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Written by Cheyenne Davey
The FINAL cross-country run of the Vans Warped Tour hit the Chicagoland area last Saturday, July 21st. Boy oh boy, was it an emo time. Vans Warped Tour has been going on for almost twenty five years. The tour has sported some of the biggest names in music, including popular artists such as Eminem and Katy Perry and those popular in the alternative scene, such as My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy. Over the years, Warped Tour has helped hundreds of bands start out and climb their way to the top of the alternative scene. The tour hosts plenty of different music genres, so there is likely to be at least one act for everyone. Kevin Lyman, the founder of Warped Tour, has dedicated his time tirelessly to ensure that Warped is the best it can be. There’s always something to be doing at Warped, whether it’s listening to music, free signings for certain bands, free meet and greets for certain bands, slip and slides, games from varying tents, or even just eating. Warped had it all. Due to low attendance and issues with money and various other issues, this is the final run. So, of course, I hit the final Warped Tour in Tinley Park at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. However, my experience at Warped Tour was not the typical experience. I didn’t spend tenish hours listening to bands and stage bouncing. While I adore doing that, I have for the past few years and I’m so of sad I missed it this year, I had something even better going for me. I got to volunteer at the Fearless Records tent being a roadie for the day! This was a once in a lifetime chance and only two (2) people per date got this opportunity.
Fearless Records is my favorite record label, hosting many of my favorite bands like Pierce the Veil, As It Is, Real Friends, Movements, Milestones, and now Set It Off. So, being able to work with Fearless on Warped was incredible. I remember the first year I went, I told myself that I REALLY wanted to work Warped some day in some sort of capacity. When the announcement that this was the final Warped came, I was devastated that I would never get to live my dream. Well, there I was. I was working Warped, not only with my favorite record label, but also with my best friend, Demi! We were suppose to go around with posters advertising the labels artist set times, but it was raining so we mostly just sat with our street team rep Brandon, selling merch. Which may not sound all that exciting, but I had a blast nonetheless. We got to hear about what it’s actually like working with the bands, how it is working Warped, how to get a job like this, and other things like that. Essentially, working Warped and in the music industry is difficult and exhausting, but rewarding and fun. Having this opportunity made me realize that this is exactly what I want to do. Even if I’m simply a merch girl the rest of my life, I would be happy. If you want to work in the music industry doing promo and selling merch, doing behind the scene things like this, Brandon told us to work at local venues. Just work your butt off. Join street teams too! Inquire about teams from bands and record labels, or even other fans. I got to work a few times with promo for Fearless just by being in the street team, heck I worked VIP for Pierce the Veil, my all time favorite band. So, who knows where the street teams will take you. While this is suppose to be a concert review like article, I thought I would go on a long rant about how much fun I had and this amazing experience, hopefully giving some advice on how to do something like this if this is something you want to do. Join street teams! That’s my best advice, because the street teams are how I get to do anything since there’s not many venues around me.
Fearless Records is my favorite record label, hosting many of my favorite bands like Pierce the Veil, As It Is, Real Friends, Movements, Milestones, and now Set It Off. So, being able to work with Fearless on Warped was incredible. I remember the first year I went, I told myself that I REALLY wanted to work Warped some day in some sort of capacity. When the announcement that this was the final Warped came, I was devastated that I would never get to live my dream. Well, there I was. I was working Warped, not only with my favorite record label, but also with my best friend, Demi! We were suppose to go around with posters advertising the labels artist set times, but it was raining so we mostly just sat with our street team rep Brandon, selling merch. Which may not sound all that exciting, but I had a blast nonetheless. We got to hear about what it’s actually like working with the bands, how it is working Warped, how to get a job like this, and other things like that. Essentially, working Warped and in the music industry is difficult and exhausting, but rewarding and fun. Having this opportunity made me realize that this is exactly what I want to do. Even if I’m simply a merch girl the rest of my life, I would be happy. If you want to work in the music industry doing promo and selling merch, doing behind the scene things like this, Brandon told us to work at local venues. Just work your butt off. Join street teams too! Inquire about teams from bands and record labels, or even other fans. I got to work a few times with promo for Fearless just by being in the street team, heck I worked VIP for Pierce the Veil, my all time favorite band. So, who knows where the street teams will take you. While this is suppose to be a concert review like article, I thought I would go on a long rant about how much fun I had and this amazing experience, hopefully giving some advice on how to do something like this if this is something you want to do. Join street teams! That’s my best advice, because the street teams are how I get to do anything since there’s not many venues around me.
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| Photo by me of Palaye Royale's Remington Leith hanging from the rafter |
Now, what you’re likely here for: concert talk. Like I said, I had a completely different experience than most for this Warped. Though, I did get to see a few bands. I saw Real Friends, Waterparks, The Interrupters, and Beartooth. I caught some of Palaye Royale’s set and some of Movements and Tonight Alive. With these sets being shorter than many of these bands usually play, I feel like a lot is rushed. This can’t really be helped, so it’s not their fault if I feel like somethings missing from their set. The first band I saw of the day was Real Friends. I actually wasn’t really of fan of them. I knew the song “Get By” and that was it. Though, I heard so many great things about them from others, so I asked if I could go see them. They were amazing! There was an insane amount of crowd surfing and the singer, Dan Lambton, tried his best to interact with the crowd with the little time he had. He seemed genuinely happy to be where he was and to have the audience he had. I wish I knew more from them so I could have participated more. I left the set wishing I had more time. Movements, Tonight Alive, and We The Kings all played near my tent. I could hear all these sets, but not see them. They all sounded amazing honestly. I wish I could have been more involved and could actually see them, but hearing them was enough to hype me up and want to see them at a later time. Once I wrapped up with Fearless, I was free to see whoever was left.
Thankfully, the two major bands I wanted to see were playing later, so I was able to see their entire sets. I caught the last two songs of Palaye Royale’s set and I desperately need to see them! Remington Leith, the singer, was hanging from the rafters and then crowd surfed. I was not prepared for any of that from them and I NEED to see them again. The vocals were incredibly and the energy for was insane. I was surely hyped up after seeing just two songs. I then went to go wait for Beartooth to come on and ended up seeing The Interrupters. They were interesting alright. Would I listen to them? I’m not sure yet. They had plenty of energy on stage and were fun to watch. They’re definitely up my alley of pop punk music, but I just haven’t listened to them yet. No doubt, they were good though. Then it came time for the two acts I was waiting for, Beartooth and Waterparks. I had seen Beartooth two times before and they never disappointed. This time though, I wanted to be in the crowd, and oh boy was it wild. Beartooth is more on the heavier side of rock, with more than enough songs to give you whiplash or concussion from all the headbanging.
I was not really prepares for the crowd. The crowd went absolutely wild when they came on stage. I nearly lost my glasses (I actually would have if my friend didn’t get them for me. I was prepared to be blind just ot continue rocking.), the guy in front of me became my launch pad for jumping, and I slammed my nose into a shoulder and my forehead into someones back. If that doesn’t tell you how wild the crowd was, I don’t know what will. There was at least a good twenty plus crowd surfers and the mosh pit expanded half the crowd. Then precious Caleb Shomos (vocals) gave a speech about how he grew up on this tour and how he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Kevin having him on Warped and us fans. Let me tell you, I was crying. The man himself started to cry on stage and in support, the crowd chanted Beartooth. I’m so proud of how far Beartooth has come and I cannot wait to see where they go. Lastly, the final act of the final Warped for Tinley; Waterparks. From being in the crowd during Beartooth, I was able to snag barricade for Waterparks. In all honest, I only started listening to Waterparks because I found Awsten Knight’s (vocals) Twitter and thought it was funny. I ended up enjoying their music quite a bit, so I was determined to see them at Warped. I was expecting a lot more energy from Awsten. I don’t know if it was because it was day twenty-one of Warped at 9:30 at night and he was just exhausted, or what it was, but the energy I expected wasn’t there. Or maybe I was not completely there, Beartooth did take a lot out of me. Who’s to really say? I did enjoy the set regardless. I for sure would love to see them again, when I’m less dead and know more songs. The music and performance was amazing overall. I really think the lack of energy I perceived was due to the late time and the straight touring without a break. This was the perfect way to end out the night. The final send off for Warped Tour.
Thankfully, the two major bands I wanted to see were playing later, so I was able to see their entire sets. I caught the last two songs of Palaye Royale’s set and I desperately need to see them! Remington Leith, the singer, was hanging from the rafters and then crowd surfed. I was not prepared for any of that from them and I NEED to see them again. The vocals were incredibly and the energy for was insane. I was surely hyped up after seeing just two songs. I then went to go wait for Beartooth to come on and ended up seeing The Interrupters. They were interesting alright. Would I listen to them? I’m not sure yet. They had plenty of energy on stage and were fun to watch. They’re definitely up my alley of pop punk music, but I just haven’t listened to them yet. No doubt, they were good though. Then it came time for the two acts I was waiting for, Beartooth and Waterparks. I had seen Beartooth two times before and they never disappointed. This time though, I wanted to be in the crowd, and oh boy was it wild. Beartooth is more on the heavier side of rock, with more than enough songs to give you whiplash or concussion from all the headbanging.
I was not really prepares for the crowd. The crowd went absolutely wild when they came on stage. I nearly lost my glasses (I actually would have if my friend didn’t get them for me. I was prepared to be blind just ot continue rocking.), the guy in front of me became my launch pad for jumping, and I slammed my nose into a shoulder and my forehead into someones back. If that doesn’t tell you how wild the crowd was, I don’t know what will. There was at least a good twenty plus crowd surfers and the mosh pit expanded half the crowd. Then precious Caleb Shomos (vocals) gave a speech about how he grew up on this tour and how he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Kevin having him on Warped and us fans. Let me tell you, I was crying. The man himself started to cry on stage and in support, the crowd chanted Beartooth. I’m so proud of how far Beartooth has come and I cannot wait to see where they go. Lastly, the final act of the final Warped for Tinley; Waterparks. From being in the crowd during Beartooth, I was able to snag barricade for Waterparks. In all honest, I only started listening to Waterparks because I found Awsten Knight’s (vocals) Twitter and thought it was funny. I ended up enjoying their music quite a bit, so I was determined to see them at Warped. I was expecting a lot more energy from Awsten. I don’t know if it was because it was day twenty-one of Warped at 9:30 at night and he was just exhausted, or what it was, but the energy I expected wasn’t there. Or maybe I was not completely there, Beartooth did take a lot out of me. Who’s to really say? I did enjoy the set regardless. I for sure would love to see them again, when I’m less dead and know more songs. The music and performance was amazing overall. I really think the lack of energy I perceived was due to the late time and the straight touring without a break. This was the perfect way to end out the night. The final send off for Warped Tour.
The final Warped Tour is something I will never forget. I got to live my dream and catch some unforgettable sets. I will definitely miss the yearly trip to Warped with my best friends. I will miss all the sweating and jumping, all the people, the tents, the free stuff, the sun, the memories. I will miss the race to Subway afterwards and needing the next week of rest because I went too hard during a set. I will miss the opportunity to meet some of my favorite bands. I will miss the feeling of community, of belonging, of family. I will undoubtedly miss Warped Tour. If you are able to make one of the final dates, do so. It will be a day you will never forget. Go have fun, go make some memories. Don’t forget, we are forever Warped…
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