| Warped Tour Tenth Anniversery Show |
| Photo Galleries | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Dropkick Murphy's Al Barr
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Quick note: the reviews here of of the bands I got the chance to see. At a big festival show, you can't see all the bands without cloning technology. For other bands, as well as different perspectives on some of the bands I saw, check out TOXIC MAGAZINE.
The Warped Tour is an annual summertime event the I look forward to. This year, us lucky Bostonians got TWO shows instead of one! Unfortunatly, since they moved it once again (it used to be at Suffolk Downs, then it moved to the Brockton Fairgrounds last year), this time to Gillette Stadium, the cost was a bit higher and transportation a bit tougher, so I couldn't go to both shows. I chose the Anniversery Show, celebrating ten years of yummy Warped goodness. The first band I checked out was the The River City Rebels. They actully suprised me. When they took over the Earnie Ball stage withe a horn section, I was expecting ska-punk, something like Less Than Jake, but they have more of a hardcore sound. Frontman Dan O'Day wailed like a caged beast. I liked that. Their songs were all new to me, as this was the first time I had ever heard of them, but I like what I heard. They have a new record, titled "Hate to be Loved" coming out September 21st, so expect a review!
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Good Charlotte's Billy Martin
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Next up? The Dropkick Murphys. Their set was much like any of their hometown shows here in MA: completely insane! They completely tore it up! Being a local show for them, there were a LOT of Dropkick fans in the audience, some even bringing in flags in support. There was a bit of saddness in the air, as they dedicated a song to the late Chicken Man, a friend of the band's. There's not much I can say about them that hasn't already been said, but I will say this: if you haven't been to one of their shows, you are REALLY missing out. |
Rancid's Lars Frederickson
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One of the bands I absolutely had to see was Rancid. I've seen them twice before, and they sure as hell didn't let me down! They started off with "Ruby Soho", one of my favorite songs, ever. A very good sign, indeed! Playing a mix of old and new ("Journey to the End of East Bay" and "Fall Back Down" were highlights.) put them ahead of other bands on the tour that played a lot more newer stuff. Like The Dropkicks, there isn't really much I can say about Rancid that hasn't been said before. But I do have my fingers crossed for them to do a fall tour! I braved the loud and high pitched squeals to catch Good Charlotte's set next. Another band that I have seen a few times before, they looked good, but sounded a bit road-weary. Some of their song choices weren't the best, playing "Boys and Girls" but leaving off the mush harder "Young and the Hopeless". The brightest spots of ther set was when they preview a couple of songs off of their upcoming CD "The Chronicles of Life and Death" (Due out October 5th). Because of the incessive screaming, I wasn't able to catch the song titles, or even all of the songs themselves, but what I did hear sounded great! It sounds like they are truley heading in a darker, rokier, and much better direction, exchanging some poppy sweetness for venomous screaming. On a side note, Benji Madden's buddy Tony Lovato, front man for Chicago pop-punkers Mest, was there watching from the side of the stage and getting almost as many screams os the band itself. They had almost as many fans present as the Dropkicks, but don't think it's gone to their heads. I got the chance to briefly chat with Benji, as well as drummer Chris Wilson, and they were two of the nicest, most down-to-earth guys I have ever met. That's how you know a band is gonna last; they aren't afraid to chill with their fans, and don't act like they are better then anyone else. Kudos to GC! The final band I got to catch was California's Avenged Sevenfold. I missed half their set trying to get to the stage, but after the part I did see, I had to pick my jaw up off of the ground! They completely blew me away! Frontman M. Shadows snarls and growls like a caged beast on stage, and guitarists Zacky Vengance and Synyster Gates, bassist Johnny Christ, and drummer The Reverand, seemed to have a bit more skill with their instruments then some of the more established bands present that day. They are on my "Must See" list; I would love to see them play a full set (maybe with fellow O.C'ers Eighteen Visions and Atreyu). If they play your town, don't miss them! They did seem a bit more metal then punk, though, and would probably have fit in a bit better at Ozzfest, but I'm not complaining. I walked away from the show with a new favorite band.
BAND STAGE TIMES:
TEAL STAGE:
BRIAN STAGE:
MAURICE STAGE:
VOLCOM STAGE:
ERNIE BALL STAGE: |