Thaïs Parvez
The atmosphere surrounding the Razzmatazz venue already hinted at an epic night. Mayday Parade returned to Barcelona, once again accompanied by their longtime tour mates, All Time Low.
But before the pop-punk anthems began to roar, Hot BuZz (Mag) had an exclusive sit-down with Derek Sanders, the charismatic frontman of the Florida band. We chatted about their 20-year career, his love for the city, and some surprising tour anecdotes involving All Time Low, which, believe it or not, include intense sessions of “Dungeons & Dragons.”
Mayday Parade in Barcelona: Tapas and skate bars with the Nevermind vibe
It is no secret that international bands love Spain, but Mayday Parade’s connection with Barcelona goes a step further. Derek confessed that as soon as they landed, the group didn’t waste any time:
“We arrived around 3:00 PM, checked into the hotel, and headed straight to the boardwalk for some tapas.”
But the most authentic moment was their visit to Nevermind, the iconic skate bar in the El Raval neighborhood. “The vibe of that place is incredible, with people skating inside… we loved it,” Derek remarked.
For a band that grew up in alternative culture, finding spots with that kind of energy in Europe is always a treat.
Mayday Parade’s ambitious EP project: “Sweet,” “Sad,” and “Sugar”
We discussed their recent release strategy. Instead of the classic 12-song album, the band has opted to fragment their music into thematic EPs: “Sweet”, “Sad”, and the upcoming “Sugar”.
Why split the content?
Derek explained that this “ambitious strategy” has helped them maintain momentum and celebrate their 20th anniversary more dynamically. “Normally, you release an album and then go a long time without new music. Putting it out in pieces like this keeps the fans engaged.”
He also shared an exclusive: “Sugar”, which drops this year, is likely his favorite of the three.
The challenge of emotional labels in the recent EPs
While they tried to give each EP a specific emotional “color” (happier songs on “Sweet”, ballads on “Sad”), Derek admits they always end up following their instincts: “Sometimes we try to make things thematic, but it never quite works out. We just record the songs we like most and fit them in.”
20 years of friendship: From van tours to Dungeons & Dragons
Seeing Mayday Parade and All Time Low on the same bill feels like stepping back into 2007.
Derek looked back fondly on their early days touring in vans, playing small clubs where you could already feel a special energy.
The “nerdier” side of the current tour with All Time Low
What do they do now that they aren’t partying as hard as they did at 22?
They play Dungeons & Dragons. It turns out that Alex Gaskarth, the lead singer of All Time Low, is an expert “Dungeon Master.” As Derek confessed to us, “It’s my first time playing D&D, and Alex is incredible, he’s like a master.”
Disney covers and the “house hire” songs
At Hot BuZz (Mag), we like to go off-script, and Derek gave us some great moments during our lightning round:
- Disney pop-punk: Following their cover of Remember Me, Derek confessed he would love to take on the Mary Poppins soundtrack, specifically the song Feed the Birds.
- The “save from a house fire” song: If he had to save just one pop-punk anthem, we didn’t make it easy for him. We asked him to choose between The Anthem (Good Charlotte), Ocean Avenue (Yellowcard), Fat Lip (Sum 41), or Check Yes, Juliet (We The Kings). After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally chose the unique energy of Fat Lip by Deryck Whibley and company.
- The plan that ends in disaster: When asked who the “Fred from Scooby-Doo” of the band (the one who comes up with plans that fail) is, Derek didn’t hesitate: “Probably me.”
Looking to the future: Mayday Parade in 2036
Where will we see the band in 10 years? “I hope we’re still doing this,” Derek said with a smile. “After 20 years, you start thinking about the future more, but as long as we can still jump around on stage and make music, I’ll be very grateful.”
At Hot BuZz (Mag), it’s clear to us that the new generation of fans is ready to take the baton and keep jumping along with them, whether it’s in a 20,000-capacity arena in London or an intimate venue in Barcelona.
We also confessed that, as die-hard followers, we’ll be right there giving it our all at their future shows.
Do you want to discover more curiosities and fun stories from Mayday Parade’s time in Barcelona? Don’t miss the full interview on the Hot BuZz (Mag) YouTube channel!
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