Warped Tour

Alexa Harrison
Staff Writer

Labor Day weekend at L.A.’s Club Nokia, 2,000 lucky fans got a chance to take part in the punk rock party of the year. The concert was held in honor of Vans Warped Tour’s 15th Anniversary, and everyone from the All-American Rejects to The Aggrolites showed up to rock out.

The tour created in 1994 by founder Kevin Lyman has grown extensively in the past 15 years to include a very unique mix of musical artists. It is here where so many side stage warm up acts have grown into headliners.

Rising from Los Angeles, the “dirty- reggae” act entitled “The Aggrolites” kicked off the star studded event. The band strummed out a twenty minute set all four songs played sounding as awkwardly familiar as the last, before retiring their positions on stage and their hope in ever moving a punk-rock crowd.

Upon the appearance of DJ Steven the energy became a bit more hopeful. Though, once again the air died as he broke news that neither headliners 30H!3 or Blink 182 would be performing.

Blink 182 was not available on account of the death of close friend DJ AM for which a memorial was taking place that day. Instead the recently reunited threesome sent a video of themselves running around town, getting into mischief, and giving a hobo a make-over in their newest “music video” for the Warped Tour classic “The Rock Show.”

Next, Ice T was accompanied by his 90’s metal band “Body Count.” This metal militia consisted of some truly frightening individuals, which, along with the machine guns they had strapped on, added to the dangerous feel. T taunted the crowd of kids and veterans alike as many of the youngsters wondered what the guy from “Law & Order” was doing on stage. Aside a few Slayer covers they closed with LA’s anthem “Cop Killer.”

NOFX followed with the foul-mouthed, drug-abusing, alcoholic Fat Mike on vocals. After a sloppy “Murder To The Government,” Fatty told a very explicit story about his supposed encounter with Katy Perry backstage. The band continued with sax player Angelo Moore, dressed as Aladdin lending vocals to Mike through “Eat The Meek,” “Seeing Double at The Triple Rock,” and “F&^% The Kids.”

After NOFX was more or less forcefully removed by the rotating stage, the now extremely amped audience greeted members of “The Decaydance All-Stars.” A hybrid of Pete Wentz and, Panic! At The Disco, Decaydance opened with a whiny version of Bink- 182’s “Dammit.” Though before finishing the second song, a journey cover, the band was promptly booed off stage.

Girls bobbed as guys booed “The All-American Rejects” who opened with radio single “Swing-Swing.” One of the most entertaining performers of the night was by far lead singer Tyson Ritter who sported tight white pants and glitter as he defended his beloved emo band to the judgmental crowd.

Katy Perry arrived with a quick hello to Fat Mike as she jumped into singles “Hot & Cold,” “Ur So Gay,” and “Waking Up In Vegas.” Although the crowd was at first resilient, by the last song the majority were rocking out.

Following, Rise Against did not appear to be as into their performance as usual. Despite this the rock machines still managed to deliver, performing several songs off of their new album including single “Savior.”

Warped Tour veterans and San Fernando Valley natives, Bad Religion tore it up with an oh so brief thirty year history of punk rock before jumping into a tight set including “Do What You Want,” “Social Suicide” and “The New Dark Ages,” (all of which created huge pits). BR also broke out a few oldies such as “Generator” and “No Control.” As always, Bad Religion did what they do best: un-apologetic, highly intellectual, punk rock that never disappoints.

Pennywise closed the show with the most epic finale Warped Tour and punk-rock fans alike had ever seen. The classic “Bro Hymn” was sung by Rise Against front man Tim McIlrath, along with Ice T, Fletcher, and Fat Mike. Drinks, fists, and someone Fletcher decided to toss off stage, all flew high in the air. Down the escalators, through the streets of Hollywood, into cars, the hymn could be heard, creating the most chaotic, all-star, jam, in history.