Another summer has come and gone, and with that so has The Vans Warped Tour. Celebrating over twenty years out on the road, it’s hard to ignore the impression this concert series leaves on the scene and it’s followers. While this year’s tour may have been tethered to some drama throughout the summer, headliners such as Bebe Rexha, Simple Plan, and The Wonder Years helped cap a successful tour.
Many of our staff writers, marketing assistants and editors went, or even worked Warped Tour this year, and took a moment to reflect on their time:
I had the opportunity to hop on for a couple weeks of shows this summer and got to experience Warped from many different venues and cities. I saw Knuckle Puck play every day while out on the East Coast part of the tour and the energy that fans brought to their sets was something that I hadn’t seen before, putting all their energy and emotions into every song. Seaway, PVRIS, The Wonder Years, Senses Fail, Emarosa, and New Beat Fund are some of the other bands that stood out to me this summer with great music, performances, and people. Besides being upset that the Milwaukee venue had their Chipotle closed for the day, I am looking forward to next year’s Warped Tour.
– Colleen Casey, Staff Writer
This year I went to Warped Tour with a friend who doesn’t listen to any punk and rarely and rock music at all, but I had an extra ticket and he loved Riff Raff so he came along for the day. By the time we left he had written down about 5 bands he was going to check out when he got home, and that’s why I love Warped Tour. It brings people into its’ world who wouldn’t usually be up for it, and shows them what it’s like to experience something completely different than anything else. Not to mention it helps bands gain new fans as well.
– Jenn Stookey, Editor-In-Chief
When the full Warped Tour 2015 lineup was announced earlier this year, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go. There weren’t many bands that I really cared to stand in the smothering heat to see, but I soon realized that my summer would be incomplete without a trip to the traveling festival. Although this year’s lineup consisted of the scene’s cult favorites like Pierce the Veil and Black Veil Brides, the all-stars of summer were the small font bands on the bill. Sure, PVRIS put on a great show and The Wonder Years killed it as they do, but there was just something about seeing Knuckle Puck play to an insane hometown crowd and watching PUP kill their set in front of a less-than-enthused crowd that really encapsulated the spirit of Warped Tour. Say what you will about the tour: how it’s dying, how it’s not the same as it used to be. Warped Tour continues to be the heart and soul of this music scene, and I hope and pray it doesn’t go anywhere anytime soon. Standout acts: Moose Blood, PUP, Candy Hearts, Knuckle Puck, Neck Deep, Jule Vera
Jessica Klinner – Managing Editor
Ever since I was a kid, Warped Tour was a staple of my summer. Growing up in Ohio as a suburban punk it was the one thing I looked forward to every summer. It curated my taste in music, and provided me with a community I aligned myself with. As I got older, the lineups began to change, and I began to distance myself from the acts brought on tour. In college, I never made it to Warped Tour, and it felt like a piece of my identity was missing, so after graduating, I promised myself I would go again. The Highlight editorial team went this year on the Chicago date and it rekindled my love for the scene. Breakout acts for me included PUP, Jule Vera, Bebe Rexha and so many others. Warped Tour may get a lot of flak for the drama surrounding it or the mere fact that it’s a bunch of punk rock kids listening to their punk rock music, but Warped Tour is a place of creativity, art, and a home to welcome some of the greatest fans in the world, and I would hate to see the music industry lose that piece of itself.
– Nick Yacovazzi, Online Editor.
This year’s Jacksonville, FL date was my first experience with Warped Tour, and given the lineup, I went in pretty blind, but somehow, this seemed to work out better. I had the opportunity to listen to bands I would have never expected to enjoy (aka Pierce the Veil). I never really knew what was so special about PTV, but their space presence, confetti guns, and sound quickly showed me why they drew one of the largest crowds that day. Other notable bands were Set It Off, As It is, PVRIS, and Neck Deep.
– Alexandra Shimalla, Staff Writer
This year I went to my tenth Warped Tour Show. While the sun was absolutely killer, and I didn’t stay long, I had a blast seeing and meeting bands like As It Is and Beautiful Bodies. Having lived in Kansas City and having written about Beautiful Bodies, meeting them was probably the coolest part of my whole day. Even though I left early, I wasn’t too concerned because my day had already been made. Warped Tour has always been my favorite summer tradition, and every year I’m reminded of why I keep coming back!
– Annette Hansen, Staff Writer
