Warped Tour 2013 - Pomona Day 1 - Live Set Reviews - 6/20/2013

Day 1 at Pomona Fairplex was a crazy one. I arrived quite early in the morning in order to get a good start on the press check-in line and take all the opportunities I could for interviews as well as fitting in sets from bands that I've grown quite fond of. Warped Tour has really only kicked off for the summer, so all of the bands still seem to have a full energy bar for their hot summer day sets.

Architects, The Swellers, and For the Foxes were all bands I really wanted to see, and they were all playing at the exact same time or within minutes of each other, so I literally had to run between stages (none of the three were playing close to one another) in order to catch part of each of their sets. Not only that, but their set times all started within minutes of "open doors" for the day, right after 11:00 AM.

ARCHITECTS

WT Pomona, Photo by Scutterbug Photography

Starting off with Architects on the Monster Energy Stage, as I entered the fairgrounds, I was able to catch a few strong songs. Architects is one of the few, rare bands in the metalcore genre that I enjoy listening to on a regular basis, as well as thoroughly enjoyed seeing for the first time this year at Warped Tour. Sometimes as music listeners, we're looking for the ones with a more clean-cut sound, and smooth melodies, but sometimes we're just desiring something with those downright dirty melodies, and Architects delivers. I don't seem to be alone in my love for the distinctness with which they scream.

THE SWELLERS

The Swellers are definitely a unique one on Warped Tour this year, if only because they've got some "oldschool Warped Tour" elements to their music, taking one back to years ago when there were a lot more punk style bands. Having been a band for over 10 years, The Swellers knew what they were doing on stage, and how to put on a stellar live show. As the set ended with fan favorite "Best I Ever Had," I was briefly reminded of how I used to listen to The Ataris and The Swellers on playlists together and how similar they are musically. It was definitely a high-energy set with a promise that Warped Tour and the entire summer would be fun and carefree.

FOR THE FOXES

First time seeing For the Foxes live and I was not disappointed. If you overheard me calling them "the cute band on Warped Tour," it wasn't their looks I was referring to, but their indie pop sound, different than the metal and hardcore scene overtaking the tour this year. Their lively, upbeat songs were a great way to start the day, although I wouldn't have minded hearing them a bit later in the day as a palate cleanser between all of the hardcore bands! It was quite pleasant to see how many fans they had, not only at their stage, but totally immersed in the music. It's quite normal that the first few bands playing in the morning don't see many fans, or if they do, they don't get as into the music as they did!

WT Pomona, Photo by Scutterbug Photography

SILVERSTEIN

Silverstein has been around for a while, so it seems most of the fans they draw to their stages are those who've been in it for the long haul. If they're tired of playing concerts, after so many years, countries, and venues, it certainly doesn't show. Playing an especially long set list, they capture the audience with fan favorites like "My Heroine" and "Smile in Your Sleep." The passion that they still hold for their music is obvious, and the fact that they feel blessed to be playing each and every stage is too.

The Material @ Warped Tour Pomona, photo by Grant Trimboli (IG)

THE MATERIAL

It was very awesome to see my buddies The Material playing The Ernie Ball Stage at Warped Tour! I just saw them headline House of Blues Sunset a couple of months ago. Recognizing the big steps they've been taking, were friends and fans who knew all the lyrics to their songs. Singer Colleen Moreaux was all decked out, taking the stage by storm with her energy, vocal strength, and just being plain ol' beautiful. Getting the crowd singing along, clapping, and swaying to the music, it was obvious that Colleen and the band feed off the positive energy coming from their fans, and this made them even stronger in their performance. Female fronted bands aren't always well known for getting a lot of attention at Warped Tour, but Colleen's raspy, strong voice was perfect to catch the attention of the early afternoon, wandering concert-goers.

GO RADIO

Go Radio was a personal favorite of the day. The Florida band has gained a lot of attention over the last couple of years, being that they're a newer band. It was great to see how many fans they attracted to their stage, not only while they were playing, but before they even started, which is usually a sign that the band is either famous, really good, or both. And in this case, "both" was certainly correct. Go Radio always sounds good on record, but seeing them perform live proved that they truly are talented musicians with stellar stage presence and incredible vocals and instrumental harmony, because they sounded just as good as they do on their albums.

ALLSTAR WEEKEND

WT Pomona, Photo by Scutterbug Photography

It's sad to say that after Warped Tour is over, Allstar Weekend will be on an indefinite hiatus. It was great to see that they had as big of a following as always. They're definitely well known, be it from their Radio Disney hits, songs being featured on the silver screen, or just by their past tours with other popular bands in their genre. Whether the fans already knew this might be the last time they see the guys or not, they sure got fired up for the pop quartet. With a diverse set list to try to send them on a proper farewell, "Nor Your Birthday" and "Clock Runs Out" were especially appreciated by fans, being songs which have been around for a little while. They're certainly different from many of the bands on the Radio Disney line-up, reminding fans all around that the radio still does have some quality artists featured on it!

LETLIVE.

letlive. is another one of those bands that has seemed to be flaring up on everyone's radar a little more recently. They've been around for quite a while, being from LA, so it was pretty cool seeing them play a Warped Tour stage in their home state. Many of the fans surrounding their stage seemed to be long-time fans, probably ones who had seen them years before, stuffed into different small venues as they played sets just as good as the high-energy one they played on the big Warped stage. Being that they're just about to release a new album, this was the perfect opportunity for them to get fans excited, and that they did.

AUGUST BURNS RED

   

WT Pomona, Photo by Scutterbug Photography

August Burns Red has always been a fan favorite at big shows, such as Warped Tour. Besides the fact that they've got an aggressive screamer who actually has legible lyrics, the band has some extremely talented musicians who can play melodies like very few hardcore or metalcore bands I've heard. The genuine passion (a word I seem to use often, but only in my writing that has to do with music) from Jake Luhrs is palpable when he sings. Having been around for ten years now, they've built quite the fan base, and seeing them live only reiterated the thought that it's definitely for their talent and not just for the popular appeal.

MAN OVERBOARD

Man Overboard was great to see again, having just seen them late last year, but it's clear that fans all around are happy to see them, no matter how many times they've seen them play before. Although many of their songs are full of somewhat frustrated (but still meaningful) lyrics, they always manage to have a positive sense in their performances, singing the sad lyrics in an almost playful way sometimes. They took the stage with such energy and enthusiasm, playing favorites like "Where I Left You", "Atlas", and "Something Weird." While everyone might not agree with them being labeled pop punk most frequently, they put on a hell of a show, getting the crowd jumping and excited. As strange as it is to say, Man Overboard almost has a family friendly vibe. Not in that they have a childish sound or lyrics, but they just seem so wholesome, like no parent would walk into the room and yell at their kid for playing their music.

HANDS LIKE HOUSES

Warped Tour Pomona, photo by Talia Farber

Hands Like Houses was a pleasure to see for the first time, with much of the audience likely not knowing what to expect, and the other half seeming to be long-time fans and knew all of the lyrics, singing along passionately. HLH has a unique sound; besides being from Australia and having the edge of being from another continent, their meaningful lyrics, melodic, speedy guitar playing, and soulful singing make them a fan favorite at Warped Tour. They played a diverse set, including a few personal favorites "Antarctica", "Don't Look now, I'm Being Followed", and "Lion Skin."

HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS

Hawthorne Heights definitely took me back to nearly ten years ago, when I first heard them. They played a really great set, with fan favorites like Diamond Eyes, Niki F.M., and Ohio is for Lovers. Loyal fans sang along so loudly, it occurred to me that it would have made for a great live recording. J.T. prefaced a couple of the new songs by telling the crowd he didn't expect the crowd to know the words, but expected them to make noise and get moving, and they sure didn't disappoint him. It was easy to tell that most everyone had been around since the beginning, or at the very least, for many years since the band's origination in 2001.

THE SUMMER SET

Brian Logan Dales & TSS @ WT Pomona. Photo by ULR

The Summer Set has been a band I've loved since the first time I heard them in 2007 and eventually joined their street team, which I was on for quite some time. I only mention this because their set took me way back, playing songs I've been listening to for six years. They started with a few newer songs, and saved possibly the best two songs for last, ending off with "Boomerang," their new hit single, and last but definitely not least, arguably the most popular song off their first album, "Chelsea", which was definitely a crowd favorite. That got everyone in the crowd singing at the top of their lungs. Impressive as always, was Jess pounding on the drums with as much energy as a three year old on a sugar-high!

NEVER SHOUT NEVER

Although I'd never seen them live personally, it wasn't surprising that Never Shout Never drew quite the crowd, which was filled with a majority of younger girls. Cristofer Drew looked quite different than the last time I'd seen him, years ago when he wasn't covered in tattoos and still had a baby face. His words to the crowd and the way he sang made it obvious that he had grown up in other ways, as well. Besides his introduction that involved implying everyone in the crowd smokes marijuana, his set was age appropriate and kept the teens entertained.

MC LARS

MC Lars doing his thing! Photo from Facebook

MC Lars pulled off his usual cool performance to a crowd that was very happy to see him. No matter where he goes, the age of his fans, or the setting, it always seems like Lars has a great lot of people who are stoked for his performances. With his Edgar Allen Poe (and otherwise poetic) influenced laptop rap, he draws quite an intrigue out of people. Those who've never seen him perform will walk away a changed man. [Or woman.]

WE CAME AS ROMANS

We Came as Romans are a funny one, being that they seem to have so many different types of fans. There are the fans who have obviously liked them for a long time and are super into them and there's the fans that have just heard of them and are obsessing over their new found favorite band. Lastly there are the people who are so cool, couldn't be bothered to actually "like" bands, but start looking around and seeing if other people notice them getting into it, headbanging, and starting "pits." One of everyone's favorites seems to be their more recent cover of "Glad You Came" despite the fact that it's not an original. It certainly got the crowd moving!

STICK TO YOUR GUNS

Jesse Barnett @ WT Pomona. Photo by ULR

Stick to Your Guns had a packed stage before they had even started setting up, which was no surprise, especially considering that they're a California band playing not far from Orange County. Getting right into it, vocalist Jesse Barnett jumped up onto the barricade and into the crowd, singing at the top of his lungs as the security guards attempted to hold him in place and keep everyone off of the stage. STYG has some heartfelt, life saving lyrics, in the sense that there are people who really look to this music when they're having trouble in life. It's easy to see how passionate the band is and how meaningful it is to them to share the live experience with their fans.

TONIGHT ALIVE

Photo by Scutterbug Photography

Tonight Alive is a newer band on my playlist, being that they're from Australia and although they have toured with quite a few famous bands, it may have taken a little longer for us US music fans to get ahold of them. I found Jenna McDougall to be quite intriguing. It's always impressive when a band is female fronted, because it take strong female vocals to keep a crowd  interested. And that is exactly what Jenna did in Pomona. Her earthy, versatile voice captivates and emanates, making a show-goer feel like they're at a giant amphitheater instead of outside at a fairgrounds, crushed in a pit of fellow fans going nuts! Now that their music is becoming well known here, it's obvious that they'll be sticking around for a while.

SET IT OFF

Set it Off has come a long way since they started making music together, and this much was made obvious, both by the large crowd they drew, their street team, fans who knew all the lyrics, and last but definitely not least, their sound! Late night bands at Warped Tour either have a very small, sprinkling of tired listeners or have a packed stage, and SIO was definitely the latter. With a set mainly focused on their newer albums, and only @Reply, one of their first singles, they captivated their audience. Vocalist Cody Carson has quite the unique voice, definitely one that has been appreciated by their many fans, old and new.

THE AMITY AFFLICTION

WT Pomona, Photo by Scutterbug Photography

The Amity Affliction closed off the night beautifully, playing a perfectly balanced set, including my personal favorite, "Open Letter." as their closer. It's easy to fall in love with this band, not only because of the meaningful lyrics and passionate singing, but their versatility as a band is incredible. They balance perfectly legible screaming, with soulful, melodic vocal skills. They're a band that grows on you, from the first time you hear them, till it's become a musical obsession and you can't stop listening, and it seems that Warped Tour goers were aware of what a special occasion it was to have them playing, because they had a packed stage as they closed out the night.

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Sadly, I couldn't catch all the sets, as I ran around all day catching sets between interviews, but Lan managed to catch a bunch of sets that I didn't get to see, and I've posted those photos below for you to see as well. Enjoy. All photos below by Scutterbug Photography.

BEWARE OF DARKNESS

BLESS THE FALL

LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE

ROBERT JON & THE WRECK

 SLEEPING WITH SIRENS

 THE CHARIOT

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Interview with Man Overboard - Warped Tour Pomona 2013

Man Overboard is one of the most famous bands for breaking out of New Jersey and turning into an internationally known "pop punk" band (in quotes, because who really likes forcing any band into a genre?) and I was fortunate enough to get a few minutes with Nik Bruzzese [lead vocals/bass] and Justin Collier [guitar] to talk about how they did it, and get a little taste of New Jersey, both through their humorous answers to the questions, and within the accents, always reminding people where they came from.

It's hard to believe they only started in 2008, because they've come such a long way. It's always nice to chat with band members who are humble and grateful, regardless of their fame, and to see their appreciation for the other bands who came from where they did and who are working hard for their success as well.

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What was it like for you breaking out of the NJ music scene?

A lot of bands are from NJ, there's lots of competition. With that, there's a lot of bands to play with, so it's a pretty good scene. Whereas if you're from Kansas, there's probably not a lot of other bands to play with. That honestly made it a little bit easier. Especially being near New York and Baltimore. Boston. Early on, we would go out and play shows in all of those areas; the bands we're friends with and have met from previous bands and such. We tried to be proactive early on.

How do you feel you differ from those bands?

Photo from Facebook

We worked hard. We never stop. We're always on the road. Always writing and trying to make our band better. We eat, sleep, and breathe this. It's hard to be cut off from that. It sets us apart: our work ethic. There were a lot of bands that we've played with who were long gone. And then there's a couple like Transit, Balance & Composure, The Wonder Years, that are still around and worked really hard as well. So it is cool to see your friends in bands succeed. I mean, Balance [& Composure] is playing a show with Jimmy Eat World! We're freaking out. We're more excited than they are. They're like our best friends.

Where did your guys' name come from? I don't want to assume anything about Blink-182 here...

Nik: I was in the Navy...and I had a close friend of mine who went overboard.

[me: staring deadpan]

Naw, I'm just kidding, it's a Blink song. It was between Man Overboard and Apple Shampoo.

What has been something you have overcome along the way?

Just being away, on the road for long periods of time. It can be difficult at times, but we make it work.

How has that made you stronger as a band?

We're all friends in the band, at the end of the day. It's easier.

So what are the touring woes of being away?

Everything is always up and down. Sometimes you don't play a good show, or you have a bad day. You're in a city that sucks, or you're pissed off. You have to learn to roll with whatever is going on.

You don't eat the same. There's no chicken parm. But what's cool about Warped Tour, is that there is catering and you get fed every day, and sometimes there is chicken parm.

Nik: There was yesterday and I f*cking missed it.

And that's your favorite, chicken parm?

We're from Jersey so yeah, chicken parm is great. We also have a veggie [vegetarian] in the band so he enjoys the eggplant parm.

What has been the most memorable city/show?

Every time we play at home is unreal. Last year Warped Tour was unreal and totally crazy. Portland, Oregon is awesome. The shows are cool, but the city is so great. It's probably our band's collective favorite city.

Photo from Facebook, by Lauren Brown

So you all still live in Jersey, then?

Yeah, we all still live there. We all live 20 minutes from each other.

Nik: I turn my phone on Do Not Disturb when I'm home all the time. Nobody disrupts daddy.

What's the inspiration and the soul behind your lyrics?

Women. Distance. Other guys, other people, insecurities. Normal every day things that go through people's heads. If you listen to defeater, they sing about WWII, we don't do that. Women, self doubt. From the beginning of time, it's always been about that.

What are your future goals, or exciting news?

Nik: I want to be on the cover of GQ for the shortest, most famous person in the world.

Justin: A tour in the fall. We can't say what it is, but we'll be around and touring the US. Can't say who it's with.

What is your guys' dream collaboration?

Dave Grohl.

Wish he [Grohl] was here and just hanging out! That would be awesome.

What do you guys think of Kanye West's new album?

Haven't heard it. Is it good? Or does it suck?

[To each their own!]

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No matter how well you know Man Overboard, the next thing on your to-do list should be to check them out on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, visit their website, and buy their new album, Heart Attack.


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Taking Back Sunday, Bayside, and Man Overboard (#TAYF10 Tour) at Club Nokia October 25, 2012)

The scene was a beautiful one: a crazy long line of people all lined up for the Taking Back Sunday #TAYF10 tour! A lot of these people were wearing merch and some of them even had TBS shirts from "back in the day," showing that they had likely been around from when the album was first released. Many Bayside fans also showed up, some excited to see the bands for the first time, while some had been to many shows and had more of a relaxed vibe as they waited in line. I didn't see any Man Overboard shirts, but I know there were many loyal fans out there in the crowd once the band went on later.

Personally, I've seen Taking Back Sunday twice: The Next Big Thing 6 (Tampa Bay 2006) and Warped Tour 2012 (My first Warped Tour this year in Pomona) and Bayside once at the same Warped Tour this past summer. I was beyond excited to get to see them, even though I felt a little nervous about the venue size, crowd, and the VERY small pit that they had given "limited" access to. (Which really meant as many people as they could fit in there without killing someone.)

After waiting in line and getting our pit access, my friend and I squeezed as close to the front as possible and waited for the show to start. There were so many people who were excited for Man Overboard to open. Although I hadn't been as long-term of a fan of them as others in the crowd, it was great to see how much excitement there was for them. Many people knew the lyrics to their music as they started playing, but the crowd didn't go nearly as crazy as I would soon witness. Now, I've been to a LOT of shows. I've been to shows in all sorts of venues with all kinds of music and different crowds and I've been hit in places I had to think about later (how?! why?!) but never have I seen a crowd like the one that night.

Bayside played a solid set to a sea of singing fans who knew the lyrics very well and it almost sounded like a live recording of their album. I was very pleased and glad to be part of a crowd who knew and apparently loved Bayside as much as I do! (A few people, not surprisingly, screamed out their love for, and desire to have the babies of Anthony.) They put on an even better set than the smaller one at Warped Tour, which I had thought was amazing, so that's saying something.

The crowd started pushing some towards the end of Bayside's set and a couple people attempted to crowd surf, which is apparently their way of showing appreciation for the music. Nobody seemed amused. When Taking Back Sunday took the stage, the change was enormous. Not only did everyone start shoving and "moshing" (I put it in quotations because these individuals have clearly never been to a hardcore show and were trying to mosh/circle pit but don't know what they are doing.) but the voices got louder and the excitement was even more clear.

On the upside, a great show was had and they played a great set, comparable with the one I saw at Warped Tour (with a much smaller crowd at Club Nokia) but the downsides were the tight space and people kicking and throwing elbows everywhere (even in the parts of the crowd you usually would be safe in) and one guy who tried to crowd surf to the stage 12 or 13 times in a row and didn't get kicked out. I would put the downsides mostly on the venue/security, because that's not really on the band. But I did get punched in the face so hard I thought my nose was broken, and my glasses were ripped off my face a few times. (Not the first time it's happened... La Dispute...)

All in all, great show.

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