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 THE
ACADEMY IS…
HOME
BASE: Chicago, IL
WHO’S WHO: William Beckett (vocals);
Adam Siska (bass); Andy Mrotek (drums); Tom Conrad (guitar);
Mike Carden (guitar)
CHECK OUT: Almost Here (FUELED BY
RAMEN; fueledbyramen.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15–8/13
These Chi-Town boys may’ve gotten a taste of Warped Tour
last year when they played for about two weeks on the Maurice Stage,
but it looks like a taste just wasn’t enough. “Playing
on any stage on Warped Tour is a pretty big deal as it is, but
then being invited to play on the main stage is definitely as special
thing,” gushes guitarist Mike Carden. “We've all been
going to see some of our favorite bands play the main stage for
years and years, and now we're up there. [It’s] kinda
mind blowing...” And so, the Academy Is... is back for more
and are determined to take a huge bite off the main stage this
summer as they serenade the crowd with toxically catchy songs (like “Checkmarks” and “Slow
Down”) off their debut album, Almost Here. Plus,
maybe if you’re really really nice, they’ll
even premiere one or two new tracks from their upcoming follow-up
(expected for release in early 2007). Good thing singer William
Beckett insists on either: a.) wearing shirts with holes in them,
or b.) wearing shirts that barely cover his naval. It can get hot
out there on Warped, strutting and swinging the mic around, and
we’d hate for the dude to get heat stroke. Water, William!
Water! —Leslie Simon |
AFI
HQ: San Francisco/Los Angeles, CA
WHO’S WHO: Davey Havok (vocals); Jade
Puget (guitar); Hunter Burgan (bass); Adam Carson (drums)
CHECK OUT: Decemberunderground (INTERSCOPE/TINY
EVIL)
ON THE TOUR: 6/27, 6/30, 7/2, 7/3, 7/14, 7/16-7/20,
7/26-7/28, 8/1
Don’t take our word for it. Listen to critics,
musicians and the multitude of fans who will swear on the memory
of their dead loved ones that 2006 belongs to forward-thinking
California punks AFI. The band’s hotly anticipated new
album, Decemberunderground,
finds them at the top of their game, embracing everything from
hardcore and screamo to pop, goth and post-punk, resulting
in a cohesive disc that’s as capable of inspiring listeners
as it is making lesser bands break up out of sheer embarrassment.
And while the members of AFI may be some of the most universally
respected musicians—and people—to be hitting Warped
2K6 for a brief stint, their motivations for doing the tour are
as pure as any rock fan’s can be. When we asked drummer Adam
Carson why AFI chose to hit the Warped fast lane for a few days,
his reply was honest and straight to the point: "Um, hello?
Joan Jett!” —Jason Pettigrew |
 AGAINST ME!
HQ: Gainesville, FL
WHO’S WHO: Tom Gabel (vocals/guitar);
James Bowman (guitar/vocals); Andrew Seward (bass/vocals); Warren
Oakes (drums)
CHECK OUT: Searching For A Former Clarity (FAT
WRECK CHORDS; fatwreck.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
Gainesville, Florida’s Against Me! have come a mighty long
way from their anarcho-folk-punk roots planted nearly a decade ago—but
as the saying goes, the most mature, musically evolved trees tend
to bear the best-sounding fruit. Okay, we have no idea what we’re
talking about, but the point is, Against Me! fucking rule, and you’d
be a complete fool to miss their set today. We questioned Tom Gabel
if it was intimidating or empowering, being one of only a handful
of socio-political bands on the tour. “If we were intimidated,
it would suggest we don't have a lot of conviction or confidence
[in our beliefs],” he says, “and if we felt empowered,
it would suggest we thought we were better than others.” So
while it’s great to see that critical acclaim, sold-out tours
and the subsequent signing to a major label (Sire Records, who will
release their new album in 2007) haven’t dulled the band’s
senses or inflated their egos, we have to wonder just what these
guys are going to do offstage to pass the time. Says Gabel, “If
you want to have fun, stick with Fat Mike.” —Scott
Heisel
|
 AIDEN
Home
Base: Seattle, WA
Who’s Who: wiL Francis (vocals); Angel
Ibarra (guitar); Jake Wambold (guitar); Nick Wiggins (bass);
Jake Davison (drums)
Check Out: Our Gangs Dark Oath (VICTORY; victoryrecords.com)
On The Tour: 6/15-8/13
There’s an old lyric by the Smiths that goes, “I wear
black on the outside because black is how I feel on the inside”—and
to see Aiden strolling the Warped grounds this summer, you might
think the same holds true for the anthemic Seattle horror-punk
quintet. Not true: “Dude, we are psyched for [Warped],” begins
frontman wiL Francis, his typically upbeat voice belying the fact
that he once wrote a song called “I Set My Friends On Fire.” “We’re
getting to see all these bands we love play every day for two months
straight—how awesome is that?” Yeah, but you’re playing,
too—isn’t that just as awesome? “Totally,” he
agrees. “We’ve played local dates before, but this
is our first time on the tour.” Given that Aiden formed in
the spring of 2003 and are today not only landing a Warped gig,
but U.K. magazine covers and rabid fan acclaim alike, it’s
been a busy three years for Francis & Co.—and with a
fresh reissue of their 2004 debut (Our Gangs Dark Oath),
a fast-selling Victory album (2005’s Nightmare Anatomy)
and an upcoming EP for the label (due—when else—this
Halloween), they’re enjoying every second of it. Which isn’t
to say they’re not still being cautious: Asked what he’s
most concerned about during this year’s Warped run, Francis
replies, “Not packing enough sunscreen!” —Aaron
Burgess |
 ANTI-FLAG
HQ: Pittsburgh, PA
Who’s Who: Justin Sane (guitar/vocals);
Chris Head (guitar); Chris #2 (bass/vocals); Pat Thetic (drums)
Check Out: For Blood And Empire (RCA/A-F)
On The Tour: 6/15-8/13
Anti-Flag have been called a lot of things since they formed
in a Pittsburgh basement over a decade ago, but we’re guessing “subtle” probably
isn’t one of them. “When we get onstage at Warped Tour,
we have this amazing opportunity to make a 30-minute commercial
to people who may not go to another concert all year long,” explains
bassist Chris #2, “and we’re not going to waste that
opportunity.” Along with Against Me! and Rise Against, Anti-Flag
are bringing activist culture back to the Warped main stage (Audioslave’s
Tom Morello has called A-F “the most important emerging band
in America”)—and the band’s latest release, For
Blood And Empire, is their most potent message yet. The album
revolves around a neo-conservative think tank called Project For
A New American Century, but luckily, you don’t have to be
Howard Zinn to understand it. “You don’t have to know
a single thing about politics to get into Anti-Flag,” stresses
#2, citing that many fans’ first introduction to activist
culture was through the band’s lyrics. That said, when the
group launch into their anti-war anthem “Die For Your Government,” it’s
hard not to be inspired—and with another presidential election
looming in the not-so-distant future, you can bet Anti-Flag won’t
be giving up the fight anytime soon. —Jonah Bayer |
 ARMOR FOR SLEEP
HQ: Teaneck, NJ
Who’s Who: Ben Jorgensen (guitar/vocals);
PJ DeCicco (guitar); Anthony DiIonno (bass); Nash Breen (drums)
Check Out: What To Do When You Are Dead (EQUAL
VISION; equalvision.com)
On The Tour: 6/15-8/13
Have you ever tried to sleep wearing a full suit of armor? Well,
trust us; it’s not a good idea—especially if you have
to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Luckily, that
isn’t necessary to enjoy Armor For Sleep’s emotive—and
expansive—brand of artful post-hardcore. Chances are you’ve
already seen the mind-blowing videos for “The Truth About
Heaven” and “Car Underwater,” both off the band’s
latest album, What To Do When You Are Dead, but there’s
really no substitute for catching AFS on the Warped Tour main stage. “This
tour is a giant melting pot of music that is really special to
be a part of,” says frontman Ben Jorgensen, who cites Saves
The Day, NOFX, Emanuel and Thursday as a few of the bands he’s
looking forward to catching this summer. “My favorite part
of the tour is being able to hang out with some of the bands that
got me wanting to play music in the first place.” Although
this is the first year Armor For Sleep are playing the entire tour,
they’re coming prepared. “I’m definitely bringing
a portable shower,” Jorgenson says. “It usually just
ends up being a bottle of water and a washcloth, but you get filthy
pretty easily without it.” Hey, Ben, any chance you can let
the Casualties borrow that when you’re done? —Jonah
Bayer |
 BILLY TALENT
HQ: Toronto, Ontario, CanadaWHO’S WHO: Ben Kowalewicz (vocals); Ian D’Sa
(guitar); Jon Gallant (bass); Aaron Solowoniuk (drums)CHECK OUT:
Billy Talent II (ATLANTIC)ON THE TOUR: 7/22-8/13
As one of a handful of Canadian acts making the trek southward
this summer, Toronto aggro-rock quartet Billy Talent are preparing
for this year’s Warped onslaught (in support of their new, second
album, Billy Talent II) as only they—or maybe the Descendents—could: “Right
before we cross the border into the States, we usually buy a couple
of tins of Tim Hortons coffee,” says drummer Aaron Solowoniuk
of the Canadian coffee-and-donut chain that has reached near-Starbucksian
proportions while nurturing bleary-eyed touring bands looking for
a java fix north of the border. “That always reminds us of
home. Other than that, and getting some money [converted to U.S.
dollars] so we can buy beer and do laundry, we pretty much prepare
exactly the same way [as we would for a Canadian tour].” Beer,
coffee and dirty laundry—sounds like a summer vacation for
the ages. Or at least one that needs a National Lampoon’s prefix.
Paging Chevy Chase… —Scott Heisel |
 THE BLED
HQ: Tucson, AZ
Who’s Who: James Munoz (vocals); Jeremy
Talley (guitar); Ross Ott (guitar); Darren Simoes (bass); Mike
Pedicone (drums)
Check Out: Found In The Flood (VAGRANT;
vagrant.com)
On The Tour: 6/15-8/13
In the past few years, the line between hardcore and metal has
become so hazy that it’s practically nonexistent—luckily,
the Bled have never paid much attention to genre constraints. Combining
elements of punk rock, technical metal and hardcore, the band have
been blowing minds and fueling circle pits since their inception
in 2001, and they’ve also made Warped tour a nearly annual
ritual. “It’s literally become the summer camp we look
forward to all year long,” says drummer Mike Pedicone. “You
hang loose in the sun all day and watch your best friends’ bands
rocking kids’ buns off—what would you rather
do?” The band’s latest disc, Found In The Flood,is
their most ambitious and accomplished effort to date—and,
prophetically, you might find yourself in a flood if you
make the mistake of missing their set. “Last year, during
the Dillinger Escape Plan’s first day of the tour, the largest
storm in Warped history erupted,” recounts Pedicone. “Lightning
started striking, rain began pouring, and stuff was just flying
all over the place. People were running for cover, and we just
happened to be in the only covered area, so the amphitheatre filled
with people getting raw to the sounds of DEP,” he fondly
recalls. “It was an exciting time.” —Jonah
Bayer |
 THE
BOUNCING SOULS
HQ: New Brunswick, NJ
WHO’S WHO: Greg Attonito (vocals); Pete “the
Pete” Steinkopf (guitar/vocals); Bryan “Papillon” Kienlen
(bass); Michael McDermott (drums)
CHECK OUT: The Gold Record (EPITAPH;
epitaph.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
For close to two decades, the Bouncing Souls have
embodied the heart and soul of punk rock. The
band’s fiercely independent attitude has won them the respect
of many on both sides of the rock ’n’ roll stage, from
bands both old and new to consecutive generations of fans looking
for that special kick only the Souls can give. But why, after so
many years of paying dues, do the Souls return to Warped? Is it
the passion they feel for America’s punk faithful? Is it
the desire to proudly share the 12 new songs on their seventh album, The
Gold Record, with Warped America? Is it the camaraderie of
hanging with the punk-rockin’ buddies they’ve made
over the years? Why did they sign on for Warped 2K6, anyway? “Well,” says
drummer Michael McDermott, “Warped really is the coolest
thing to do during the summer. I signed on for the ‘atmosphere’ in
the shiatsu therapy room with Tess…” —Jason
Pettigrew |
 THE CASUALTIES
HQ: New York, NY
Who’s Who: Jorge (vocals); Jake (guitar);
Rick (bass, vocals); Meggers (drums)
Check Out: Can’t Stop Us DVD
(SIDEONEDUMMY; sideonedummy.com)
On The Tour: 6/15-7/13
If you have trouble locating the Casualties amid all the Warped
Tour chaos, here’s a clue: Seek out the largest fluorescent-colored
Liberty spike you can find, and chances are it’ll be attached
to singer Jorge’s noggin. Probably the biggest street-punk
band, well, ever, the Casualties have been at the game in one incarnation
or another for the past 15 years, and they show no signs of giving
up the fight anytime soon. They have another full-length due out
in August, which guitarist Jake describes as “having a Motörhead
vibe without being too rock ’n’ roll,” and
they recently released their first DVD, Can’t Stop Us,
which shows them barely avoiding a full-on riot at a show in Mexico
City. In fact, we’d imagine that after that experience,
the Casualties are probably as amped as you are to be at Warped
this summer. “We’re pretty much known as the band that
likes to drink a lot of booze and have late-night parties on the
bus,” explains Jake. Lars Frederiksen and Flogging Molly
can count themselves as honorary after-hours alumni, but the jury
is still out on who might end up as a 40-ounce casualty this summer.
Says Jake, “It’s always pretty funny to see what bands
come over to our bus knowing there’s a party.” —Jonah
Bayer |
 THE EARLY NOVEMBER
HOME BASE: Hammonton, NJ
WHO’S WHO: Ace Enders (vocals/guitar);
Jeff Kummer (drums); Sergio Anello (bass); Joe Marro (guitar/keyboards);
Bill Lugg (guitar/keyboards)
CHECK OUT: The Mother, The Mechanic, And
The Path (DRIVE-THRU; drivethrurecords.com)
ON THE TOUR: 7/15-8/13
With all the delays and false starts, we were beginning to wonder
which would come out first: Guns N’ Roses’ way-too-long-awaited Chinese
Democracy or the Early November’s epic and cinematic
triple-disc set, The Mother, The Mechanic, And The Path.
Ironically enough, both albums may have hit shelves before the
Apocalypse (this summer, to be exact), but we can guarantee Axl
Rose won’t be running around the main stage at Warped Tour
quite like Ace Enders and rest of the Early November—not
to say the dudes wouldn’t pay to see it. “I’d
love to see [Axl Rose] fight people in the crowd again,” says
drummer Jeff Kummer. “That would sure as hell get me pumped
for Warped Tour!” Let’s just hope Enders never entertains
the idea of cornrows. Eek! —Leslie Simon |
 EMERY
HQ: Seattle, WA
Who’s Who: Toby Morell (vocals/guitar);
Devin Shelton (guitar/vocals); Matt Carter (guitar); Chopper
(bass); Josh Head (keyboards); Dave Powell (drums)
Check Out: The Question (TOOTH & NAIL;
toothandnail.com)
On The Tour: TK
Hey, do you remember seeing a band on last year’s Warped
Tour dressed completely as astronauts, right down to the bulky
space helmets? Well, that was Seattle’s own Emery, and this
year, they’re back to bring their modern-rock-tinged brand
of post-hardcore to the masses. The South Carolina transplants
burst onto the scene with 2004’s The Weak’s End and
solidified their status as a force to be reckoned with via last
year’s The Question. So, our question to
the band is, why did they decide to play Warped this year? “Warped
Tour is the best tour of the summer,” says guitarist/vocalist
Devin Shelton. “It’s tons of exposure, and you get
to meet and hang out with tons of cool people; it’s like
summer camp for bands.” However, that doesn’t mean
we recommend getting too close to Emery while they’re
rocking out. “Last year, I was hit in the ear with a guitar
onstage,” says Shelton. “It totally split the top of
my ear in two, and I spent a few hours in a couple of different
hospitals. So, what’s his advice for concertgoers? “Don’t
get hit in the ear or anywhere else that requires stitches,” he
says. Or, you know, wear an astronaut helmet. —Jonah
Bayer |
 EVERY TIME I DIE
HQ: Buffalo, NY
WHO’S WHO: Keith Buckley (vocals); Jordan
Buckley (guitar); Andrew Williams (guitar); Chris Byrnes (bass);
Michael Novak Jr. (drums)
CHECK OUT: Gutter Phenomenon (FERRET;
ferretstyle.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
Undoubtedly the heaviest act on the Warped marquee this summer,
Every Time I Die could be fingered as the odd men out. But the
brutally catchy metalcore band aren’t afraid of that, explains
frontman Keith Buckley. “Just imagine us to be the thick-skinned
sports instructor who, at the end of the movie, is shown through
inner monologue and a montage to actually have a passionate
and sincere concern for his kids,” he begins, “but
due to some hapless encounter with his intolerant—and homophobic?—father,
is unsure of how to express it; and then you go, ‘Aww, he
really does have a heart of gold!’ and then someone
in the movie calls him a ‘big lug’ and grabs him by
the brim of his baseball cap and jostles it around his head, and
then the coach smiles, but catches himself and clears his throat
and goes, ‘All right—back on the field, Schultz,’ and
then the guy runs back and scores the winning basket. But instead
of a basket, we will start a sea of crowd surfers. Okay, I just
totally got lost in my own analogy…” We did, too,
Keith. We did, too. —Scott Heisel |
 FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES
HQ: Long Island, NY
Who’s Who: Benjamin Perri (vocals); Francis
Mark (drums/vocals); Brian Deneeve (guitar); John Cox (guitar);
Josh Newton (bass)
Check Out: Abandon Your Friends (VAGRANT;
vagrant.com)
On The Tour: 6/15-8/13
Sure, Warped is about circle pits and stage dives, but it’s
also about metal horns and pointy guitars—and From Autumn
To Ashes know how to induce some serious headbanging. This will
be the melodic-metalcore quintet’s fourth year on Warped,
and it’s nice to see they’re doing the for all the
right reasons. “I kind of hoped that by playing all summer
on a stage sponsored by Major League Baseball, I could score myself
some season tickets to the Mets next year,” jokes singer/drummer
Francis Mark, referring to the MLB/Vagrant co-sponsored stage. “It
also doesn’t hurt that a lot of our friends are playing,
and it hits every major city in the U.S. and Canada.” By
combining harmonizing guitars, killer breakdowns and alternating
singing/screaming vocals (courtesy of Mark and frontman Benjamin
Perri), the band’s latest release, Abandon Your Friends,is
already considered a seminal work, and we can’t wait to hear
songs like “Where Do You Draw The Line” live. Over
the past five years, you’ve probably seen FATA rise from
playing small clubs to joining huge tours alongside Warped alumni
like Alkaline Trio and Thursday—and although the band aren’t
selling out arenas (yet), they’ve learned a thing or two
about longevity during their Warped experience. “I watched
Eminem get booed off the stage in New York,” recounts Mark. “Kids
were throwing bottles at him. A few platinum records later, I’d
say he got the last laugh.” —Jonah Bayer |
 FROM FIRST TO LAST
Home Base: Los Angeles, CA
Who’s Who: Sonny Moore (vocals); Matt
Good (guitar); Travis Richter (guitar); Wes Borland (touring
bass); Derek Bloom (drums)Check Out: Heroine (EPITAPH; epitaph.com)On The Tour: 6/15-8/13
For a dude who’s been fronting one of the biggest bands in
the underground since age 16, Sonny Moore sure has his head screwed
on straight—though to hear his trademark screamed/sung vocals
sailing over From First To Last’s progged-out post-screamo
bullet train, you might not immediately realize it. “[Being
in this band has taught me] how to live with 10 other guys, two
dogs and girlfriends all crammed into one tour bus,” explains
Moore, now 18. “[Even when] you feel your sanity is withering
away, your tolerance level for people seems to always grow. You
definitely become more cultured and open-minded to all the different
walks of life.” With FFTL’s 2006 Warped Tour main-stage
run following their recent stint on Fall Out Boy’s arena-packing
Black Clouds And Underdogs Tour, Moore and his bandmates have indeed
seen—and rocked the face off—every imaginable walk
of life over the past few seasons. After Warped wraps up this summer,
the band will begin yet another U.S. campaign, this time with touring
bassist (and ex-Limp Bizkit member, but don’t hold that against
him) Wes Borland’s “other” band, Black Light
Burns, in support; after that, it’s time to start thinking
ahead to their major-label debut (Capitol won the bidding war to
sign FFTL this spring). But, as is his style, Moore manages to
stay levelheaded about it all: “I always end up
in places I shouldn't be despite my age,” he says. —Aaron
Burgess |
 HELLOGOODBYE
HOME BASE: Huntington Beach, CA
WHO’S WHO: Forrest Kline (vocals/guitar);
Marcus Cole (bass); Jesse Kurvink (keyboards); Chris Profeta
(drums)
CHECK OUT: OMG HGB DVD ROTFL DVD (DRIVE
THRU; drivethrurecords.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
Sure, this SoCal keyboard-core quartet may have gained some much-needed
pop-culture exposure by appearing on MTV’s The Real World:
Austin, but don’t hold that against them—a band’s
gotta eat, you know. Of course, Hellogoodbye might not be jonesing
as badly for a good meal these days—thanks in part to the
overwhelming success of their debut EP and the sun-soaked single “Shimmy
Shimmy Quarter Turn”—but they’ll definitely need
to keep up their energy in order to rock this year’s Warped
Tour main stage daily. We’re hoping the band saved some of
the props from “Shimmy”s beach-themed video shoot,
because the floaties and zinc oxide could really come in handy
when the tour hits Florida. “Yeah, we scored a six-pack of
beer [from the shoot],” remembers bassist Marcus Cole. “It’s
probably really gross now. I think I’m actually going to
throw it away.” Good move. —Leslie Simon |
 HELMET
HQ: Los Angeles, CA
WHO’S WHO: Page Hamilton (lead guitar/vocals);
Chris Traynor (guitar); Jeremy Chatelain (bass); Mike Jost (drums)
CHECK OUT: Monochrome (WARCON;
warconent.com)
ON THE TOUR: TK
Helmet braintrust Page Hamilton has been leaving a mark on various
musical trends for nearly 17 years, with his brand of deceptively
simple riffing, ferocious guitar leads and pointed lyrical invective.
And for the first time, he’s finally bringing the noise to
Warped. “[Warped Tour organizers] tried to get us [to play]
several times over the years, but it never worked out until now,” Hamilton
explains. “We decided to finally give Warped a shot after meeting
[tour founder Kevin] Lyman and digging what he had to say.” While
Helmet 2K6 sports a lineup of top-notch players with a lineage that
includes respected bands such as Jets To Brazil (bassist Jeremy Chatelain),
Orange 9mm (guitarist Chris Traynor) and Adair (drummer Mike Jost),
Hamilton is perfectly aware that Helmet’s brand of fury will
always be an acquired taste. “As always, I expect that there
will be kids who get it and kids who will be bummed out that we play
loud and hard,” Hamilton resigns, “And that I spew verbal
invective—my personal therapy/comedy—rather than whine
through my nose about hurting or being hurt.” His advice to
the sonically offended? “Get drunk! It helps.” —Jason
Pettigrew |
 JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS
HQ: New York, NY
WHO’S WHO: Joan Jett (guitar/vocals);
Dougie Needles (guitar); Thommy Price (drums); Enzo Penizzotto
(bass)
CHECK OUT: Sinner (BLACKHEART;blackheart.com)
ON THE TOUR: TK
If you’re old (or maybe just hip) enough to remember her
seminal proto-metal band the Runaways, you know Joan Jett was kicking
butt on a rock ’n’ roll stage before she was old enough
to get her driver’s license. For the past 30 years, Jett
has influenced everything from hard rock to new wave to punk, and
this summer, she’s ready to prove it to yet another generation
of listeners with a ripping new album, Sinner, and a stint
on this year’s Warped Tour. But let’s put this in perspective:
Jett and her band, the Blackhearts, don’t really need to
be on Warped; they could just as well mount their own sellout tour
that would make fans scream and allow ticket scalpers to plan exotic
vacations. So why is Jett sharing outdoor stages with smelly boys
in triple-degree heat? Apparently, what motivates you also motivates
her. “The bands on the Warped Tour play the kind of music
I love,” says Jett. “I love Kevin Lyman and the culture
he has created. The best part of Warped will be watching and listening
to all these great bands every day. It is an honor to be asked
to participate in one of the great events in rock ’n’ roll.” —Jason
Pettigrew |
 LESS THAN JAKE
HQ: Gainesville, FL
WHO’S WHO: Chris Demakes (guitar/vocals);
Roger Manganelli (bass/vocals); Buddy Schaub (trombone); Peter “JR” Wasilewski
(saxophone); Vinnie Fiorello (drums)
CHECK OUT: In With The Out Crowd (WARNER
BROS.)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
Glancing down Warped’s lineup card this summer, you’ll
find that just about every genre under the punk-rock umbrella is
represented, except for one: ska. And while your local date might
feature regional ska acts on the tour’s smaller stages, the
only time you’re gonna see a horn section on the main stage
(barring NOFX hiring a mariachi band to fill in for them while
they go golfing—which, honestly, isn’t that far out
of the question) is when Less Than Jake rev it up—of course,
it’s not like they even notice at this point. “I’ll
be honest,” says drummer Vinnie Fiorello, “I never
really thought about [being the only ska band on the tour]. To
me, Less Than Jake is just Less Than Jake. But I feel good knowing
that we can keep the ska fires burning on this tour.” And
while there’s a joke to be made about “feeling the
burn” and viewing skanking as a workout, we’d rather
let his bandmates know where they can find Fiorello if he’s
late for LTJ’s set. “I plan on seeing NOFX every day,” he
states. “I would hate to miss Fat Mike forgetting bass lines
and words—I’d feel left out!” —Scott
Heisel |
 THE LIVING END
HQ: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
WHO’S WHO: Chris Cheney (guitar/vocals);
Scott Owen (upright bass); Andy Strachan (drums)
CHECK OUT: State Of Emergency (ADELINE/EAST
WEST; adelinerecords.com)
ON THE TOUR: 7/3-7/30
While the Warped caravan will travel thousands of miles across
North America this summer to bring the rock, only one band on the
tour are coming all the way from a different hemisphere to
entertain the masses. Meet Australian rockabilly-punk trio the
Living End, returning for their fourth Warped stint since 1998.
But just because the band will be logging a few thousand frequent-flier
miles before meeting up with the tour, don’t think the jetlag
will affect their performance. “We give it our all, whether
its New York or Timbuktu!” proclaims guitarist/vocalist Chris
Cheney. (Just pray the overhead compartment on their transcontinental
flight has room for an upright bass; otherwise, it’ll be
a long summer.) With a brand new, Billie Joe Armstrong-endorsed
album, State Of Emergency, hitting U.S. shores July 11
(it’s coming out on Armstrong’s label, Adeline), expect
to hear a mixture of old and new songs in the band’s set—but,
like so many others have said in this program, if NOFX are on at
the same time… “[NOFX] are always a must-see band,
and I myself want to watch them play,” Cheney says. “They're
just one of those legendary bands you gotta see before you die.
Having said that, if you don't see us play, you're missing
out! “ —Scott Heisel |
 MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK
HQ: Minneapolis, MN
WHO’S WHO: Justin Pierre (vocals/guitar);
Josh Cain (guitar/vocals); Jesse Johnson (synthesizer); Matt
Taylor (bass); Tony Thaxton (drums)
CHECK OUT: Commit This To Memory (EPITAPH;
epitaph.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
In case you haven’t heard Commit This
To Memory yet (what’s wrong with you, anyway?), all
you need to know is that there are only two occasions to rock
out to Motion City Soundtrack: when the band are on tour and
when they’re not. Since Memory’s 2005 release
(recently reissued with a three-hour documentary DVD), Team MCS
have spent so much time displaying their perfunctory pop genius
to enraptured audiences all over the U.S., Europe and Japan,
the band members’ parents and friends have forgotten what
they look like. But neither social disconnection nor exhaustion
will stop MCS from making their appointed victory lap on this
year’s Warped Tour. You know why? “When you’re
a touring band, you usually only get to hang out with the bands
you’re on tour with,” explains guitarist Josh Cain. “But
on Warped, you’re able to hang out with so many bands,
it creates this ‘band camp’ feel. It’s a great
time, getting to hang out with so many of your peers all summer
long.” —Jason Pettigrew |
 NOFX
HQ: San Francisco, CA
WHO’S WHO: Fat Mike (bass/vocals); El
Hefe (guitar/trumpet); Eric Melvin (guitar); Erik Sandin (drums)
CHECK OUT: Wolves In Wolves’ Clothing (FAT
WRECK CHORDS; fatwreck.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
Frustrated with the “Lame Old Scene,” San Francisco-area
MySpace friends Aaron, Eric, Erik and Michael got together at the
beginning of 2005 to try to start something fresh. While he hadn’t
technically picked up an instrument yet, Aaron—already an
O.G. in the Redwood City scene at age 23-and-a-half—had collected
so many friends through MySpace that starting a band was the logical
next step. Four private messages and one $6,000 charge to Mom’s
MasterCard later, NOFX was born.
Freshly signed to the Careerist imprint under Big High Building
Records’ “incubator” program, NOFX hit the scene
running late last year with their exclusive web-only single, “This
Blackened Heart.” Michael’s impassioned vocals and
fluid bass lines, coupled with Eric and Aaron’s searing guitar
licks and chilling screams, went straight to the heart of listeners
everywhere, while Erik’s dynamic drumming set fans’ pulses
racing. The message was clear: NOFX was here to stay—and
if anyone had room on a tour that summer, Aaron’s dad owned
a van line.
With their recent sophomore release, Screaming Heart, Bleeding
Mouth, the NOFX boys really let it out. Inspired
by serious subject matter such as blocked screen names, late-period
Misfits and the SideKick blogs of some famous former “friends,” the
disc finds NOFX waxing poetic while delivering the shape of screamo
to come. “Through a melodious cacophony of delight, we are
reaching a vast new audience,” says Michael. “And with
our SoundScan numbers dropping in the Midwest, this year’s
Warped Tour is the perfect chance for us to bring the NOFX road
show to our target demographic.” —Bart Ng |
 PARAMORE
HQ: Franklin, TN
Who’s Who: Hayley Williams (vocals); Jeremy
Davis (bass); Josh Farro (guitar); Hunter Lamb (guitar); Zac
Farro (drums)
Check Out: All We Know
Is Falling (FUELED BY RAMEN; fueledbyramen.com)
On The Tour: 6/15-7/11
The members of Paramore may be young enough to be NOFX’s
illegitimate children (it’s not really our place to speculate),
but the band are already seasoned Warped performers, having played
for a month on the bright-pink Shiragirl stage last year. “We
loved the experience,” says guitarist Josh Farro. “It’s
a great way to get in front of a ton of people and develop friendships
with the other bands—plus, you get a great tan.” This
year, the band will be moving up to the Volcom stage to play crowd
favorites like “Pressure” and “Emergency” off
their 2005 debut, All We Know Is Falling—and if
it’s anything like last year, we’re anticipating lots
of crowd sing-alongs and flying hair flips. While the band are
still too young to indulge in much offstage debauchery, they still
managed to have some close calls last year. “I vaguely remember
our tent flying away in a huge wind storm somewhere up north” recounts
pint-sized frontwoman Hayley Williams. “It was quite a letdown.” Hopefully,
the band—and their merch—will both stay grounded during
Warped 2K6, because we could definitely see Paramore being this
year’s breakout act. Don’t you want to be able to say
you saw ’em before they were huge? —Jonah Bayer |
 PLAIN
WHITE T’S
HQ: Chicago, IL
WHO’S WHO? Tom Higgenson (vocals); Dave
Tirio (guitar); Mike Retondo (bass); Tim Lopez (guitar); De’Mar
Hamilton (drums)
CHECK OUT: Hey There Deliah EP (FEARLESS:
fearlessrecords.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-7/20
Got your tickets? Check. Sun block? Yup. Official AP Warped Tour
program? Obviously. While all of these things are important to
having a great Warped experience, if you plan on watching Chicago’s
Plain White T’s, we recommend bringing along a toothbrush,
as well—because the band’s pop-hooks are so sugary,
they’ll liable to give you cavities. Although the T’s
already played Warped two years prior, this summer will be the
first time they’re on the tour for more than a few weeks,
and they can’t wait to get onstage to rock your respective
faces off. “We’re looking forward to playing for our
fans and making as many new ones as possible,” says drummer
De’Mar Hamilton. Combining Jimmy Eat World’s emotive
brand of rock with Green Day’s knack for writing infectious
melodies, the band are at the top of our list to receive a main-stage
promotion, just look to their new EP, Hey There Deliah for
evidence. Oh, and if you get to the venue before doors, look for
the band—because we’re guessing they’ll be arriving
to the venues extremely early this year. “One time on Warped,
we arrived late and had to set up our merch in a baseball diamond,” recounts
Hamilton. “I’m sure you can imagine how awesome that
was. We pretty much had to throw away our tent.” ––Jonah
Bayer |
 RISE AGAINST
HQ: Chicago, IL
WHO’S WHO: Tim McIlrath (vocals/guitar);
Chris Chasse (guitar); Joe Principe (bass); Brandon Barnes (drums)
CHECK OUT: The Sufferer & The Witness (GEFFEN)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
While “Swing Life Away” may be Rise Against’s
biggest hit, don’t expect to hear much of that acoustic number
over the PA this summer—but do expect to get your
eyes opened through the Chicago hardcore band’s politically
motivated mosh-’em-ups on their new album, The Sufferer & The
Witness. Luckily, they’re not the only big band on Warped
Tour with a message this summer. “Wherever we go, we tend
to be the only band playing music that touches on politics,” says
frontman Tim McIlrath. “It usually just bums me out that
a scene we call ‘punk’ no longer encourages subversive
music. But this summer, with our friends in Anti-Flag and Against
Me! out there, we will be in good company. All three of us have
different approaches to politics, which is great, because that
way, our bands will be able to resonate with different kinds of
people.” But who’s resonating musically with McIlrath
in this year’s lineup? “AFI,” he says. “I’m
such a huge fan. I wouldn't want to miss their set. We're both
main-stage bands, so ideally, that won't happen.” —Scott
Heisel |
 SAOSIN
Home Base: Newport Beach, CA
Who’s Who: Cove Reber (vocals); Beau Burchell
(guitar/vocals); Justin Shekoski (guitar/vocals); Chris Sorenson
(bass); Alex Rodriguez (drums)Check Out: Saosin EP (CAPITOL)On The Tour: TK
Even though their 2006 main-stage run marks the third time Saosin
(pronounced “Say-Ocean,” in case you’re wondering)
have played Warped Tour, these atmospheric post-hardcore maestros
know a little something about being Warped newbies. Saosin were
the Smartpunk Stage’s sleeper hit in 2004, and the band’s
2005 Capitol Records debut—a self-titled EP first made
available on Warped—is part of the reason fans are so amped
to hear Saosin’s upcoming first full-length. “A lot
of [upstart] bands complain ‘It’s too hot’ or ‘We’re
not selling any merch,’” says bassist Chris Sorenson. “Don’t
focus on the negative [during Warped]; instead, never forget
that, out of all the bands out there trying to get their music
heard, you’re lucky enough to have the chance to play for
15,000 people every day.” What those people will
witness this year during Saosin’s set is a band finally
out of flux—vocalist Cove Reber won the 2004 audition to
replace Anthony Green (Circa Survive) after Story Of The Year’s
Phil Sneed filled in on a handful of Warped dates—and at
the peak of their powers. In fact, when their long-anticipated
album drops this October, Sorenson says, “Even we can’t
wait to hear what it’s gonna sound like!” —Aaron
Burgess |
 SAVES THE DAY
HOME BASE: Princeton, NJ
WHO’S WHO: Chris Conley (vocals/guitar);
Manny Carrero (bass); David Soloway (guitar); Pete Parada (drums)
CHECK OUT: Sound The Alarm (VAGRANT;
vagrant.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
Although Saves The Day ringleader Chris Conley is only midway
through his 20s, we can’t remember a time when he and his band weren’t
a crucial part of the scene. Sure, STD have had more members than
Nicole Richie has pairs of oversized sunglasses, but that hasn’t
slowed them down (as foreshadowed by the title of their 1997 album, Can’t
Slow Down) or made them any less vital and relevant to fans
and bands of all ages. Crowds will surely be clamoring for a spot
in front of the Vagrant/MLB Stage to catch this quartet from the
dirty Jerz rock their first full run on Warped, and Conley & Co.
are stoked about the opportunity to connect with some of their
long-lost fans and collectively celebrate the release of their
latest album, Sound The Alarm. “We’re really
looking forward to getting in front of a ton of people every day,” says
Conley—though he admits he’s also harboring some ulterior
motives: “More importantly, we want to meet Joan Jett.” Hey,
Chris, we don’t blame you—and while you’re at
it, why don’t you ask Joan to come out and duet on “All-Star
Me.” That we’ve gotta see. —Leslie
Simon |
 SENSES FAIL
HOME BASE: Bergen County, NJ
WHO’S WHO: Buddy Nielsen (vocals); Garrett
Zablocki (guitar); Heath Saraceno (touring guitar); Mike Glita
(bass); Dan Trapp (drums)
CHECK OUT: Let It Enfold You (VAGRANT;
vagrant.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
When Senses Fail kick off their next Warped Tour of duty, expect
them to be, as the old saying goes, ragin’ full on: Come
June, the New Jersey group will have spent the past six weeks cooped
up in a Bearsville, New York, studio with producer Brian McTernan
(Thrice), working not only on their second full-length release,
but on a little self-reinvention, as well. Due in stores by October,
the hugely anticipated follow-up to 2004’s Let It Enfold
You is reportedly a more technical, less relationship-focused
progression from the dark, lovelorn screamo on which Senses Fail
built their reputation; and though the band assure us their new
direction won’t be a total 180 from the Senses Fail of old,
it’s clear they’ve learned enough about themselves—and
the world—over the past few years of Warped Tour (where they’ve
become the tour’s token enfants terrible) to have
a new and, dare we say it, mature perspective on life. “I
think [we’ve] gotten life in general into better perspective,” says
drummer Dan Trapp. “You go all over the place [on tour] and
meet so many different people and see so many different things
that you might not have normally done or seen.... The best way
to learn how to survive is to just do it. Go do your thing, and
learn from any mistakes you make along the way.” —Aaron
Burgess |
 SILVERSTEIN
HQ: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
WHO’S WHO: Shane Told (vocals); Neil Boshart
(guitar); Josh Bradford (guitar); Billy Hamilton (bass); Paul
Koehler (drums)
CHECK OUT: 18 Candles: The Early Years (VICTORY;
victoryrecords.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/5
It’s been a huge 12 months for post-screamo sensations Silverstein.
The band’s breakout sophomore album, Discovering The
Waterfront, has been selling by the truckload, and their nonstop
world tour in support of the disc—including stints on the
Take Action! Tour, Taste Of Chaos and a European trek with Canadian
countrymates Simple Plan—has kept them in fans’ faces
24/7. So, what better way to take a victory lap than by spending
the summer on Warped Tour? Well, assuming Silverstein can get back into the
States in time to play… “As Canadian citizens, the
big preparation that we do to be able to tour the U.S. involves
filing for P2 work visas,” says bassist Billy Hamilton. “The
application process takes, like, four or five months, and they
never guarantee approval.” Provided they make it past the
overzealous border guards, pray Hamilton and his bandmates aren’t
scheduled against NOFX at your stop, because the quintet might
just call in sick that day. “Anyone in their right mind should
be watching NOFX at Warped Tour,” Hamilton
says. “You will definitely see us watching them day in, day
out.” —Scott Heisel |
 THE SOUNDS
HOME BASE: Helsingborg, Sweden
WHO’S WHO: Maja Ivarsson (vocals); Felix
Rodriguez (guitar); Johan Bengtsson (bass); Jesper Anderberg
(keyboards); Fredrik Nilsson (drums);
CHECK OUT: Dying To Say This To You (SCRATCHIE/NEW
LINE; newlinerecords.com)
ON THE TOUR: 7/18-8/13
We have Sweden to thank for a bunch of irresistible imports: the
Swedish Bikini Team, Swedish Fish and, most recently, the Sounds.
The Swedish quintet made their debut on Warped Tour back in 2004
in support of their debut album, Living In America, a
collection of dance-ready tracks inspired by Blondie and Missing
Persons; and they’re back this summer to offer a new-wave
alternative to their punk and screamo brethren. But for a band
known as much for their impeccable fashion sense as for their booty-shaking
ability, how do the Sounds manage to stay in vogue throughout Warped’s
sweaty punk-rock circus? “After a while, you stop caring
and just go with any shirt or pants you can find,” admits
keyboardist Jesper Anderberg. “I remember wearing a pink
shirt for a couple of days, and when I saw footage for Warped Tour
later on, I couldn't believe that I actually ran around wearing
that thing.” Us, too, Jesper. Us, too. —Leslie
Simon |
 THURSDAY
HQ: Rutgers, NJ
WHO’S WHO: Geoff Rickly (vocals); Steve
Pedulla (guitar); Tom Keeley (guitar); Tim Payne (bass); Tucker
Rule (drums); Andrew Everding (synthesizers)
CHECK OUT: A City By The Light Divided (ISLAND)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
After a few years fraught with breakup rumors and personal ups
and downs, post-hardcore heroes Thursday returned to the scene
this spring with A City By The Light Divided, a powerful
sonic reclamation that expands the band’s creative reach
without sacrificing the power and honesty that made previous records,
like Full Collapse and War All The Time, such
treasures. This year, the band are also hoping to bring a greater
sense of musical adventure to the Warped Tour stage. “We’ve
always tried to make music that was challenging creatively, but
[that] also talked back to the world of music around us,” explains
guitarist Tom Keeley. “A lot of what we’ve tried to
do was reacting to what we were hearing around us. Hopefully, this
year we can present something that acts as a catalyst for change.
I think there are a few bands that can do that this year on Warped.
I’m hoping things will get shaken up a bit, and that the
rules of what is popular get smashed away. We can’t wait to
be a part of that.” —Jason Pettigrew |
 UNDEROATH
HQ: Tampa,
FL
WHO’S WHO: Spencer Chamberlain (vocals);
Tim McTague (guitar); James Smith (guitar); Grant Brandell (bass);
Chris Dudley (keyboards); Aaron Gillespie (drums/vocals)
CHECK OUT: Define The Great Line (SOLID
STATE/TOOTH & NAIL; toothandnail.com)
ON THE TOUR: 6/15-8/13
When Underoath drummer/singer Aaron Gillespie says of his band’s
new album, Define The Great Line, “I think it’s
a solid sophomore record,” he may be being typically modest,
but he’s not getting his history wrong. Yes, the follow-up
to 2004’s breakout full-length They’re Only Chasing
Safety is technically Underoath’s fifth proper
release—but as the second album with the band’s current
membership, Line also marks the longest these Florida
post-hardcore heroes have existed in one lineup. The disc also
finds Underoath—whose early work veered from near-death metal
to screamo—fully discovering who they are as a band. Not
surprisingly, then, Line features some of the sextet’s
most honest, impassioned lyrics to date—as well as some of
their heaviest and most difficult playing. “Everything on
this record is more difficult to play live,” agrees Gillespie. “So
much of it was written with [digital recording program] Reason;
there’s so many loops and computer parts that, onstage, we’ve
had to figure out whole new ways to recreate it.” But that
they’ve done, and though time will tell how well their laptops
bear the intense summer heat of Warped Tour, one thing’s
for sure: Even unplugged, Underoath could rock a venue to its foundation.
Which isn’t to say they don’t mind kicking back now
and then: “I love Warped because it’s a big party,” Gillespie
explains. “Not like, ‘Yo, dude, let’s get wasted!’ but
like, there’s so many of our bros there every day, we’re
all just so happy that we get to hang out.” And for upstart
bands making their Warped debut, Gillespie has this advice: “Bring
your own water, because before you know it, there’ll be a
serious shortage.” —Aaron Burgess |
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