Bullet For My Valentine
Photo by Steve Trager
|
For
more than 10 years, the Vans Warped Tour has become a staple in
showcasing a variety of musical talent crossing both the semi-known
artists to the well-off popular artists that have set a trend in
today's concert goings. The annual Vans Warped Tour has dramatically
outgrown its initial size from showcasing just two stages in 1995,
to having more then several stages with atleast 100 bands performing
continuously throughout the entire day. The Vans Warped Tour has
earned itself a notch in the ever popular summertime treat to both
soak up the sun and enjoy a well rounded variety of bands that also
includes a local stage as well.
This year alone, the Vans Warped Tour has undergone a drastic change,
with adding a total of 10 stages and still having 100 bands all
performing during the day with separated time slots. It becomes
more than a chore to keep up with every single band performing.The
Vans Warped Tour does give the fan an up close and personal opportunity
to catch performances on two main stages side by side with 30 minute
sets, as well as other stages surrounding the venue, complete with
BMX and Skater Competitions on the grounds to entertain all fans.
The Vans Warped Tour has become the voice of the ever-growing musical
tapestry of PUNK, ROCK, and ALTERNATIVE artists that have not only
earned themselves a vast following, they have stuck out like a sore
thumb year after year on a timely basis. I personally always hang
at these types of events where you can listen to some great bands,
get personal photo opportunities with bands and even walk home with
signed merchandise from several inked sponsors throughout the entire
day.
Bullet For My Valentine
Photo by Steve Trager
|
As
a music fan myself, I particularly enjoyed performances by BULLET
FOR MY VALENTINE, JOAN JETT, LESS THEN JAKE, and NOFX among others
on the two main stages. Nothing makes the Vans Warped Tour complete
without it actually making the local news for excessive heat exposure,
as local TV crews filmed segments from the well over 100 degree
heat saturated day.This years Vans Warped Tour seemingly outdone
last years with several new faces added to the bill that included
ARMOR FOR SLEEP, CARTEL, SILVERSTEIN, and HELMET, who have actually
never performed on this Tour until this year.
There is a lot one can say about every Vans Warped Tour since it
has become a large showcase of popular bands that have either grown
outside this tour or have just stumbled in for kicks during the
summer. I do remember various other bands that have come and gone
from this tour, but in the last few years there are a few bands
that have continuously revitalized their sets show after show on
the Vans Warped Tour this year alone. Mind you, the Vans Warped
Tour is geared for more of the younger generation that labels most
of today's bands "EMO," yet it is still a fun and exciting
time each year as the music changes on a timely basis.
It is always hard to keep up with every single band playing basically
at the same time on the other stages other then being situated at
the two main stages. Each one rotates back and fourth, quick set
changes and every band performs for 30 minutes. Where does the time
actually go? I would have to say that with some of the bands I wasn't
familiar with, I never ventured to those stages to catch any of
them simply because there were only, say, a handful of bands that
seem to be the big attraction again this year.
This is the type of tour where you can get more exercise running
from stage to stage to say catch one or two songs from each artists.
However, as always the Vans Warped Tour seems to put certain key
bands on later in the day when it gets to Camden, which is a good
thing simply because you get through ones you never heard or ones
that you seem to know something about from others. Then in the middle
of the day there are a handful of bands that get the pits moving
and the crowd surfing nonstop, which sometimes can be overrated
and or annoying to those actually there to be entertained.
There are some key performances that pretty much stand out this
year, especially old-school rocker JOAN JETT who came on in the
middle of day and kicked out old favorites " Bad Reputation,"
"Crimson & Clover," and the infamous rock anthem that
stapled her musical career in the eighties "I Love Rock N Roll."
Bullet For My Valentine
Photo by Steve Trager
|
Other
bands that rocked out were HELMET, who shredded on "Unsung,"
and of course straight from Wales United Kingdom BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
who have taken off like a rocket with their latest CD. BULLETS live
renditions from The Poison, featuring "Tears Don't Fall,"
"All These Things I Hate," and "The Poison."
I personally enjoy overseas rock bands like these guys; their stage
presence and energy alone creates that vibe that you're at some
real rock show for that brief moment while they cram more songs
in their set than possible in 30 minutes. If you are a true hardcore
guitar hero, then this band's set was outspoken by a long shot.
Overall, this year's Vans Warped Tour seemingly outshined with a
lot of newer bands and a stage completely hosted by Vagrant Records
Artists, which included SAVES THE DAY, THE BLEED, and ALEXISONFIRE
among others.
One thing about the Vans Warped Tour is that the tour merchandise
is quite cheap, something other major bands should consider. Yeah,
I know it's all about making a profit these days, but damn, I have
seen shirts for 35 to 45 dollars a pop. It is nice for the price
of one ticket you get over 100 bands and a decibel overload that
only Vans Warped Tour can create, summer after summer. None truer
words can describe this whole day: "NO REST FOR THE VANS WARPED
TOUR."
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