Photos: Warped Tour @ PNC Bank Arts Center 7-13-12

I've been reporting to you from the Warped Tour for quite a few years now. We all know how this works. It's a big festival, it's hot out there, and there are so many bands that they outnumber a small nation's military. Seriously, if you gave all the bands guns instead of guitars you could take over Luxemborg. That is if you could get the musicians to show up on time, and not ask for more bullets in their monitor. But I digress. So my only requirement to have a good Warped Tour experience is to find one new band that I had not previously heard of to blow me away, and make me forget about the petty stuff, like over-priced food, non-stop advertising, etc. This year delivered once again on my hope of finding a new band to obsess over. For that, I once again have to thank the Warped Tour.

As the day began I plotted to attend more of the smaller stages and the acts that went with them. The bigger acts on the tour didn't appeal to me so much, so I figured if I were to achieve my goal of an awesome unknown (to me) band, it would be in the nooks and crannies of this goliath of an event. I started off (with my Warped Tour Robin, Lazlo) at the acoustic tent for Candy Hearts. Or Candy Heart, cause it was a solo performance by that band's leading lady Mariel. It was essentially pop stuff about love and doing nothing. While I can see it being appealing to the high school crowd, it sort of left me dry. But then again, I'm not in that target audience, so take that for what it is.

Moving on we caught Machine Gun Kelly. This rap/rock hybrid made me wish Chuck D was here to punch him in the mouth. But the crowd seemed to be down with the act. I sometimes wonder what planet I'm from, and how I ended up here amongst this alien race with crazy unexplainable tastes. Oh well.

Lazlo and I proceeded to walk around and ended up by the stage that Blood On The Dance Floor were performing on. They had their foam jets a foamin', and played what is essentially modern disco to the teeming teenage masses. I gotta hand it to them, they were working it in the heat. I kept telling myself that I hope their tongue is planted firmly in their cheek, though...

Back to the acoustic tent we went, to catch Obi Fernandez. He did a nice mix of reggae with a dash of soul on top. He had a strong, melodic voice that kept my ears from wandering away. I can only take so much reggae, but this gent knew how to make it interesting and engaging. A cover of the Motown classic "My Girl", a funny light-hearted romp through the first verse and chorus of Bruce's "Hungry Heart", and some solid originals made Obi a surprise highlight of the day. I hadn't achieved my goal yet, so again into the breech Lazlo and I went.

At this point in the day Lazlo and I came upon a stage tucked away incongruously in the labyrinth of booths and merch tents. Performing on it, as I was about to learn, were an English folk band named Skinny Lister. Four guys and a girl, stand-up bass, two guitars, a concertina, and whole lot of charm and energy made for a magical event. In a mere few minutes, this band turned the unsuspecting passers-by into a party. Dancing, jumping, singing, and swaying arm in arm, it was as if the pied piper lead you to a pub with an open bar instead of out to the river. I swear I saw Tupac Shakur himself (he's not really dead, is he?), or at the very least, his doppelganger, jump into the jig and tear it up to this swarthy band. I wasn't even aware that I was clapping and singing along, attempting the sad, rhythmless shaking I call dancing, all the while to the joyous refrains of this act. If Tupac and I agree on Skinny Lister's awesomeness, then you will, too. It wasn't even two o'clock, and Skinny Lister single-handedly won the Warped Tour. They were everything I hoped for in a Warped Tour. Mission was already accomplished.

In quick succession we caught some of Danielle Barbe (decent hard rock) and G-Eazy, whose rapping over oldies and such didn't quite translate well live. I have the feeling on record it's probably pretty good, but under the circumstances of the Warped Tour it didn't translate so well.

The Bangups, on the other hand did a great job against some tall odds. It's hard as a two-piece dirty rock and roll band to overcome the cacophony of all the stages around you to make an impact. But going from essentially playing in front of Lazlo and myself to having a crowd gather around and rock out in the short amount of time they had was quite an accomplishment. I'd like to investigate more about this band.

From what seemed like a mile away from all the rest of the stages, we caught some of Streetlight Manifesto. It's amazing how a ska band like this can still get the kids skanking their way around a dirt field. The crowd seemed to be having a blast tearing it up for these elder statesmen of the upteenth ska wave. Lazlo and I left Streetlight to go and catch Lost In Society, another NJ band. The hit the stage hard, with their Blake from Jawbreaker meets pop punk stylings. They seem to have their deal down to a science. A band handmade for the Warped Tour. Why aren't they on the main stage, I asked myself...

As luck would have it Skinny Lister's set from earlier in the day was a sort of impromptu thing. Turns out their actual set was coming up. We rushed over their to see if that magic was a one-time thing. It wasn't. They once again proved to be THE BAND of the day, and I count myself one lucky bastard for having been able to see them twice in one day. Seriously, if they tour on this side of the pond again, go and see them. You can thank me later. Gift cards accepted.

Lost Prophets did their angsty punk emo metal thingy. Not so much my thing. They were a well-oiled machine, though, so there's that. Beyond them were Stepdad, which played a very 80's influenced sort of rock. I do belive they may have suffered from some sound difficulties, but I found a potential in them for some good things. I'd really like to get to hear a record from them. I have a feeling that afore-mentioned potential is most likely realized on wax. I'll be looking in their direction again, I'm sure.

Emily's Army were the final act for Lazlo and I. Billie Joe from Green Day's kid's band. I wanted to not have to mention that as a point, and take them on their own accord, but truthfully, the band is basically "Dookie" era Green Day redone. It's almost as if Billie said "Son, I'm not playing that shit so much anymore, I've got rock operas to write. So here, take this here "Dookie" record, co-opt it, and bring it once more to the masses". Sure rock and roll is all about thievery, and this one has genetics affecting it as well, but please? They even use the Mike Dirnt model bass. Sure, they were perfectly capable of doing that punk rock thing, I just found myself thinking that I would've been more impressed if his kid went the opposite way and did folk music, or Enya-esque new age. So all in all, another year, another Warped Tour, and one band to rule them all. Skinny Lister won the day, and kept the hope alive that there is always another new, unheard of band right around the corner at the Warped Tour, ready to compel you out of your air-conditioned home and into the heat for the sake of rock and roll.

-Jason I

Photos by Lazlo
(click on photo to see full size)