A warped past
I've been going to the Vans Warped Tour since I was 15 years old. If you're keeping track that's been 8 solid years. For the past 4 years i kept saying, "ehh....I don't want to go this year, there are only a few bands playing that i want to see" or "i don't want to deal with the heat or the crowd". Yet every year i end up going and having a freakin blast! There really is something about warped tour that's enticing. Maybe it's being able to meet my favorite bands (i still have pictures of me with MXPX from YEARS ago) or maybe it's just learning about new bands. There's something totally rad about it.
I'd have to say my all time favorite warped tour experience was 2003 in NYC at Randall's Island. Ask any vet of warped tour about Randall's Island and you'll hear a huge long groan followed by "I fucking HATE Randall's Island". Regardless, I stood outside for a long time to get a good spot for Rancid because my love for Tim Armstrong is undying. Some look-at-me-i'm-so-tough-and-punk-rock type girl elbowed me so hard to get my spot that she gave me a black eye. Not caring too much I let her get in front of me right as the pit opened up like a storm cloud. Next thing I know, that same girl gets an elbow to the mouth. Three teeth spew out of her mouth onto the ground and she starts sobbing and dripping blood. It was all I could do not to laugh because she turned from a hardcore punk rocker to a (for lack of better terms) total wuss.
That sort of thing no longer happens on the warped tour and to be honest it bums me out. What I do love about it is that everyone here is still having a great time. I love seeing the lines like we had today for Mayday Parade, The Color Fred, and The Devil Wear's Prada. Just hundreds of kids waiting to shake the hands and get t-shirts signed by the bands that they admire and adore.
The bands and the crowds on this warped tour may be totally different than that 2003 warped tour and prior, but the passion and excitement is still all there. These kids get just as stoked for Jack's Mannequin's set as I was to see NOFX and get just as star struck to meet Gabe Saporta and Cobra Starship as I was to meet Less Than Jake.
It's just basically comforting to know that every kid at every date are the same stoked kids. It's refreshing that I can still see myself, mind you the 7 years ago me, in everyone that stops by to sign up for an AP subscription or get an autograph.
That aside, make sure that if you come to the next week of the tour to check out Cinematic Sunrise and stop by the AP tent to get their autographs. You won't regret it.
I'd have to say my all time favorite warped tour experience was 2003 in NYC at Randall's Island. Ask any vet of warped tour about Randall's Island and you'll hear a huge long groan followed by "I fucking HATE Randall's Island". Regardless, I stood outside for a long time to get a good spot for Rancid because my love for Tim Armstrong is undying. Some look-at-me-i'm-so-tough-and-punk-rock type girl elbowed me so hard to get my spot that she gave me a black eye. Not caring too much I let her get in front of me right as the pit opened up like a storm cloud. Next thing I know, that same girl gets an elbow to the mouth. Three teeth spew out of her mouth onto the ground and she starts sobbing and dripping blood. It was all I could do not to laugh because she turned from a hardcore punk rocker to a (for lack of better terms) total wuss.
That sort of thing no longer happens on the warped tour and to be honest it bums me out. What I do love about it is that everyone here is still having a great time. I love seeing the lines like we had today for Mayday Parade, The Color Fred, and The Devil Wear's Prada. Just hundreds of kids waiting to shake the hands and get t-shirts signed by the bands that they admire and adore.
The bands and the crowds on this warped tour may be totally different than that 2003 warped tour and prior, but the passion and excitement is still all there. These kids get just as stoked for Jack's Mannequin's set as I was to see NOFX and get just as star struck to meet Gabe Saporta and Cobra Starship as I was to meet Less Than Jake.
It's just basically comforting to know that every kid at every date are the same stoked kids. It's refreshing that I can still see myself, mind you the 7 years ago me, in everyone that stops by to sign up for an AP subscription or get an autograph.
That aside, make sure that if you come to the next week of the tour to check out Cinematic Sunrise and stop by the AP tent to get their autographs. You won't regret it.
posted by Nichole! at
9:14 PM
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