We arrived in Cardiff an hour and a half before the start of the meet and greet and so we crossed over the bridge to the other side of Cardiff University and sat in Costa where a stream of crew members and
Josh Montgomery of
The Summer Set came to get their caffeine fix before playing their hearts out on stage.We left at half 5 -fifteen minutes before the meet and greet - and stood outside the venue. Whilst we were waiting
Mikey from
For The Foxes came and gave us guitar pick necklaces which was pretty sweet.
The meet and greet started late but it really didn't matter. The
Mayday Parade guys are probably the nicest people i've ever met and will ever meet. We went over to
Jeremy Lenzo first who we met back in March when they were supporting
You Me At Six. As nice as ever, we got him to sign one of the posters for my mum who chickened out of turning up despite the fact she loves them. And in typical Jeremy fashion he wrote her a cheeky message saying "you should have come". Then we saw
Alex Garcia who thanked us for coming to which we replied no thank YOU for coming. We also told him to get well soon as he'd picked up the nasty cold going around at the moment. Bloody England.
Brooks Betts, who we also met in March, looked ridiculously adorable with all his hair cut off, cowboy boots and hat. I asked him to write his best joke in my
'Peter Rabbit' book and he said he doesn't have any. Nor does he use any pick up lines and he can't draw either so we settled for his favourite song. He may not have a best joke but he still made me laugh. It was much the same with
Derek Sanders who we had a chat to about their tour with
You Me At Six and then I got him to speak to my mum on the phone who said she was going to lie down because it was a bit surreal (told you she loved them!). Lastly we went to
Jake Bundrick who just like the others is super sweet and looked really happy. If
Mayday Parade can't make you smile then there really is no hope for you. Unfortunately, we left my dad in charge of taking the photo's so they're all blurry and awful. We went and stood by the barrier and yelled our goodbyes to
Jake who was the last to leave.
Natives were the first band on and they didn't disappoint. Opening with
Big Plans they got the crowd going, despite the fact they were playing songs we've never heard from their debut album which has yet to be released. They took their picture of the crowd and gave a spare one to a fan after playing their single
This Island. They bounced around the stage and played their hearts out letting us all know exactly who they are and ensuring that as many of us as possible will join them at their headline show at the Clwb Ifor Bach in December.
I didn't want them to finish their set but eventually New Jersey band
For The Foxes had to have their go. After meeting
Mikey outside I really wanted these guys to be good and boy were they. They had a variety of instruments, including a tambourine, and were having a whole lot of fun up there. To describe their set in 3 words I would say energetic, happy and for slow song
River lovely.
Between
For The Foxes and
The Summer Set, the equipment was changed over and packed away so as
Jim Thomas came on stage we frantically waved at him and got a wave back.
Admittedly, I'm not a huge
The Summer Set Fan. They have fun, catchy songs and
Jess Bowen can drum like crazy. I saw them back in April with
We Are The In Crowd and I wouldn't complain at seeing them live as they bring something to the show that no one else can. They offered everyone a good time and a bouncy set.
Roughly a minute before
Mayday Parade were due on stage, Meg decided it would be a good time to pass out and start having a dehydration induced fit. Honestly, I wasn't that concerned as like I said to the scared people around me "It's Megan" back in school it became almost a habit of hers to pass out at the most inconvenient times. She was pulled over the barrier and disappeared off to the medics.
Then the moment we had all been waiting for. The room went dark and on came
Mayday Parade. They blasted through the first part of their set which opened with
Oh Well, Oh Well followed by
Jersey, a song guaranteed to get everyone off their feet. Surprisingly (and luckily) the guys decided to play
Three Cheers For Five Years on this tour
sending the crowd wild. Playing the first song they ever wrote together was a decision everyone seemed happy about. Half way through their set the keyboard came out and we were treated to heart-breakers
Miserable At Best and
Stay. The crowd sang along to every word and the smiles on the bands' faces couldn't be shaken. Nor could the crowds' tears. Songs from
A Lesson In Romantics such as
Black Cat got the crowd yelling along with excitement whilst
Self-Titled tracks like
When You See My Friends had us all yelling along and crying. They 'finished' with
Jamie All Over but of course they came back out for their real last song
I'd Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About. Mayday Parade know how to work the crowd with a good range of songs and the biggest and cutest smiles on their faces whilst doing it. They move around the stage so everyone can see them and make eye contact which leaves you melted in a puddle on the floor.No one wanted the night to be over, the bands had left everyone speechless, ecstatic and longing for more. The thought of having to wait for them all to come back again is well and truly depressing.
I waited for people to go and then Meg found me. Apparently she didn't miss a song and was about 3 rows back from me the entire time. I saw Alex drop one of his picks earlier in the night so I asked the security person to get it for me and give it to Meg. He asked her if she was all right, laughed at her and then gave a bottle of water. Cheeky sod.
And as a side night
Jake has gold sparkly drums. I feel like everything else i've said is irrelevant after saying that.
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