Florida pop-punk act Mayday Parade landed to play their first show in Oxford since their support slot for Madina Lake back in March 2010. If the size of the queue outside the venue was anything to go by, the excitable gaggle of fans was undeterred by the weather if it meant catching the band’s first headline show at the venue.

First up in the support slots were Blitz Kids, the only British band on the bill. The Cheshire four-piece delivered a tight, storming set, with frontman Joe James’ vocals reminiscent of Ian Watkins from Lostprophets. Blitz Kids’ energetic set succeeded in warming up the packed upstairs room, with their parting track “The Comedian” inducing a chorus of “whoa’s” from the crowd, eager for the next three acts. The confidence and energy exuded by these new kids on the block suggests that their days as just a support act are numbered.

Second on the bill was A Rocket To The Moon, fresh from the “On Your Side” tour, a 32-date trek across the US with Anarbor, Valencia, Go Radio and Runner Runner. After an agonizingly long sound-check during which the crowd grew noticeably impatient, frontman Nick Santino greeted the room with a nervous, “Is there anyone out there who has heard of our band before?” Little need he worry though, for the chorus of screams and waves which followed confirmed that fans of Massachusetts band were definitely out in force. The screams increased in volume and excitement with opening track “She’s Killing Me”, followed by “Dakota”, another crowd favourite from debut album “On Your Side”. The heartfelt “Like We Used To” induces a swaying audience and not a few swooning girls, before final song “Mr. Right” brought them all back to their pogoing best. Pumped with adrenaline from A Rocket To The Moon’s set – they might not seem all that energetic on record but they certainly put on a show live – the crowd endures another tedious sound-check before on trot the four male members of New York pop-punkers We Are The In Crowd, who have already created quite a buzz through their appearances at the 2010 Warped Tour, opening for Hey Monday and Cartel on their previous co-headline tour and playing the “Glamour Kills” shows in early 2011. With the opening chords of “Carry Me Home” blaring, front woman Taylor Jardine bounces on to join her band mates, to appreciative cheers from the fans. It would be difficult not to compare Jardine to the current crop of American female vocalists (Hayley Williams, Cassadee Pope and Sierra Kusterbeck to name but a few), but tonight she makes an effort to cement her status as the biggest new girl in pop-punk, powering through “Never Be What You Want” and “Lights Out” from the band’s EP “Guaranteed To Disagree” and bounding around the tiny stage with relentless energy. A cover of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” offers a break mid-set, striking a guilty-pleasure chord with the audience who sing along with shameless abandon. “For The Win” and “Calendar Pages” precede the infectious “Both Sides Of The Story” which closes the set, showcasing the success of the partnership between Taylor Jardine and Jordan Eckes who share vocal duties on the track.

Whilst the reception for the support acts was far from poor, it’s not hard to remember why this show was a sellout. Headliners Mayday Parade, fresh from their weekend at Slam Dunk Festival, are by far tonight’s main event, with opener “Jamie All Over” producing the sort of ecstatic reception which you’d expect at a sold out gig. Judging by crowd reaction, the favourites of the night are no doubt some of the band’s earlier offerings, “When I Get Home You’re So Dead”, “I’d Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About” and “You Be The Anchor That Keeps My Feet On The Ground, I’ll Be The Wings That Keep Your Heart In The Clouds” yelled back at vocalist Derek Sanders at such volume he could quite easily have sat back and let the fans take over singing duties altogether. Thankfully, he refrains, and it’s obvious why the band have produced such an impressive turnout tonight. The set is rock-solid, and as a unit Mayday Parade have the successful chemistry of a well-oiled machine. The set “ends” with the three minute riot that is “Get Up”, a command which the crowd gladly obeys. Moments later though the band re-emerge for the obligatory, if slightly predictable, encore comprising the heartfelt piano ballad “Miserable At Best”, giving drummer and vocalist Jake Bundrick his 5 minutes and 17 seconds of fame, and “Jersey”, a last chance for the crowd to converge into a mass mosh-pit. With a final “thank you and goodnight” to the crowd, the band exit, but the beaming faces of the fans as they leave the venue suggest this isn’t a night they’ll be forgetting anytime soon.