|
Live Review
by Cathy A. Campagna
 Warped Tour (New York, NY): Here's the rundown on the umpteenth year [and thankfully, counting] of this punk institution. Yes, it was the most sweltering summer in recent recollection, but as they say, "You can't stop rock 'n' roll." Thrice was the first juggernaut out of the box at New York's premier dustbowl known as Randall's Island. If you've ever heard anyone dare call these Californians 'emo flag-carriers', then let them listen to "The Earth Will Shake" off of their yet to be released record, Vheissu. Those same name callers will be the first to raise their horns in the air as they wildly pump their fists as well as shamelessly windmill air guitar jesters about. The quintet finished with the outrageously swirling yet singable "Deadbolt" from their incomparable The Illusion Of Safety disc.
Conveniently located on the other mainstage right beside Thrice, were the lipstick and leather sounding breakthroughs of '05, Avenged Sevenfold. The riffage from songs like "Bat Country" and "Eternal Rest" combined with M. Shadows' walloping vocals caused a huge cluster of boxing matches in the crowd. A7X's mayhem drenched the early afternoon sky in a purple hue, for those of you who were there, that was an effect A7X's demonstration, not the sun block dripping into your eyes.
Then came the supergroup on the bill, The Transplants with Travis Barker [Blink-182, Boxcar Racer] on drums, Tim Armstrong [Rancid, see Warped Tour 101] and Rob Aston is the voice that melds it all together giving the outfit a buoyant uniqueness that wins over the punks, rappers and skinheads. The Transplants push the unity, "Some of my friends sell records, some of my friends sell drugs" like the song dictates off of their follow up to 2002's self-titled release. They also gave their shout out to the DMS crew represented by Ezack of Scarhead and Mitts of Madball who were among the sold-out audience. Armstrong crowned the performance by jumping on the reality star's drum kit and defining the vibe of Warped Tour with his tats and belligerent demeanor.
Moving on to the Myspace.com stage, which was tucked away behind many a booth selling everything from smoothies to records to magazines, was the hippie punk of Jupiter Sunrise. Their pub songs might have went along better with a tequila sunrise, but hey, this is Warped Tour, and we like it because it is eclectic, laid-back and critic free. They kept people dancing, just without the high kicks and bloody noses. Somewhere in between all this and a hose spraying water about 25 ft. up into the air in attempts to cool people off was a gusty statement made by one of the most veteran bands on the bill, the Dropkick Murphys. Something having to do with the Boston band's Red Sox winning the World Series, talking about dropkicking…the venue is in the Bronx not too far from Yankee Stadium [where there hangs a banner that mentions something about the pinstripe-wearing team winning 26 TIMES.]
Let's keep going with the boys of summer references shall we? Funeral For A Friend played a doubleheader on this day, directing the pool of bodies in front of the Warped Tour's Volcom Stage to travel into Manhattan where they would be doing a show with fellow Warped Tour mates, Hawthorne Heights at the infamous punk rock club CBGBs. FFAF were definitely a must see on this year's jaunt with their Weezer-loving frontman Matt Davies reaching daring new vocal climaxes with "Streetcar" from their new record, Hours. These Welsh imports are the best marriage of devastation and delicate intricacies.
A few stages away, Boys Night Out were like the title of their new CD suggests a Trainwreck, but a beautiful one at that. This was one visceral ride and an utter attack on the nervous system with added starbursts for sonic color by new addition Kara Dupuy on keyboards.
Story Of The Year have shown that they are growing back into their hardcore pedigree, while Atreyu went the other way and covered Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name."
Then either because the band was playing pretty close to their home state of NJ, or maybe it’s all the hype they have behind them right now since landing the opening spot on the Green Day tour, or maybe because they are just that good! Who are we kidding it's all of the above, but whatever the reason, My Chemical Romance were graced with an absolute monsoon of fanatics for their 6:50pm set. It was a lunatic frenzy even by Warped Tour means.
Gerard had to ask the crowd to take five steps back and security was on high alert. "Thank You For The Venom" from the nearly platinum selling, Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge was like an elixir for the sun beaten and muddy coated masses. The goth punk orchestra fanciful side shown through when Gerard got the audience giving him jazz hands and there was the added bonus of Taking Back Sunday's Adam Lazzara joining MCR on stage to sing a few choruses and "Helena" closed one of the most memorable and best received sets in Warped's history.
Seasoned player's The Offspring were probably among the only bands that go on after My Chem's victorious showing, and the crowd mirrored that sentiment by surfing and high class dancing during "Keep 'Em Separated." The whole day proved that the American public are still proudly Warped and in the winter months they enjoy a taste of chaos. Till next year, cheers!
| 
