It’s been seven years since Sum 41 has played the Vans Warped Tour. It’s been eight years since Face to Face has seen the Warped stage, and two years for Reel Big Fish. But all three bands have something in common: They’re old. And they’re not emo.
Throughout the years, the Vans Warped Tour has been criticized by fans for changing their music lineup from punk and third-wave ska to mainstream pop and emo.
“I think people will say, ‘Hey, there are no punk bands.’ And I’ll go, ‘Wait a second, what about bands like Alkaline Trio and Face to Face?'” said Warped Tour creator Kevin Lyman in an interview with punknews.org.
“There are a lot of bands that are coming back to the tour that haven’t been there in a long time.”
Since 1994, the Vans Warped Tour has become a showcase for new bands and old crowd favorites alike. Created by Lyman, who is also credited with creating the Taste of Chaos and Mayhem tours, which feature metal and hardcore bands, the Warped Tour has become a staple of summer rock concerts.
Back in the ‘90s, the Warped Tour was known for bringing in a huge skater crowd, and each venue would feature a skate park near the stages. The tour exclusively featured extreme sports, and skate punk music like NOFX, Bad Religion and The Bouncing Souls.
However, the Warped Tour of the 21st century is lacking the caliber of punk bands it once had in the ‘90s. Even with the few that are featured, bands like Dropkick Murphys, Anti-Flag and The Bouncing Souls drop off the tour before they even reach West Palm Beach.
“I wish I could bring those bands on the whole tour, but man, they’re old too,” said Lyman. “They aren’t going to do too well in St. Louis at 96-degree heat and 97-percent humidity.”
Despite not having punk outweigh the other genres on the tour, this year’s tour brings a handful of big names in old-school punk to satisfy the older generation in the crowd.
“It’s hard to find new punk bands, if you really think about it,” said Lyman. “We need some new bands. Bad Religion, NOFX [and] Rancid are 15, 20 years old. Name me a punk band that’s really broken out in the last five years.”
It seems to be an inevitable fact that the Warped Tour evolves to accommodate the popular genres each year, whether that is pop punk or nu metal. This year, however, the fans can enjoy a few of the old guys and reminisce about the ‘90s skate punk days.
“I’m definitely most excited to see Sum 41,” said Deanna Loafman, an FAU communication major. “I’ve been listening to them since way back in eighth grade.”
Five new bands worth checking out:
Hey Monday
This pop punk band will be making a trip home on the tour, as they originated from West Palm Beach. Hey Monday’s debut album, Hold on Tight, was released in 2008. Coming off their stint on the AP Tour this year, the band will be making their first appearance at the Warped Tour on the Altec Lansing Stage.
In Fear and Faith
A post-hardcore band from San Diego, Calif., their album Your World on Fire peaked at No. 193 on the Billboard 200. This year included the band touring with big nu metal bands I See Stars, Parkway Drive and A Day to Remember. In Fear and Faith makes their Warped Tour debut on the Skullcandy Stage.
Fight Fair
Also hailing from San Diego, this pop punk band has yet to put out a full-length album. However, their EP Settle the Score received a lot of attention on their Myspace Music page. Last year they toured with techno screamo band Breathe Carolina, who played at the 2009 Warped Tour. You can see Fight Fair on the Skullcandy Stage.
The Pretty Reckless
The Pretty Reckless is a punk band from New York fronted by actress and model Taylor Momsen. Formed in 2009, their single “Make Me Wanna Die” was featured in the movie Kick-Ass. Their first EP was just released on June 22. See The Pretty Reckless on the Alternative Press/Advent Clothing Stage.
Of Mice & Men
Of Mice & Men is a post-hardcore band from Costa Mesa, Calif., founded by former Attack Attack! frontman Austin Carlile, who recently quit Of Mice & Men as well. Known on the Internet for their cover of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face,” this band released their debut album on March 9 of this year. You can catch Of Mice & Men performing on the Skullcandy Stage.
When
*July 24, 2010
Where
*Cruzan Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach
Bands playing
* After Midnight Project
* Alesana
* Alkaline Trio
* AM Taxi
* American Sixgun
* Anarbor
* Andrew W.K.
* Artist Vs Poet
* Attack Attack
* Automatic Loveletter
* Beachers Madhouse
* Breathe Carolina
* Breathe Electric
* Bring Me The Horizon
* The Cab
* The Casualties
* The Chase
* Closure in Moscow
* Conditions
* Confide
* The Dillinger Escape Plan
* Dirty Little Rabbits
* Disco Curtis
* Emarosa
* Emmure
* Every Time I Die
* Eyes Set To Kill
* Face To Face
* Fake Problems
* Far From Finished
* Fight Fair
* Fit For Rivals
* Flatfoot 56
* Four Year Strong
* Gardening Not Architecture
* Grind Time Now
* Haste The Day
* Hey Monday
* His Name Was Iron
* Hot Chelle Rae
* I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business
* Ice Nine Kills
* In Fear and Faith
* Ionia
* iwrestledabearonce
* Kelsey And The Chaos
* Left Alone
* Mayday Parade
* Middle Finger Salute
* Mike Posner
* Natural High
* NeverShoutNever
* Of Mice and Men
* Parkway Drive
* Pennywise
* Pierce The Veil
* The Pretty Reckless
* Reel Big Fish
* The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
* Riverboat Gamblers
* The Rocket Summer
* Set Your Goals
* The Sparring
* Spinlight City
* Streetlight Manifesto
* Suicide Silence
* Sum 41
* The Summer Set
* Tip The Van
* The Upwelling
* VersaEmerge
* We Are The In Crowd
* We The Kings
* Whitechapel
* The Word Alive
* You Me At Six
