Mayday Parade arose from the merger of two popular Tallahassee local bands,
Kid Named Chicago and
Defining Moment, whose combination helped the emo-pop unit amass a quick buzz around its hometown scene. The sextet was initially comprised of vocalist
Derek Sanders, vocalist/guitarist
Jason Lancaster, bassist/vocalist
Jeremy Lenzo, drummer
Jake Bundrick, and guitarists
Alex Garcia and
Brooks Betts. After playing shows on the 2005 Warped Tour, along with sporadic gigs alongside bands like
Armor for Sleep,
the Rocket Summer,
the Starting Line, and
Emery, the band hooked up with Fearless Records in August 2006 and released its debut EP,
Tales Told by Dead Friends, three months later.
Lancaster left
Mayday Parade in March 2007 and formed Go Radio; meanwhile,
Mayday Parade signed with Atlantic Records and issued their first album without
Lancaster,
Anywhere But Here, in late 2009. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide