Mayday Parade Prove Emo’s Not Dead at Red Rocks

Written by: Keyali Mikaela

There’s just something about hearing “Jamie All Over” echo through Red Rocks that hits different. On October 12th, Mayday Parade opened for All Time Low, and for about an hour, it felt like we all got to time travel straight back to 2008 — but with better lighting and way more emotional awareness.

They kicked things off with “Under My Sweater,” their latest single from Sad, the second installment of their three-part album dropping this month. The song’s nostalgic but fresh — a little more mellow, a little more grown-up — and the perfect way to ease into a set that blended heartbreak, hope, and full-blown sing-your-heart-out energy.

Then came the classics. “Jersey” and “I’d Hate to Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About” had the crowd losing their minds. You could feel how much this band still means to people — twenty years later, and everyone’s still screaming every lyric like it’s therapy.

The middle of the set brought some softer moments — “Piece of Your Heart,” “Kids in Love,” and “By The Way” — all drenched in that signature Mayday warmth. Derek Sanders’ voice still sounds like it’s made for crying in your car at 2AM, and when he looked out over the glowing Red Rocks crowd, it was honestly kinda emotional.

They closed with a trio of pure chaos and catharsis — “Oh Well, Oh Well,” “Black Cat,” and “Jamie All Over.” The second that last chorus hit, the whole amphitheatre was on fire (metaphorically, don’t worry). It was loud, messy, and perfect — exactly the way pop-punk should be.

After two decades, Mayday Parade still get it. They’re not just surviving the nostalgia wave — they’re riding it straight into a new era.