Fate Misunderstood

Warped Tour 2008 blew through the DC/MD/VA area this week at Merriweather Pavilion like a tornado.  I’m not proud to say this, but this was my very first ever Warped Tour.  And actually, when I thought about it, I hadn’t ever even been to an all-day festival like this at all, not even close.

It was a hot, sunny, 95 degree day in mid-July and I had never seen more people ready to rock out in one place.   We took a lap around when we first arrived, to scope out where everything was.  I was pretty amazed to see the rows and rows of merch booths in the middle of the grassy pavilion area.  It was every concert goers dream.  There were a total of about 7 stages set up all over the place and everywhere you went, you were weaving in and out of swarms of other sweaty people.  It was really fascinating, and hard to believe that, like a traveling circus (and I mean that in an endearing way) that many bands setup, perform, breakdown, and travel every single day for two months.  It was really impressive to see.

Warped Tour 2008 band line up

Once we got our bearings, and figured out who was playing where and at what time, we quickly came to realize that As I Lay Dying was the first set to go on at 11:15AM.  AM!!  How were we supposed to know that one of the bigger named bands that were at Warped would go on FIRST?!  Needless to say, it was really disappointing to see we had missed them.  We set off to see the other bands on our list, and ended up getting to see Story of the Year, A Cursive Memory, Greeley Estates, Protest the Hero, Angels and Airwaves (for one song and then got out of there as quickly as possible), and The Devil Wears Prada (who we had never seen live or heard any of their music before and surprised us with an amazing performance).

One thing to say about A Cursive Memory is that, they should not have been on Warped Tour.  I get what they’re trying to do, and maybe they don’t fit on any other tour, but I felt like I was at a Miley Cyrus and Jonas Brother’s concert with my little sister (if I even had one).  Their one song that plays on Fuse every-so-often is, I admit, is a catchy freakin tune, and I do love it, but they just should not  be opening for The Devil Wears Prada…

Let’s recap: Did I have a great time at Warped? Yes. Did I discover more music that I had enjoyed and had not heard? Yes.  Did I get pretty wasted and spend way too much money on beer? Yes… Will I go back next year? You better believe it.

Story of the Year

Protest the Hero

A Cursive Memory

The Devil Wears Prada

Surfer

This guy is so intense..

Mike Hranica

The Devil Wears Prada at the Hurley Stage