Another Warped Year
Another summer means another Warped Tour for me. Attending the Warped Tour is key event in my summer schedule each year. Something I look forward to with significant excitement. Even on years like this one where it seems that I don't have a lot of bands that I am specifically looking forward to, I am excited by the prospect of discovery. I've never left the Warped Tour event without at least one new solid musical discovery. This year is no exception.
Hit the event with Scott and Eiichi and crossed paths with Chiemi, Kumiko and Chris throughout the day. Weather started cool and overcast and ended clear and sunny. Enforcing our desire to make it a WT tradition, Scott, Eiichi and I wore plaid shorts like we did last year (with Claudia) at the Gorge and took a picture of it in the same style as last year's. Scott will no doubt post the pic.
There were some real changes to the tour this year. One main stage instead of two being the most noticeable. To offset that, the Ernie Ball stage was located down in the main bowl and their sets were timed to fill the gaps between the two. This gave a lot of up and coming acts a chance to be heard by the people wandering the merch tent mall that probably wouldn't have gotten ears on before. There were less bands on the line-up as well, which made the event feel a little smaller at times.
I'm sorry to have missed most of Under0Ath's set since they were first on the main stage but I enjoyed their last couple songs as we made our way down to the Event board to work out our schedules. Tons of conflicts this year where the few bands I wanted to see were all on stages at the same time. Even more than usual. In the end, I made only one choice that I wish I had chosen the unknown over the familiar.
Bands I watched (in order):
The Maine: Good set. Wish the lead singer had taken off his sunglasses. It made him seem pretentious. Great cover of Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard. Generally speaking, if a song by the Maine came up on my iPod, I wouldn't skip it. This was a respectable start to the day. Thanks go to Scott for this recommendation.
Fighting for Ithaca (local band): Went and watched these guys on the Ernie Ball stage. Musically fine, I was underwhelmed by their lead vocals. Saw 3 songs before I headed up to the top. Glad they got a chance to play on the Warped Tour. That has to be a highlight moment for them.
Forever the Sickest Kids: Caught their last 4 songs and was really impressed with the energy of it all. They all wore blue t-shirts for no apparent reason. I like the random goofiness of that decision. I'd like to see them again and hear more.
Senses Fail: Put on a great set, but played none of the songs I love by them off the first album. At this point I could have been watching We the Kings or have left their set to see all of You Me At Six who started 15 minutes later. This is, in my opinion, the only mistake I made as far as band picks all day. Senses Fail is a great band, but I should have picked one of the other two. The other mistake I made was not bringing sunscreen with me (which I have for years since the terrible Warped Tour sunburn of 04. )
You Me at Six (from the UK): Caught their last two and a half songs - blown away. Desperately wished I'd seen their whole set. These guys are this year's winner as my new discovery. I loved the songs I heard. It earned them a t-shirt purchase too. Stopped by their tent afterward to thank them for a good set and invite them to come back to Vancouver sometime so I could see them again. They promised they would. Let's hope they bring Hundred Reason's with them so I can finally see them too. I think this one was an Eiichi AND Chiemi recommendation.
Took a rest at this point and sat in the stands to watch Bad Religion. Again. I always seem to be sitting in the stands for them. It's weird how consistent that is.
VersaEmerge: Eiichi had already introduced me to these guys a while back. They are a very good. They draw easy and favourable comparisons to label-mates Paramore but they deserve a listen in their own right. Their lead singer noticed me during one song (just as I stepped forward from the sun into the shade the stage rigging cast) and oddly enough winked at me. I was amused by that, but it got funnier when she told the crowd at the beginning of the next song that she wanted them to 'move' for this song and it was easy, we just had to jump up and down. "All of you, even the only bald guy watching the set." Yeah. I got a shout out from Sierra Kusterbeck. Life is funny like that.
Kill the Lights: Caught the end of this set. Sounded good. They kept talking about how polite, how unflappable we Canadians were. "Man, it's impossible to insult you guys! So polite! Okay, do any of you have dead Mothers? Anything? Okay maybe that was too far!" It was fun. One of their guitarists reminded me of Emerson. This also amused me.
Madina Lake: You know. I should count this as a mistake, but I've already seen them and I knew that I wouldn't really enjoy their set, but it was fun and funny to make Scott watch them and I'm pretty sure Eiichi has some really nice shots since he was deep in the crush when the lead singer decided he needed to high five every one in the first two - three rows.
Alexisonfire: As always these guys laid down a monstrous and perfect set. This was Eiichi's first time seeing them and I'm glad that they did what they always do and simple tore through their set like men on a mission. Love these guys and I'm glad they dominated the main stage.
Bayside: caught the last couple songs of their set while I was avoiding hearing ANY 3oh3's who were down on the main stage being more popular than I can understand. Just happened that one of the songs Bayside played is the one I have on my iPod, so that was cool.
Cash Cash I mention them only because I was sitting near the stage where they were playing while I was waiting for 3oh3's to finish. They had the small crowd watching them going pretty good with their song "Party in Your Bedroom." I had to laugh at the keytar solo. Man, those things are popping up everywhere these days.
Merch purchases: Green "Atticus" t-shirt. I was wearing my red and black Atticus shirt for the event. Pink "Ramones" classic t-shirt for Natalia. Because she's cool like that. the "These lips belong to someone else" t-shirt from the You Me at Six guys. Which I am wearing right now as I type this. :)
I would have picked up the To Write Love on Her Arms hoodie but Chris didn't have any large. I will order it from the website at some point then as I'd like to have it.
Despite buying sunscreen midday I still managed to get a sunburn. I can feel the tightness of my skin on my head and face. Not a bad one. but a sunburn nonetheless. It's a small price to pay once a year for an event that never fails to be fun and worth while. Huge thanks to Moisander for the hard work to get us amazingly cheap tix for the event. Good times.
Hit the event with Scott and Eiichi and crossed paths with Chiemi, Kumiko and Chris throughout the day. Weather started cool and overcast and ended clear and sunny. Enforcing our desire to make it a WT tradition, Scott, Eiichi and I wore plaid shorts like we did last year (with Claudia) at the Gorge and took a picture of it in the same style as last year's. Scott will no doubt post the pic.
There were some real changes to the tour this year. One main stage instead of two being the most noticeable. To offset that, the Ernie Ball stage was located down in the main bowl and their sets were timed to fill the gaps between the two. This gave a lot of up and coming acts a chance to be heard by the people wandering the merch tent mall that probably wouldn't have gotten ears on before. There were less bands on the line-up as well, which made the event feel a little smaller at times.
I'm sorry to have missed most of Under0Ath's set since they were first on the main stage but I enjoyed their last couple songs as we made our way down to the Event board to work out our schedules. Tons of conflicts this year where the few bands I wanted to see were all on stages at the same time. Even more than usual. In the end, I made only one choice that I wish I had chosen the unknown over the familiar.
Bands I watched (in order):
The Maine: Good set. Wish the lead singer had taken off his sunglasses. It made him seem pretentious. Great cover of Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leppard. Generally speaking, if a song by the Maine came up on my iPod, I wouldn't skip it. This was a respectable start to the day. Thanks go to Scott for this recommendation.
Fighting for Ithaca (local band): Went and watched these guys on the Ernie Ball stage. Musically fine, I was underwhelmed by their lead vocals. Saw 3 songs before I headed up to the top. Glad they got a chance to play on the Warped Tour. That has to be a highlight moment for them.
Forever the Sickest Kids: Caught their last 4 songs and was really impressed with the energy of it all. They all wore blue t-shirts for no apparent reason. I like the random goofiness of that decision. I'd like to see them again and hear more.
Senses Fail: Put on a great set, but played none of the songs I love by them off the first album. At this point I could have been watching We the Kings or have left their set to see all of You Me At Six who started 15 minutes later. This is, in my opinion, the only mistake I made as far as band picks all day. Senses Fail is a great band, but I should have picked one of the other two. The other mistake I made was not bringing sunscreen with me (which I have for years since the terrible Warped Tour sunburn of 04. )
You Me at Six (from the UK): Caught their last two and a half songs - blown away. Desperately wished I'd seen their whole set. These guys are this year's winner as my new discovery. I loved the songs I heard. It earned them a t-shirt purchase too. Stopped by their tent afterward to thank them for a good set and invite them to come back to Vancouver sometime so I could see them again. They promised they would. Let's hope they bring Hundred Reason's with them so I can finally see them too. I think this one was an Eiichi AND Chiemi recommendation.
Took a rest at this point and sat in the stands to watch Bad Religion. Again. I always seem to be sitting in the stands for them. It's weird how consistent that is.
VersaEmerge: Eiichi had already introduced me to these guys a while back. They are a very good. They draw easy and favourable comparisons to label-mates Paramore but they deserve a listen in their own right. Their lead singer noticed me during one song (just as I stepped forward from the sun into the shade the stage rigging cast) and oddly enough winked at me. I was amused by that, but it got funnier when she told the crowd at the beginning of the next song that she wanted them to 'move' for this song and it was easy, we just had to jump up and down. "All of you, even the only bald guy watching the set." Yeah. I got a shout out from Sierra Kusterbeck. Life is funny like that.
Kill the Lights: Caught the end of this set. Sounded good. They kept talking about how polite, how unflappable we Canadians were. "Man, it's impossible to insult you guys! So polite! Okay, do any of you have dead Mothers? Anything? Okay maybe that was too far!" It was fun. One of their guitarists reminded me of Emerson. This also amused me.
Madina Lake: You know. I should count this as a mistake, but I've already seen them and I knew that I wouldn't really enjoy their set, but it was fun and funny to make Scott watch them and I'm pretty sure Eiichi has some really nice shots since he was deep in the crush when the lead singer decided he needed to high five every one in the first two - three rows.
Alexisonfire: As always these guys laid down a monstrous and perfect set. This was Eiichi's first time seeing them and I'm glad that they did what they always do and simple tore through their set like men on a mission. Love these guys and I'm glad they dominated the main stage.
Bayside: caught the last couple songs of their set while I was avoiding hearing ANY 3oh3's who were down on the main stage being more popular than I can understand. Just happened that one of the songs Bayside played is the one I have on my iPod, so that was cool.
Cash Cash I mention them only because I was sitting near the stage where they were playing while I was waiting for 3oh3's to finish. They had the small crowd watching them going pretty good with their song "Party in Your Bedroom." I had to laugh at the keytar solo. Man, those things are popping up everywhere these days.
Merch purchases: Green "Atticus" t-shirt. I was wearing my red and black Atticus shirt for the event. Pink "Ramones" classic t-shirt for Natalia. Because she's cool like that. the "These lips belong to someone else" t-shirt from the You Me at Six guys. Which I am wearing right now as I type this. :)
I would have picked up the To Write Love on Her Arms hoodie but Chris didn't have any large. I will order it from the website at some point then as I'd like to have it.
Despite buying sunscreen midday I still managed to get a sunburn. I can feel the tightness of my skin on my head and face. Not a bad one. but a sunburn nonetheless. It's a small price to pay once a year for an event that never fails to be fun and worth while. Huge thanks to Moisander for the hard work to get us amazingly cheap tix for the event. Good times.