Review | Warped Tour

A handful of punk rock fans jostled for position around the microphone of the Mohawk-coiffed vocalist of the Casualties Monday at Sandstone.

They shouted along to the Clash’s “White Riot” in a jubilant moment that felt true to the original punk ideals of equality and free-spirited anarchy.

Such incidents have become increasingly rare at Warped Tour, the venerable annual alternative music festival.

While The Clash’s Joe Strummer once lamented that the music industry seemed bent on “turning rebellion into money,” his protest now seems quaint. As a showcase for music inspired by bands like the Clash, Warped Tour is a ruthlessly efficient machine that featured over 65 acts on seven stages Monday.

Although the event seemed slightly less congested than in previous years, an audience of about 7,000 braved the day’s high temperatures. Most of the fans belonged to one of two disparate groups. The first set of concertgoers consisted of teenage girls who screamed along with pop-punk acts like the Rocket Summer and Pierce the Veil.

Fresh-faced fans of these lightweight groups were forced to endure abuse from advocates of heavier music. The front man for street punk band the Sparring, for instance, hurled a nearly full energy drink can toward the crowd watching Pierce the Veil’s set at a nearby stage. Punk band Left Alone taunted passerby as they performed “I Hate Emo.” These acts might be resentful that their style seems to be falling out of favor.

A sterling set by veteran California punk band Face to Face was witnessed by a mere 50 fans.

“Apparently word hasn’t gotten out that we’re the best band on Warped Tour,” front man Trever Keith sighed.

Extreme music acts fared better. Thirty minutes after the Face to Face debacle, a rabid crowd of over 1,000 thrash fans congregated to hear

Every Time I Die perform on the same stage. The complex, horrifically violent noise generated by the Dillinger Escape Plan was even more harrowing. A toxic cocktail composed of equal parts jazz theorist Ornette Coleman and raging punk band Black Flag, its potent brew befuddled would-be moshers. Metal was also represented. Suicide Silence was appropriately brutal while Alesana drew one of the day’s biggest crowds. The vocalist of Whitechapel concluded its set of death metal with a correspondingly bleak kiss-off.

“Thank you very much, Kansas,” he hollered. “You are all going to hell!”

Andrew W.K. would surely beg to differ. His unflaggingly good cheer and childlike glee make him the Mr. Rogers of hard rock. Hundreds of rock acts may be superior to Andrew W.K., but few offer more fun. The manic country blues of Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band was also smile-inducing.

Other acts of note that didn’t fit the conventional Warped Tour model were Deas Vail’s dream-pop, Tip the Van’s delightful evocation of the Go-Go’s and Fake Problems’ roots-rock. The latter band resembled the Gaslight Anthem for the Hot Topic set.

Members of several bands claimed that Monday was the hottest day of this summer’s tour. Fans squabbled over the right to bask in precious patches of shade under the almost cloudless sky.

“The hardest part of Warped Tour is staying drunk and hydrated at the same time,” joked Aaron Barrett of ska band Reel Big Fish. It really wasn’t a laughing matter.

Although a lot of notable music was performed, Monday will likely be remembered for its oppressive heat.

 

-- Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[gsp]

"Although a lot of notable music was performed, Monday will likely be remembered for its oppressive heat."

...and possibly the apparent casualty.

[wadkc]

I've been to 4 Warp tours and it's ALWAYS the freakin' hottest day of the year. Can we ever get the front or back end of the tour? They must start on one side of the coast and work their way to the other. Makes logistical sense but not for concert goers & pavement in the midwest. I remember last time Andrew W.K. performed at a Warp Tour. I lost a pair of sunglasses and nursed some purple toes from wearing flip flops during the set. Lesson learned.

[Darrell]

Perhaps the promoters of the event can find a site next year with grass and trees. Perhaps the proprietors at Sandstone will provide an adequate number of cooling stations and shaded areas for their ticket buying customers in the future.

Failing this, perhaps the ticket buying public can take inspiration from newsreel footage of the closing of Woodstock '99 for ideas as to how to behave when exploited by greedy capitalists.

[mankvill]

Andrew WK:

It's Time To Party
You Will Remember Tonight
She Is Beautiful
Ready To Die
We Want Fun
I Get Wet
Party Hard (feat. Dillinger Escape Plan and a ton of other people)

Dillinger Escape Plan included:

Panasonic Youth
43% Burnt (most vicious live song of all time)
Good Neighbor
Sunshine The Werewolf
Lurch
Farewell Mona Lisa

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band included:

Mama's Fried Potatoes
Born Bred Corn Fed
Clap Your Hands
Everything's Raising
Two Bottles Of Wine

Pennywise:

Every Single Day
My Own Country
Can't Believe It
Fuck Authority
Peaceful Day
Society
Get A Life (?)
Bro Hymn (feat. Reverend Peyton)

A fun day, even though I passed out from AWK.

[Gary Dean]

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/03/2126170/wichita-man-dies-at-sandstone.html

Wichita man dies at Sandstone concert

A 26-year-old Wichita man died Monday while attending a concert at Capitol Federal Park at Sandstone, police said Tuesday.

Curtis Alan DeForest died at the Vans Warped tour concert. At this time, no foul play is suspected, police said, but they are investigating.

[Dad]

anyway ...
as I was saying.....
as a rule of thumb(toe) DO NOT WEAR FLIP-FLOPS TO A CONCERT!!!

I bought ya book...
and
I bought ya books...
but I cant make ya drink

[Green]

26 is to young and you shouldnt die at a concert, thats just bad news. Cooling stations would be nice, an awning or canopy would help too but that would only cover those in front, covering the entire place would kinda defeat the purpose of an outdoor venue. I think on those hot days the venue should truck in water tanks, its only fair to those at the event. Have a couple tents too, firework tent size would be awesome, they had them at lollapalooza years back and some were fitted with mist machines. Of course, a park style venue would be sweet, some trees, grass, lots of room, lots of stages, but this would be a nightmare for the promoter, way to hard to set up in a multi-city tour like the warp tour in parks without the amenities such as Sandstone.

[Bubba Brown]

Would you believe I've never even been to a Warped Tour concert @ Sandstone? Plus, I think that tour has showed up here EVERY year since it started. Only time I almost went was when they had JOAN JETT and the GERMS. It seems like it's NOT too tough to locate free tickets for this annual event because it rarely ever sells out. Sorry to hear about the guy that died - R.I.P. friend.

[Blue]

ANY age is too young to die...... but
IF ya goona die, and ya probably will(sooner of later)
THEN dying at a concert is probably as good a way to go as any.

"Im on the rock and rock roll train to Heaven, with the opening song play-in my head"

[pellboy]

I'm sure it outgrew that area but I seem to recall in the very early years of Warped that they played Burcham Riverfront Park in Lawrence. Lots of shade there but I'm guessing bugs could have been an issue.

[TK]

The one I saw at Burcham Park was the best one. It was hot, but there were a number of shaded trees and places to find shade. An up and coming Blink 182 was on the bill there, too...

[Ronnie]

@Pellboy, I remember those Warped Tours @ Burcham, nice shade, cool breeze. It was a great place for a show. With only 7000 in attendance this year, I cant imagine that it outgrew Burcham though. They need to move it back.

[pellboy]

Maybe Lawrence just doesn't want that type of show any longer (they never seemed to keen on Wakarusa either) but it does seem to be the better spot especially for a more scaled down version of the tour and I would think that it more much more financially feasible for the promotors.

I didn't attend any of those shows but was wondering if parking was an issue (complaints from neighbors?)or were shuttles used?

[mankvill]

There weren't any shuttles that I was aware of. I got in early (VIP, yo) and the only shuttles I saw were at 10:00 AM and used to transport merchandise. As soon as gates opened, didn't see any shuttles, although I'd assume the medics had some to use.

Also another thing of note: the story about the young man dying is heart-breaking, but I just want to clear up that if people read that water at Sandstone was $10...well, it wasn't. Water was $4 and was that price in the VIP bar, the concession stands, and the multiple push-carts in the parking lot where most of the tour was held. Apart from that, I'm not aware of somewhere offering free refills of water or if there are water fountains anywhere on the premises. I do think the nearest bathrooms (containing sinks/faucets for water) were really far away from the main parking lot where most of the stages were held. Also: not a lot of shade/places to cool down near the main entertainment. Apparently there were misters, but I didn't see them.

It truly sucks about what happened, but I hope Warped Tour keeps coming back to Sandstone, I had a great time.

[gonzo]

Andrew W.K. - I Get Wet & Party Hard, live at Sandstone. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f-eiwEUhxY

[Clark]

I went to the warped tour and had a great time. Dont pay to much but it is a good time that lasts all day. Drink alot of water!

http://www.iConcerttickets.com - Concert Tickets at Affordable Prices

[versace pull]

Wow impressionnant! Votre blog est très instructif. Cependant, il est assez difficile, mais la tâche de votre poste et l'expérience de servir et m'enseigner la façon de traiter et de le rendre plus simple et manageable.Thanks pour les conseils ... Cordialement.