Vans Warped Tour 13: show review, interviews & photo gallery

by Erin Rice , Laura Seewoester

Now here is a topic that I know a little something something about. Before jumping into the official "review," allow me the chance to pat myself on the back for being a die hard Warped Tourian. Since I could drive myself to shows, I have missed but two summers of Warped Tour (call them my dark period). Having seen numerous shows at the Smirnoff Centre in Dallas, as well as San Antonio, Montreal, and last year in San Francisco, I can say with some certainty, that the lineup and attractions this year are some of the best ever.

While the Vans Warped Tour is still dedicated to it's punk roots, year after year, the variety of music genres represented is growing. The main thing I worry about every summer is: Will this be the year I'm too old to go? But the Warped Tour, while it seemed for a while there to be bringing in a disproportionate number of younger acts, has made sure that the old punks in the crowd will have a reason to keep coming back year after year. This tour, some of the seasoned flavor included Bad Religion (who are apart of Warped in one way or another nearly every summer) and Pennywise. Both bands were a highlight of the day.

Bad Religion hit the main stage somewhat earlier than their 4:40 set time, throwing me off guard a bit ("why does Red Jumpsuit Apparatus sound like BR... oh God, I'm missing BR!"). Peg photographer Laura Seewoester (whose photo gallery you can see to the right) admittedly elbowed people out of the way and hurdled the stage barricade when they came on. From first chord to last, Bad Religion was what they always are, amazing punk rock without all the superfluous crap and angst added in. They come on stage, and to a crowd of some of the most incredible mohawks you will ever set eyes on, give you a dose of message with your music. What stuck me the most from the set was a quote from Greg Graffin between songs, "One day they're gonna forget, but that day is not yet." He was talking about the Bad Religion fans, and only in this case, he may be selling us all short, because you don't forget Bad Religion.

Pennywise came on a half hour after BR's set. After missing them due to a badly timed soccer tournament ten years ago, when I saw they would be on the tour and actually hitting Dallas, when I'm here no less, I was unreasonably ecstatic. Pennywise, like Bad Religion, reminds you of what punk used to be and should continue to strive for. Punk is pounding and relentless, but fun. Punk should stir your inner circle pit and force your first in the air, and maybe the occasional middle finger directed at whatever establishment deserves it at the moment. All that is what Pennywise was and still is. If you want to experience punk at its anarchist roots, you will get your ass to see Pennywise before it's too late. They don't disappoint.

Something you realize milling around at Warped Tour is how many bands there are playing at any one time, and how small a percentage of them you will actually get to see (fewer still if stuck in an interview room half the day... ah, but the AC was splendid). In fact, there are a grand total of nine stages this year, from the main Lucky Stage and 13 Stage which switch back and forth with incredible precision for constant music flow, and then inside the Amphitheater were the Smartpunk Stage and the Hurley.com Stage, to the random stages positioned throughout the cement plains of Smirnoff.

Again, for this reviewer, "variety" was the word of the day.* As such, I did my best to see different types of acts to experience the emerging Warped Tour of eclecticism. I caught the very end of the Tiger Army set. Out of, where else, Los Angeles, Tiger Army brought the tour's dose of psychobilly, sounding like a pop punk cross between AFI's Davey Havok and The Rev. Note to self: make sure to see their whole set next time they come through town.

Street Drum Corps, who are one of the interviews included in this review, are like no other band on the tour. With very few vocals beyond a little rapping and crowd stirring, the crux of their performance is based on their drums. Or, rather, the various objects they choose to beat with a stick. In the interview, they admit to finding random objects on tour and adding them to the act whenever they can. From formal drums kits, to aluminum trash cans, to mufflers, they will play on anything and create a sound that is all too intoxicating. Their performance, despite the small space of the "Skull Candy Mix" Tent, was high energy and well choreographed, and an incredible spectacle. Learn more about them by listening to the interview. They're a fun band to watch and I suggest doing such if you ever get the chance.

Later on in the day I caught Authority Zero. They've come through Dallas before, and when they come again, you can bet your ass I'll be in attendance. Having been a fan of their reggae punk sound for a while now, seeing them live just adds to the band's appeal. Authority Zero are charismatic and energetic, generating the perfect music for listening to while longboarding down a huge hill, or for the newer generation, while playing Tony Hawk in the safety of your parents' living room. One thing not to miss is when they play the song "Bog Down in the Valley." A hidden track on the Andiamo album, and coming off as an old Irish drinking song, "Bog" gradually picks up speed as more details are added to each verse. Towards the end you have no idea what Jason Devore is saying anymore because he's going so fast you can hardly physically keep up with the music, so just you just stand and clap in awe. While not indicative of their standard sound, it's a fun song on the album and unbelievable to catch live.

While waiting for Killswitch Engage, and not possessing the patience to sit through New Found Glory, I roamed around the tents for a while and made my way back to the Ernie Ball Stage to catch Scenes From A Movie. A young pop punk band, with some screamoish tendencies, they were fun to watch. Despite playing to a small crowd of no more than 30 and those walking past on their way to other attractions, this band played their hearts out and connected with the every kid watching. While they're not my typical cup of tea, and still have some ways to go in developing a sound that is their own, I give them kudos for how hard they played. Lead singer Tony Bush's vocals are deep enough to not grind and grate your senses like others in the genre. Not to mention, the blonde, floppy haired, always smiling and dancing around bassist, Adam Triplett, was just adorable.

But enough with adorable, because it was finally time to see Killswitch Engage, who started at 7:10 p.m. Self-billed as the "shitty metal band on the Warped Tour," they brought together the largest crowd I had seen gathered at one stage so far that day. Was it because everyone needed a punk-break? Possibly. But it was more likely due to the fact that Killswitch tears the mother #$*@ing house down when they take a stage. Howard Jones' crushing vocals combined with pounding drums and killer strings, were enough to let any pent up rage rush forth as pits opened up all throughout the sea of fans.

The highlight of their set, however, belonged to the reemergence of guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz. After losing feeling in his lower body following a show, which required immediate surgery, he was not able to continue playing with the band for some time. But, he managed to heal, to a degree, and get back on the road for Warped Tour. Laughing at his antics, which at one point produced this gem spoken in a mechanical voice, "I have undergone surgery and am now bionically enhanced with laser eyes for taking out every emo kid I see," it's hard to imagine a Killswitch show that doesn't include him. Some of the funnier quotes I can't repeat here, but it made the show complete and a reason to see them anytime they come back to town. I got the chance to sit down with Killswitch Engage's drummer, Justin, for an interview, as well (linked in the box earlier in this review).

Any day spent at Warped Tour comes with things other than musical entertainment. The extras this year included the usual skateboarding halfpipe, as well as Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling (yes, like Nacho Libre, with the masks), a "freak" show (which was not really amusing after hearing for the third time the ringleader say, "I guess what they say is right, there's only steers and you people in this state,"), Slip and Slide through a blowup punk guys' legs, and of course a tent for every band, brand and cause you can think of.

Another summer down, another Warped Tour completed. I sure hope I'm not too old to go again next year.

*Oh yeah, the theme of the day was also "age appropriateness." So, sorry, emo kids. I didn't go see any of your bands. Maybe next time.

Erin R. wrote the review and conducted interviews; Laura S. took all photographs and wrote the captions

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