Review of Warped Tour @ Monmouth Racetrack 7/18/10 Now in it's 16th year, the Warped Tour has survived while most other once popular festival tours have faded away. What's it's secret? Changing with the times. While many festival tours have tried to remain the same, i.e. Ozzfest is all hard rock, Lilt Fair is predominantly middle of the road female fronted acts; Warped Tour long ago abandoned being just a punk rock festival. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of punk bands for you to hear, but over the years the Warped Tour has turned into more of a smorgasbord, where you can get 30 minute sets from a variety of different bands. Don't like what you're hearing on one stage, well there are plenty of other bands to go hear. With 10 stages this year, there would be something for just about everyone. In addition to the expected punk, ska, emo, and screamo, there was rockabilly, R&B, even a female singer-songwriter singing to backing tracks. Warped Tour is literally a giant flea market full of sound and merchandise. Some like to complain about the commercialization of the festival and how it’s become a mall. There is certainly lots of crap to buy, and I was really surprised by one vendor that had a giant picture of Miley Cyrus on their tent (back in the day that tent would have been ridiculed and vandalized by Warped Tour patrons). However, all the merchandise tents are just part of the vibe of the festival and while some of us may not love that aspect, we’d miss it if it wasn’t there. Missing from the Warped Tour this year was a reprieve from the hot sun that was beating down on us all day. Unlike last year, which was at the same location, but laid out different, this year there was no shady area to watch any of the stages from. In fact, the only shady area were a few trees that people were peacefully sitting under, and a venue staff member removed everyone from there, chasing them out like an old man shooing pigeons from his lawn. The only ways to keep cool was two hoses with shower heads that were constantly mobbed with people, and because of how hot it was, only kept you cool for about 5 minutes, and sports drinks which cost $5 (actually $4, and $1 for the expected tip which they put in the tip jar before you can say otherwise), for 20 ounces. But despite repeated trips to the "showers", and $20 worth of sports drinks, after 4 and a half hours I was so close to passing out from the heat I had to call it a day. This sadly meant missing any band that went on after 3pm, which included several I was looking forward to seeing like The Mighty Regis, Flatfoot 56, and The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. But, by arriving early (gates were at 10:30am), I did manage to see a lot of cool bands before having to call it a day. The Warped tour pulls band names out of a hat every day to choose set times, so there's a chance you go on early, and there's a chance you'll go on late. This makes it impossible for someone to show up just to see one or two bands, because they won't know when they are playing. On this particular date, Andrew W.K. ended up with the first slot on the main stage (11:10am). this probably meant some of his fans did not arrive in time to see him. Those of us that were there were entertained by his animated antics, and fist pumping anthems to partying. Few people can have the same high energy at 11am that they'd have at 11pm, Andrew W.K. is one of them. Honestly, if a certain battery company ever wants to get rid of their bunny mascot, Andrew W.K. may be a good replacement. Skateboarding used to be a big part of the Warped Tour, with huge half pipes near the main stages, now it’s just one small half pipe, with only a hand full of skateboarders. It’s so sad looking one wonders why they don’t just phase the skateboarding out altogether. Half the fun of the Warped Tour (for me at least) is discovering bands that I am unfamiliar with. One such band that caught my attention was The Pretty Reckless. While I only caught the last two songs of their set, I enjoyed their energy and catchy hard rock. It wasn’t until writing this review that I discovered the lead singer is a star of Gossip Girl. I’m not really that show’s target audience, nor probably her band’s target audience. While I will likely never watch Gossip Girl, I would listen to The Pretty Reckless again. Back on the main stage, Reel Big Fish was tearing through a set of ska rock, including early hits like “sell out” and “she’s got a girlfriend now”, as well as covers of “brown eyed girl” and “take on me”. A fun, solid set from a band these Warped Tour vets. One of the best surprises of the day came from Gardening Not Architecture, featuring former Saving Face lead singer, Sarah Saturday, on vocals and bass guitar, and programmed music courtesy of Beau Sorenson (who was not present at the Warped Tour). Their website describes their music as, “electronic-tinged ethereal powerpop (for the soul)”, I would describe it as being interesting and mesmerizing. A surprisingly mellow good time during the traditionally loud fest. The highlight of the day was Face To Face’s scorching set of SoCal punk rock. Even thought the heat was killing me by the time they took to the stage, I was singing along, pogoing, and having a blast as the guys barreled through song after song spanning their career, rarely stopping between songs except for some humorous self-deprecating comments. In my mind, they showed everyone how to rock a festival. Face To Face also played a song from their new album due out this fall that makes me wish it was fall already. Speaking of fall, did I mention how fucking hot it was??? Maybe the Warped Tour should happen in the fall…nah…. After Face To Face’s set, I headed over to catch the Riverboat Gamblers, who were selling my favorite t-shirt of the day, “Mel Gibson Is An Asshole!” They also make great punk rock. Sadly, I was only able to catch a few songs of their set before the angry sun finally defeated me. Despite the unbearable heat this year, the Warped Tour is still one of the best values going. I am already looking forward to next year’s show, and hoping it will be a cooler day with more shade. In addition to all the great bands I listed above, I got to sample seeing many other acts, some of whom are pictured below. www.vanswarpedtour.com www.andrewwk.com www.theprettyreckless.com www.reel-big-fish.com www.gardeningnotarchitecture.com www.facetofacemusic.com www.theriverboatgamblers.com