Matt Weir / The Collegian
Each stage at the Vans Warped Tour may have been just that—a stage. However, the bands that shook them and the fans that surrounded them were as different as night and day.
Before hitting the road to Fresno for the tour’s 15th anniversary–the 70 plus bands rocked the Washington Council Fairplex in Portland, Oregon. Save Mart Center’s turnout was smaller in comparison to the previous show, which hosted the tour for the first time. The Fairplex broke the record for the highest attendance ratings in Warp Tour history selling 11,000 tickets, according to Marketing and Events Manager Lisa DuPre and concert promoters Double Tee Concerts.
The one consistency of last week̢۪s show at the Save Mart Center was the triple-digit heat, which may have been to blame for the low turnout.
A hand full of performances deserved more recognition then what declined ticket sales accounted for. Although music tastes vary the following bands are worthy of consideration.
THE DIRTY HEADS: Clean Beats — Huntington Beach natives, The Dirty Heads are a reggae/hip-hop group. With the appearance of California surfers, these five guys may shock you with their soothing Jamaican bobsled vocals and soul-searching melodies. Songs like “Stand Tallâ€Â, “Rub-a-Dub Styleâ€Â and “Check the Levelâ€Â brought a diverse crowd to the Skull Candy Stage. If the album—“Any Port in a Stormâ€Â—is anything like their energy spitting performance, The Dirty Heads are guaranteed stardom.
LESS THAN JAKE: Obscenely Entertaining — Less Than Jake’s comical act have been on the Warped Tour lineup since the 90’s. Heads turned towards the stage as the band opened the show with the iconic Star Wars theme song. They showered the audience with a super soaker, hit on ladies in the audience and invited a mom on stage for a cold beer—which stole the hearts of fans from nearby performances. The lively instrumental sound of the trombone and saxophone combo coupled with the lead singer’s wacky facial expressions, left a lasting impression. It is no wonder Less Than Jake has been on the bill longer than many ticket holders have been alive.
SING IT LOUD: And Proud — A sea full of emos wearing neon Ray Bans, skittled hair, and metal braces jumped around the Hurley stage throwing their arms towards the sky and singing it loud. The punk-pop sensations owned the crowd and brought a new face to Warped Tour this year along with a new single — “Come Aroundâ€Â. Just like their fans—the five energetic guys that comprise Sing It Loud are not afraid to make a fool and have fun while doing it.
P.O.S.: The Innovator — The lone rapper among a majority punk rock lineup, P.O.S. aka Stefon Alexander is a man to be reckoned with. Although he has brought quite a storm to previous Warped Tours opening for bands like Gym Class Heroes, this year was different. A stand-alone performance, where more than 100 pairs of shoes formed a doughnut shaped circle around a single chair where P.O.S. performed. In the middle of the parking lot, beats dropped and hands rose as the crowd bowed up and down to the only hip-hop act on tour. P.O.S. will be a movement. His new album, “Never Betterâ€Â—Is as ingenious as his lyrics.
MEG & DIA: Holding Nothing Back — The Frampton sisters, Meg and Dia, took the Mozart inspired title of their new album “Here, Here and Hereâ€Â on the road with the Warped Tour. The musicians behind the guitar, bass and drums meshed well with the vocals. The band produced an acoustic pop rock and roll sound that caught the ears of passers-by and a presence that directed undivided attention to the stage. A group that continues to challenge the definition of “genre” and “front man” with each venue they play.
To view the Soundslide show from the Vans Warped Tour, click here.