WARPED TOUR

AUGUST 2009

Harder Beat Magazine Online

WARPED TOUR
Superpages.com 7/5/09

Story and photos by DJ Ivie

Anti-Flag

Shooter Jennings

Bad Religion

Underoath

Let’s face it - Warped Tour is for the kids. The average age of the crowd is younger than the traveling festival itself. In this 15th installment, more so than before, there was a noticeable shortage of what this summer institution was founded on - punk. But how punk can they be when there are two corporate sponsors in the official name (which will not be printed!) and three times as many vendors as bands?

As always, the current Warped fashions overshadowed the bands, so it was hard to ignore dudes sporting hot pants and Kanye West sunglasses. There was a broken hydrant next to a water conservation tent.

Just past the Libertarians preaching the virtues of capitalism, you could get a hot dog and drink for $13. There were 14-year old girls in bikini tops.

Nevertheless, Warped Tour’s strength in recent years has become diversity. and there was still plenty of talent mixed in the otherwise dismal lineup.

Punk veterans Anti-Flag delivered an energetic noontime set. Bassist Chris Barker wasted no time jumping into the sweaty crowd, while the band played left-wing anthems like “Turncoat.”.... brokeNCYDE brought the suck to a side stage. Screamo-crunk. Seriously? WTF?

3OH!3 had one of the most watched sets of the day. Their infectious (and somewhat irritating) tongue-in-cheek hybrid of dance, hip-hop and emo had all the jailbait swooning.... Ska-punkers from way back, Less Than Jake. made jokes about being one of the only bands without funny haircuts.

Shooter Jennings (yes, Waylon’s son) was the odd man out this year. His outlaw southern country rock provided the only twang of the day and was very well received.... Chiodos had a strong showing on the main stage, especially “The Words ‘Best Friend’ Become Redefined.”

Local pop/punk band, With These Words, turned heads with vocalist Jessi Golden’s dynamic stage presence. Think of a much better Paramore with more groove.... Thrice had a powerful set of their introspective post-hardcore. The two new songs were a good indication that their new album, due in the fall, will be a must-have.

The legendary Bad Religion was a real treat despite their graying hair. “American Jesus” and “Generator” had (what few adults there were in attendance) singing in unison with the minors....

The trophy for largest and most rabid audience had to go to Underoath. Even though they are largely to blame for the current influx of so-called Christian hardcore bands, it’s different hearing it from them. Singer Spencer Chamberlain spit and snorted all over the stage, while the rest of the band went ape shit. Hearing thousands of kids singing the choral part of “It’s Dangerous Business Walking out Your Front Door” was nothing short of spine tingling.

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