by Corey AparMayday Parade resulted from the merger of two popular Tallahassee local bands, Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment, which helped the newly minted melodic rock unit amass a quick buzz around its hometown scene upon forming in the mid-2000s. The sextet was comprised of vocalist Derek Sanders, vocalist/guitarist Jason Lancaster, bassist/vocalist Jeremy Lenzo, drummer Jake Bundrick, and guitarists Alex Garcia and Brooks Betts. Playing some dates on the 2005 Warped Tour, along with random shows alongside bands like Armor for Sleep, the Rocket Summer, the Starting Line, and Emery, the band hooked up with Fearless Records in August 2006, releasing its debut EP, Tales Told by Dead Friends, three months later. Lancaster left Mayday Parade in March 2007.