Warped Tour ’08 hit Cleveland today (wait…yesterday now) and I was in attendance. I haven’t been to Warped Tour in a few years and it seems little has changed. Literally, it was plague with people that were the same age as I was the last time I went. But really, it’s about the music right?
Warped Tour has gone through some changes over the year as has the popular music among teenage kids, which the tour is clearly focused four. I was glad to see the tour focusing on bands like Norma Jean, As I Lay Dying, Evergreen Terrace, The Devil Wears Prada, Everytime I Die, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster… which were all the bands that I chose to see throughout the day. However, I’m sure while I was glad many people who were in attendance of the first few Warped Tours are sad to see bands like Rancid being absent (do they even play anymore?)
Even with all the bands that I used to go see constantly when they were new being present, the tour being plagued with all these kids in their skinny pants and whatnot was a bit disappointing. Kinda made me feel old actually. I found myself thinking “back when I used to see these guys…” a lot, which was weird. I guess it makes sense though, my generation wasn’t the only generation that enjoyed these bands, they have to have an ever growing fan base of kids who can use their parents money to support them.
Either way, the bands all rocked. I checked out all the bands I listed above (which is why I listed so many there) and I remember what motivated me so many years ago to be in a band. So, while the fans ruin the shows for me because they are all little kids in perspective, I’ll be buying these bands records as long as their rockin out. Check ‘em out if you don’t know any of them.
