Warped Tour always seems to have the same constants each year: The weather is hotter than the big guy next to you in the mosh pit; you receive handouts from a variety of special interest groups and musicians that wish they were on the tour; and, of course, there’s the never-ending maze of merchandise tents you have to weasel through just to see the next act on your list. Despite all the hardships, thousands of fans decide to attend every year. What started as a “punk rock” festival now showcases the most popular acts in the underground music scene and represents all genres of music. Alternative electronic acts like 3OH!3 and Dance Gavin Dance are now included on the bill, as well as popular screamo and metal bands such as Attack Attack!, Of Mice and Men and Scranton-based Motionless In White. Reggae artists like Pepper and The Aggrolites and ska legends Less Than Jake are featured on this year’s Teggart’s Main Stage. Radio-friendly rock groups like Paramore and A Day to Remember will play alongside experimental indie groups like Foxy Shazam and River City Extension. And then there are the straight punk bands like Set Your Goals, Simple Plan, and Street Dogs - featuring former Dropkick Murphy’s frontman Mike McColgan. The varied lineup always makes for a diverse crowd fighting for space in front of each of the seven stages. Less Than Jake’s frontman Chris DeMakes says his favorite part is not just the people, but the way the fans interact with the band and vice-versa. “My favorite part is being able to engage with the audience in a different way,” DeMakes said. “People get so bombarded with electronic advertisements now. Warped is a great way to get rid of the Twitter’s and just interact with your fans on a personal level, something you may not be able to do on other tours. “You can actually shake their hand, look them in eye and say, ‘Hey, thanks for buying my record.’ And that still means a lot to most people.” It’s not uncommon to get the opportunity to shake hands with adored artists, either. Many participate in impromptu activities at stands like this year’s Go Lackawanna/Weekender Party Deck at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain where you can find some of the year’s top acts playing acoustic sets and signing autographs. Both Go Lackawanna and the Weekender are publications of Impressions Media. Some acts even find it the best ways to gain new fans. “It’s a 10-hour plus day in the sun, every single day,” former Taking Back Sunday frontman Fred Mascherino, currently with Terrible Things, said. “Everyone is hot and thirsty, and we all just kind of connect on a personal level. I think we made most of our fans on this tour based on that. We’re suffering with them, then we got on stage and they say, ‘Hey, those are the people I was just complaining with for the last hour.’ We all just relate.” All in all, it may not be the easiest concert to survive, but at the end of the day it’s an experience to remember.
