What’s it like being a well-known alternative band out of Tallahassee Florida, that’s also known for it’s college town?
I’ve actually grown up here, it’s amazing and just so many supportive kids.

In 2007, you lost band member Jason Lancaster, how did you feel as a band?
We were a band before he was in the band, so I mean we were okay when he left.

Did you struggle at all after losing a band member?
Well he left in the middle of tour [laughs], so that was really hard but we got back home in Tallahassee and figured out what we needed to do so everything worked out in the end.

The new album, Anywhere But Here was released in October 2009.What inspired you the most while writing this album?
We are on tour 80%-90% of the year, so about 8 months out of the year [laughs] so we wrote while being on tour, and all the songs were based on the feeling of being away from home, relationships, family etc.

How did the fans respond to your new album?
I really didn’t know what to expect because of everything, but I hope that the fans enjoy our album and I’m really looking forward to playing the new songs on Take Action Tour.

You leave Sunday (January 24th) to co-headline Take Action Tour 2010, is there anything else that fans should keep an eye out for?
We are going to be doing Warped Tour 2010 also, and I’m really looking forward to that. I’m not really sure about any other tours that we may be doing right now, but fans should definitely keep an eye out.

You recently have switched from Fearless to Atlantic records, why did you make the switch?
We have always talked to Atlantic, and actually did before we talked to Fearless but they told us to sign to another label first and then they would take us on. We were really excited to sign to Atlantic, and really excited to finally be able to tour in a bus.

That being said, how does it feel to tour in a bus rather than van?
Amazing! Touring on a bus is seriously so much fun, and touring in a van can make things a lot harder. Plus now I can finally sleep! [laughs] but even just sleeping helps with the way we perform and write.

I’m friends with your guitar tech, Nick Froelich, and he mentioned to me you a big fan of reading. Who’s your favorite author?
[Laughs] I wouldn’t say I have a favorite author or anything, but I will say that I love reading a series by Stephen King but I’m a pretty big nerd so I would have to say that I do enjoy the Harry Potter books.

Where are you hoping to see yourself or the band in 5 years?
I would really love to see us not only a band but still touring in a bus, and doing an arena tour would be incredible!

Do you have any advice for inspiring musicians who want to make it in the music industry?
My advice would be to work hard and dedicate yourself 100% to the band, push yourself harder and harder, and never give up. We got where we are now from following Warped Tour in 2006 and handing out our CD’s to people in the lines.

The album is introducted with one of the tracks they recently released on their MySpace, titled “Kids In Love”. The song carries you away with the infectious drum beats, just as the guitar riffs can make you literally dream of two kids falling in love. This is no surprise to Mayday Parade’s former album, but I was ready to hear something that stood out from the rest. Once I had listened to the next track, “Anywhere But Here”, that’s exactly what I got, and it was just the beginning. I felt as if it was very “Ohio Is For Lovers”, but obviously without the screaming, cutting wrists or blacking eyes. Overall, way better.

An intro, in my eyes, is one of the most important parts of a track, and once I approached “The Silence”, I was sold. The song breaks it in with guitar solos worthy of a stint in Guitar Hero (which I may have caught myself air-playing along to). Then kicks in the solid classic vocals of Derek Sanders, deeper than ever. The chorus has taken over, and this is what I call perfection.

Can you feel the transformation? Can you hear the charts calling? I sure can, and they deserve it. Anywhere But Here may just be the most awaited Mayday Parade album yet. It’s been two years since their last album release, and the fans are ready for what’s to come. Though there is already a conflict about the change of style from former Mayday fans, not accepting that it’s still the same old band, they should appreciate the thrilling new twist. I believe that it shows a lot about them as a band, not following what everyone wants or expects, but writing music the way they want it, and that’s what a lot of bands are afraid of nowadays.

Another reason why I love this album is the variety of music you have to choose from. They supported not only the new version of Mayday, but also a bit of the old as well. Throwing in an acoustic called “I Swear This Time I Mean It”, reminding you of their former softer tracks such as “Three Cheers for Five Years”. Though it will never sound the same as before without Jason Lancaster’s vocals, who was a former vocalist and left the band in 2007, shortly after the A Lesson in Romantics album recording was completed. Although Lancaster did a good job, I believe that Sanders sounded incredible on his own in Anywhere But Here.

I can only tell you my open opinion about the new record, but if you can accept Mayday Parade’s new skin also, and an incredible album full of brilliant lyrics, vocals and air guitar sessions, I’d highly suggest getting this record yourself when released in stores on October 6th, 2009.

Overall Rating: 9/10

Mayday Parade is:

Derek Sanders – lead vocals, keyboard
Jeremy Lenzo – bass guitar, vocals
Alex Garcia – lead guitar
Brooks Betts – rhythm guitar
Jake Bundrick – drums, backing vocals

Best Tracks: “The Silence” , “If You Can’t Live Without Me Why Aren’t You Dead?”, “Get Up”, “I Swear This Time I Mean It”.