photo credit: Nathan Eguia

I’ve been going to Warped Tour as a kid. I first went to the “punk rock summer camp” in 2001 and have only missed three since. While the festival is a far cry from what it used to be, it’s a good stomping ground for new and old bands alike to find the whole ‘music’ thing in common and put on a festival for fans who brave the 100+ degree Texas heat.

Like last year, I had a previous event/engagement that prevented Sunbear and I from attending this year’s activities. However, with the help of the extended BBC (Billionaire Bears Club, yall) correspondents Mike Damante (aka White Mike/Honorary Polar Bear) and Nathan Eguia (aka Honorary Kodiak Bear), we were able to get our hands on a bit of a recap. Hit the jump for blurbs about a few of the bands they caught, as well as a quick video interview with Against Me!

Ed Note: Pardon the lateness, but it’s hard to collaborate two different writers (with one WWM editor), both of whom have no direct affiliation to the site!

-grizzly


photo credit: Rick Kern

For the first time in a few years, there was a Warped Tour in Houston without rain. And while the sun was stronger than the lineup, the show didn’t exactly disappoint. In a tour dominated with metal-core acts and out-of-place pop like The Ready Set, punk was still prevalent. Street Dogs started it off with their Boston brand of no-frills punk rock. Their set consisted of material mainly from their latest self-titled release by playing “Rattle and Roll”, “Up The Union” and “Punk Rock and Roll”, but also featured crowd favorites like “Back to the World” and ” Not Without a Purpose”. The band drew a nice crowd, who got the first circle pit of the day, which is always a good sign at a festival like this. (MD)

photo credit: Mike Damante

A nice touch on the Warped Tour’s behalf was keeping the punk rock good times rollin’, because immediately after the Street Dogs set, you were forced to rush over to the main stage to catch Gainesville, Florida’s Against Me! This is a band who’s been around for a long time and has recently began to pick up popular steam as of late. And naturally, the White Crosses rockers didn’t disappoint by putting on the day’s best performance with a set that included “White People for Peace”, “Don’t Lose Touch” and fan-favorite, “Pints of Guinness Make You Storng.” (MD)

For information on their upcoming tour and projects, please check out a video interview done by Mike Damante for 29-95.com

photo credit: Rick Kern

Through the past couple of years, Of Mice & Men has just been one of those pesky rock bands that can’t keep their members in check, and thus – going through a handful of lineup changes. Sure enough, Austin Carlile, the band’s original singer, was back in full force. OM&M didn’t let this pass, as they performed many songs from 2010’s self titled album, including “YDG” and “Second and Sebring.” Also worth mentioning was the pure brutality of “I’m a Monster,” from the recently released The Flood, which gave the crowd 2 minutes of straight chuggin’. Oh, and as a Houstonian, I found Carlile’s wardrobe to be a bit appalling – I mean, a Dirk Nowitski jersey? You know Houston doesn’t care about the Mavericks right? RIGHT?! (NE)

photo credit: Mike Damante

Sharks played to small crowd, but the fans were receptive to the Brits’ Clash-sounding style. Sharks did draw a nice group of their peers as members of Moving Mountains, all of Against Me! and Terrible Things’ Fred Mascherino were all watching on from the crowd. They kicked off the set with “Trains”, which starts with an accapella yell into a Joe Strummer style croon into an upbeat rocker and set consisted mostly of material from their most recent record, The Joys of Living. (MD)

photo credit: Vans 66

At the Advent stage, Troy, Michigan’s We Came as Romans were playing their brand of orchestra-laden hardcore, mostly from their recently released album, To Plant a Seed. While the set was enjoyable, heavy in demeanor and saw the most trite breakdown seem fantastic, the clean vocals were awful, to say the least. However, a true highlight came during their fan-favorite, “We Are the Reasons,” which saw many a Warped Tour attendees going crazy. (NE)

photo credit: Mike Damante

I’ve heard of the hype surrounding The Wonder Years for quite sometime and naturally, avoided them because of it. But immediately after I saw their backyard wrestling-inspired video for “Melrose Diner,” I was sold and knew I had to check them out. Turns out, the boys from Philly didn’t letdown. Their hardcore-influenced brand of pop-punk would easily win over fans of the bands like New Found Glory and The Movielife, as well as newer bands like The Swellers. (MD)

photo credit: Skyler Moore

One of the final acts of the evening was the United Kingdom’s beloved electronically-influenced hardcore band Enter Shikari. This was their second appearance on the Warped Tour, and the crowd was all the more enthusiasctic about their set. A tired, but prepared crowd came to dance it up with the boys from across the pond, who had one of the better sets of the day. While the band dabbles in remixes, their set reminded us of which songs weren’t. Set highlights included “Sorry, You’re Not a Winner” and “Mothership,” and eventually peaked when singer Rou Reynolds hopped off stage and into the crowd, where his sweaty body rubbed over myself and many others. Sodding chap! (NE)

photo credit: Vans66

One of the biggest highlights of the day was when Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman sat down with the media on hand, band members and production crew staff for a round-table discussion. Lyman explained how the tour works backstage and how everyone is like a family. The more dues bands pay, as well as the more work they put in within the community through non-profits and other good causes, is essentially what helps them land spots on the tour. Lyman also said he listens to what all the fans want. He got the top five most-requested bands fans wanted (Who all happened to be metalcore acts) and he said those bands and the more popular acts who may deter some of the tour’s older fans, draw in 60% of the profit. Booking these bands is also what allows Lyman to book bands like Lucero and Against Me! who fit the ideology of the tour. However, he did mention the lack of these types of bands on the tour (especially this year) hurts their crowds. Next year, Lyman hinted at wanting to go more of an “old school” route with the mainstage lineup. While all the acts mentioned were merely speculation, it feels as though Warped would boast an all-star lineup that would’ve made its heyday proud. (MD)

photo credit: stephanie646

Key:

(MD) – Mike Damante, writer for 29-95.com, weworemasks Correspondent
(NE) – Nathan Eguia, weworemasks Correspondent

Grizzly notes:

-Hopefully the lineup is much better next year and I actually go
-I’m pissed I missed Moving Mountains and The Dangerous Summer
-Huge thanks to Mike D. (long time contributor) and Nate E. for pickin’ up our slack
-Extra shout out to Nathan for the Moving Mountains interview.
-I owe yall a bowl of edamame or something cheap like that.