After 22 consecutive summers on the road, Vans Warped Tour has proven to be one of the best national festivals once again. Thousands of people gathered at the White River Amphitheater to see their favorite artists perform next to strangers who share the same inteense passion for music. Everybody not only bonded over the bands that saved their lives, but their annoyance of the blazing hot sun that we all wanted to just go down.
How I started my day at Warped Tour was getting my $2 schedule and seeing who would be the first band I would be running to see. Something I wasn’t a fan of was that the set times are different with every stop. The first band i checked out of the day was ‘Chunk! No Captain Chunk’ a band from France that seasoned Warped Tour veterans. I had seen them a couple other times and they always play a good show.
Shortly after that I moved my way over to the Journey’s Right Foot main stage to see a band called Issues who opened up their set by playing the Pokemon theme song. They had the whole crowd singing at the top of their lungs.
After, I quickly went to the Full Sail University Tent to get in line for a meet & greet with Real Friends. I have met them a ton of times since they’re my favorite band so I had too go say hi.
The band I saw after them was Sleeping With Sirens! and Yellowcard was playing next door on the Left Foot Stage. It was really cool to see their last song, Ocean Avenue. I was so happy I was able to catch hearing that song live for probably the last time as Yellowcard recently announced their last and final tour.
As the song ended, it didn’t take long for the giant crowd to form around the Right Foot Stage for SWS and start screaming as the first strum of their first song starts. My former 16 year old self came out during this set as they played songs I had been obsessed with in high school.
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Fast-forward about an hour, it was time for Real Friends’ set. This whole half an hour was what I was waiting for all day. I had screamed every word to every song they played that I almost couldn’t talk after. They’re new album had come out the beginning of the summer and it was one of the first times they were performing some of their new songs for the PNW. I felt right at home hearing my favorite songs live, as well did all the other pop punk fans around me.
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The last person I had seen before I forced myself to leave was Waka Flocka Flame. I had only watched his set for about 10 minutes before I left but those 1o minutes were freaking lit! As he was rapping “I go hard in the mother fucking paint” everybody was jumping around with their arms moving in the air going insane with him.
Later that night he had played another show in Seattle at Stage Seattle too.
Super Lit out here!! #Auburn #washington @VansWarpedTour @DJWhooKid 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🙌🏾 this experience is unreal!!! #teamwaka pic.twitter.com/eYBYsSetZ3
— Waka Flocka Flame 🔥 (@WakaFlocka) August 13, 2016
I noticed a huge difference this year from years before because it felt a lot more intimate. It was just the bands, the music, Waka Flocka, and the fans.
Things I Hope Change Next Year:
-NOT BE SO HOT
-More water and shade stations
-Open gates before the bands start.
-Longer set times.
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
