So here it is… Yet another summer spent with Mayday Parade, and another summer spent on the Vans Warped Tour. Making this my third year on the tour, I felt a little more comfortable with some of the venues, knowing how to get around and where things would be. Also, there’s always a good amount of people who are consistently on this run, so it’s nice to have some familiar faces to turn to. 

With some of you that are not so familiar with the tour, it is one of the biggest festivals of the summer, making this also the 17th anniversary of the tour. 41 cities in 51 days. Leaving only 10 days off, some being drive days, my time on the road with the band was non-stop. If it was shooting all day, editing photos or putting together video updates, I was consistently busy.

June 16th, 2012

Salt Lake City, UT.

Utah State Fairpark

Tyler (MP merch) and Dan (MP merch assistant) break open the tents on the first day. Clean tents on this tour are a little hard to find.

Jake Bundrick (Mayday Parade, drums) working out on rehearsal day (day before the first show)

This is Dan. He helped out Tyler doing merch this summer. It was his first run with MP. 

Monster Energy Stage, day one set-up. This stage has always been an all time favorite of mine, even before I was ever on the tour. The sound is great, it casts great shadows for photographers and isn’t too small/big. This was our stage for 2012.

Molly Torres (Sumerian Records rep)

Jordan Eckes, Cameron Hurley, Rob Chianelli, Mike Ferri (WATIC) and Jake of MP walking to get lunch at some awesome mexican place. I don’t remember what it was called, but there ended up being a crap ton of people from the tour there.

While walking to the mexican restaurant, I saw this. Thought it was funny.

Mike Finn (Mayday Parade tour manager)

Jake Bundrick

Alex Garcia of Mayday Parade (guitarest)

Derek Sanders of Mayday Parade (vocals)

Vinny Vegas (All Time Low merch)

And so it started… Derek always receives a lot….and I mean a lot of bracelets from fans on tour. He usually keeps them on until the end of the tour. Being that Warped is more than a month long…it was a challange to see how many he could keep on. By the end of the tour, it looked like he was wearing a full cast. You can only imagine his tan line haha

Mayday Parade set list

Derek, Brooks, Jake before the set in SLC

Salt Lake City crowd

Jack of All Time Low in SLC

June 17, 2012

Denver, CO

Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Alex playing some guitar in the back lounge. I think Alex plays guitar more than anyone I know. Never stops shreddin’

Catering was inside the Mile High Stadium. Denver Broncos was one of my favorite football teams when I was younger. I’m sure everyone was pretty excited to eat lunch near the locker rooms. Pretty cool experience.

Dan (MP merch assistant)

Cabbage (Jermey Lenzo, MP bassist), Brooks, and Mike Finn

Alex and Jake

Bradley Lake (drum tech for MP). 

Kyle Hartland (Fueled By Ramen rep)

Andre Simons (You Me At Six merch)

Jake warming up before the set… Recently Jake had surgery on his vocal cords. He did not start singing live until mid way of the tour. 

Alex

Derek

Jake

Brooks and Cabbage

Max of You Me At Six soundchecking before their set.

Max of You Me At Six

Josh of You Me At Six

Max

Jordan of New Found Glory

Ian of New Found Glory

Jack, Rian, Alex, and Zack of All Time Low

Alex, Rian and Zack of All Time Low

June 18th, 2012

Drive from Denver, CO > Las Vegas, NV

The bus stopped on the way to Vegas… This was the most “painful photo” I took all tour. Let me explain… I got off the bus around 10am or so to check out why we stopped, grabbed my camera and went outside. I had just woken up and was wearing no socks or shoes. I saw the scenery where we were and wanted to get some pictures of the bus. I walked off the bus and got these terrible little splinter things from the dessert stuck in my feet. I was walking around on them for about 3 minutes along with the heat from the ground coming into my feet. It was terribly painful. I walked onto the bus and was picking at these little splinters for about 20 minutes. Ow.

Brad sittin shotgun on the drive

Brooks dazing away on the long drive.

Day 3

Off Day, Las Vegas, NV

Derek 

Derek and Alan Mac (Mayday Parade guitar tech)

Mayday Parade band and crew picture (minus our tour manager). It was Brooks and Cabbages birthday and we were in Vegas. We went out to dinner at PF Changs and ended up at the Hard Rock Hotel for Jack All Time Lows birthday bash. It was an interesting night.

Jake and an alien

Sucks that I wasn’t “allowed” to bring my camera into the Hard Rock Hotel suite…

June 19th, 2012

Las Vegas, NV

Mike Ferri (WATIC), Cabbage and Derek preparing to jump off the Stratsophere.

Christina Lupinacci (WATIC manager) getting a little antsy to jump.

Mike Ferri

Cabbage

Cabbage

And the jump!!!

June 20th, 2012

Las Vegas, NV

Luxor Hotel Parking Lot

Brad hard at work

David of Breathe Carolina

Kyle of Breathe Carolina

Kyle of Breathe Carolina

Travis (All Time Low merch assistant)

Travis (All Time Low merch assistant)

Derek, Brooks and Cabbage

Mac (Mayday Parade guitar tech)

Brooks signing

Jake Bundrick

June 21st, 2012

Irvine, CA

Orange County Great Park

Craig (Four Year Strong tech) and Mike Finn

Craig (Four Year Strong tech) and Mike Finn

Tay Jardine of We Are The In Crowd

Alex of All Time Low and Tay Jardine

Alex of All Time Low and Tay Jardine

Rob Dyer of Skate For Cancer

Alex Garcia resting after the set

Brooks after the set

June 22nd, 2012

Pomona, CA

Pomona Fairplex

June 23rd, 2012

San Fran, CA

AT&T Park Lot A

John Reppetto (Four Year Strong tech)

Derek

June 24th, 2012

Ventura, CA

Ventura County Fair

A few days before Pomona I watched Taking Back Sunday next to Liam from We Are The Ocean. We chatted a bit after being introduced to eachother. I told him I caught his bands set on one of the first few days and really enjoyed it. We hung out a few days in a row and I offered to do some shots of the band once we get to a nice location. We did these shots right on a beach in Ventura, CA. Great guys and great music.

June 25th-26th

Los Angeles, CA

I thought we were going to have a nice two days off in LA. Nope. I guess working in this industry, you will never officially get days off. We went in with Mike Green to do a song that will be released in the fall. I can’t say what song it is/what it is for, but it is great. 

Alex and Brooks in the studio

Cabbage

Cabbage

Brooks and Derek talking outside the studio

Alex, Brooks and Derek

Mike Green (Los Angeles music producer)

Cabbage in the studio

Brooks in the studio

Alex tracking guitars

Brooks tracking guitars

Derek tracking vocals

Derek tracking vocals

Derek tracking vocals

Jake warming up to track vocals

Jake tracking vocals

Jake 

Gang vocals

Gang vocals

June 27th, 2012

Chula Vista, CA

Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre

Jake before the set, warming up.

Brooks and Derek

Brooks shreddin’

Brooks and his rrlfriend

June 28th, 2012

Glendale, AZ

Cambelback Ranch

Derek riding his bike. I don’t know where we were coming from, but all I remember from this day is that we all spent majority of the day on the bus. Not being from AZ and used to the 100 degree weather everyday will do that to you.

Mike Ferri

Jake Paulson

Mayday, thank god, played at a later time that day. I believe it was around 8:20 or something. It was above 100 degrees the entire day. I remember walking to the stage with the band around 8 or so and the heat from the pavement was rising and you could easily cook eggs or something on the pavement, haha.

Mayday Parade

Brad Lake

Jack of All Time Low watching the set, side stage

June 30th, 2012

San Antonio, TX

AT&T Center

Jordan of Every Time I Die

Jordan of Every Time I Die

Jordan of Every Time I Die

Derek getting some shut eye

Jon Dunford (You Me at Six tech)

San Antonio crowd

Brooks

Cabbage

Cabbage

July 3rd, 2012

Houston, TX

Reliant Center Parking Lot

Derek Sanders

Brooks Betts

Mac loading off stage

Alex Garcia

July 3rd, 2012

Dallas, TX

Gexa Energy Pavillion

Ashley, Cabbages girlfriend, hanging out on the bus

Cabbage and Ashley

Joe of Transit

Joe of Transit

Cabbage …. pt 1

Cabbage pt 2

AH!

Keith of Every Time I Die

Jake

Mayday Parade blackjack……

MP blackjack…..

Kyle of Breathe Carolina decided to come on stage and since “Jamie All Over” last minute… He ran on stage from the barricade…. finished the song…. then jumped into the photo pit and ran into the crowd and sprinted back to his bus immediately after he sang. Haha

Dan, Travis, Brad, Vinny, Tyler

July 4th, 2012

Day Off

Somewhere in Missouri

John Reppetto (FYS tech)

 

Tyler (MP merch)

We went camping with a bunch of bands. Four Year Strong, Every Time I Die, Title Fight, The Used, A Loss For Words, and way more. There was a lot going on that day from corn hole, to jumping off this bridge. No one really knew how shallow the water was, but everyone jumped at one point.

I’m not exactly sure who the guy is at the top. But around 2am or so, Derek, Brooks, Brad, Cabbage and I decided to head over to the bridge. We made a pact that some of us will jump off the top of the bridge. It was pitch black out and we had a few drinks. I am terrified of heights and we all eventually did it besides Brad and Cabbage. (Below is our 4th of July video and you will see all of us jumping within the last 2 minutes of the video)

Brooks taking a dip

BBQ!

Alan of Four Year Strong playing cornhole

Alan and Joe of FYS

Craig (FYS tech)

Josh, Mike Finn, Craig and John

John and Chris

Cabbage and Dan

Cabbage and Dan

Finn

Brad Lake

Liz (Blush Clothing rep)

Kate Truscot (4fini)

Brooks

Liz

Sara (Girlz Garage) and I

Alex Garcia

Sara and Ashley

July 5th, 2012

Aurburn Hills, MI

The Palace of Auburn Hills

Derek

BANGARANG

Alex

July 7th, 2012

Chicago, IL

First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre

Simone of So-So Happy Clothing Co

Derek signing at the AP tent

Brad Lake

Mac

July 8th, 2012

Shakopee, MN

Canterbury Park

We were in Minnesota and it was Brad, our drum techs 21st birthday. We were riding from Chicago to Minnesota when he turned 21 at 12 o’clock. The band bought him 2 bottles o patron, and a huge birthday cake. 

Jake and Jes

Brad getting ready for birthday shots…

Travis from We The Kings came over to watch the set and say Happy Birthday to Brad.

Travis Clark

Everyday Derek would call me on stage to do a crowd shot so I would upload it on the bands facebook and everyone can tag themselves within the next few days. This day, he called Brad and I both out.

July 9th, 2012

Bonner Springs, KS

Sandstone Ampitheatre

Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens

Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens

Justin Hills of Sleeping With Sirens

Justin of Sleeping With Sirens

SWS

July 10th, 2012

Noblesville, IN

Klipsch Music Center

Patrick Cooley, Monster Energy Stage monitor guy

Mac and Brad

Jake Bundrick on drums

John Dunford

Danny K (All Time Low guitar tech)

July 11th, 2012

Cleveland, OH

Blossom Music Center

It was Dereks birthday on the 11th. Lauren, his girlfriend flew out to Ohio to surprise him. She woke him up in his bunk wearing a giraffe mask. She brought it all the way from Florida. Now you all know the story behind the giraffe mask… 

The man the myth the legend, Adam Elmakias. Got to hang with Elmakias a little more than usual on this run. What a great guy. 

Anti Flag

Anti Flag

Anti Flag

July 12th, 2012

Burgettstown, PA

First Niagara Pavillion

Alex of Invisible Children (below) and Rob Dyer

Alex of Invisible Children (below) and Rob Dyer

Mike Ferri of WATIC

Dua of Bless The Fall

Matt of Bless The Fall

Lauren and Derek

Lauren and Derek

Lauren and Derek

Jon Dunford

Derek stretching

Alex turned into a giraffee

Mike putting a birthday hat on Derek as he walks on stage

The entire crowd had birthday hats too!

Mac isn’t a very happy camper

Everyday Derek would ask the kids to crowd surf their way up to the barricade and try to give him a high five. There was not one day where more than 10 kids touched his hands. The security for every show were very mad about this haha. 

Alex with a birthday hat, mid set

July 13th, 2012

Holmdel, NJ

PNC Bank Arts Center

Tay Jardine of WATIC

Jordan Eckes of WATIC

Cameron Hurley of WATIC

Jake Bundrick

Travis Clark of We The Kings

Brooks

July 14th, 2012

Montreal, QC

Parterre IIe Notre Dame at Parc Jean-Drapeau

Jeffree Star. 

This venue was a little insane. I had been here before. I always regret not having my own scooter or something for this day. In 2010, I must have walked this 2 mile walk to get to the venue over 5 times. This year, I ended up catching a few rides on a golf cart with friends. Talk about being lazy.

Jake and I caught a ride back from the set. Met some new friends….

Cewy of You Me At Six

Max of You Me At Six

Max shooting paint balls at the bridge that was a few hundred feet from us. 

July 15th, 2012

Toronto, ON

The Flats At Molson Canadian Ampitheatre

Four Year strong camp working out in the pouring rain

Travis

Joshia Van Dien, photographer for Pierce The Veil

Alex hanging out in the rain

Matt Flyzik (All Time Low tour manager)

Alfi Sculy of We Are The Ocean

Brooks

Brad and Derek dancing

About to play mainstage for the first time ever…

Vinny

Mayday Parade about to play mainstage for the first time ever

Mainstage

Jon Colsbey (We The Kings merch assistant)

July 17th, 2012

Darien Center, NY

Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

Jon Dunford

Signing at Invisible Children Tent

Jenna of Tonight Alive and I did a photo shoot for So-So Happy Clothing. The clothing company will never use these images because they never told me they wanted strictly live photos and photos of her signing with the gear on. It is okay because these images will no go in my portfolio and I got to meat and hang out with the Tonight Alive guys after this a bunch. They are sweet and from Australia. I like their accents.

I had only been on one roller coaster ride before this date. I was forced to go on the biggest one at the amusement park after the show was over. It was an upside down roller coaster too. I did it. And I will never do it again. 

Evan Kirkeldell (All Time Low front of house guy) playing some games at Six Flags

Matt Flyzik (All Time Low TM)

Evan and Alex 

July 18th, 2012

Scranton, PA

Toyota Pavillion

Mike Finn

Brad and Mac

Scranton crowd was wild

Jenna of Tonight Alive

Jenna of Tonight Alive

Jenna of Tonight Alive

July 19th, 2012

Boston, MA

Comcast Center

Cabys sunburn, haha.

Jon Dunford

This is Chelsea and her friend. Boston was somewhat like a hometown show for me because I had gone to school there for two years. A few freinds came out and we had a blast. Chelsea is wearing a Lens Bracelet. So sick.

Derek Sanders

July 20th, 2012

Camden, NJ

Susquehanna Bank Center

John Becker

Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly

July 22st, 2012

Hartford, CT

Comcast Theatre

Derek just hanging out…I think our band/crew spent majority of our summer in this trailer..

Easily one of my favorite images from tour

Another one of my favorites

Trailer sesh

Jake Paulson

Josh from Every Avenue

Cameron, Jordan, Rob, John…WATIC trailer sesh

Molly Torres

Jordan of WATIC

Adam Elmakias

July 24th, 2012

Columbia, MD

Merriweather Post Pavillion

Maryland had to be the most hectic day. Usually we played the Monster Stage everyday. This day, we were moved to mainstage for a second time. Being that all the bands gear is on one truck that holds all the gear, our crew had to move it all the way down hills, over tree branches, past catering and into the Pavillion. Being that our tour manager was off sight that day, I helped out Brad and Mac pushing all this gear, from drums, to guitars, to cabs, everything, down these huge hills. Usually I wouldn’t do something like that, but damn. What a good 9AM workout.

Jake 

Mayday Parade playing to Maryland 

Derek Sanders

Jake

Derek

Alex Garcia

Dan Schein

July 25th, 2012

Virginia Beach, VA

Farm Bureau Live

Derek, Cabbage and Jake with Stacey of Teen Mom

July 26th, 2012

Atlanta, GA

Aaron’s Amphitheater

Jakes nephew came to visit. He is a little QT pie.

Zack of All Time Low throwing the football around

Zack of ATL

Jack of ATL

Jack

Jack…

Jordan Eckes and Ziggy Williamson (WATIC TM)

Rob Chianelli

Alex and his girlfriend Lauren

Travis Zachary 

Travis Zachary …. tour life

July 27th, 2012

Orlando, FL

Central FL Fairgrounds

Derek and his daughter, Grey

Derek and Grey

Derek, Grey, Lauren and Mr. and Mrs. Sanders

Jake practicing before the set with Bailey

Orlando, FL crowd

July 28th, 2012

West Palm Beach, FL

Cruzan Ampitheatre

Danny Duncan of We The Kings

We The Kings

Hunter of We The Kings

July 30th, 2012

Charlotte, NC

Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre

Jake on his new practive kit made by SJC Drums

Craig of Twin Atlantic

Twin Atlantic

Ryan of Twin Atlantic

Craig of Twin Atlantic doing an acoustic set outside of our bus

Rob Chianelli of WATIC

Derek and I were walking to our stage and the lead singer of Bless The Fall called us out on stage, he mentioned Mayday Parade and if anyone liked them…a whole lot of yells came from the crowd. He said, “Whoever wants to crowd surf up here, you can kiss Derek on the cheek if you make it” 

Then he tried kissing Derek…

Alex Garcia

Cabbage

The Monster Energy Semi Truck of gear

July 31st, 2012

Cincinati, OH

Riverbend Music Cener

Derek

Jake

Jake

Chelsea Grin band and crew photo

Motionless In White band and crew photo

Derek signing to fans after the set

Cabbage finishing the last few fans to sign

Matt and Brad, Greasers

Grieco, Bobby, Vinny, Billy, Travis. Greasers

Greasers group pic

Josh of Every Ave. Greasers

Travis and Grieco. Greasers

Tasty. Greasers

Brad and Vinny. Greasers

August 4th, 2012

Auburn, WA

White River Amphitheare

Gig Life group photo

Gig life

Monster Energy Stage group photo

MGK

MGK

MGK

MGK