I survived Warped
Tour and all I got was this lousy article
Photo and story by Meg Schaeffer
The Metropolitan
 The
crowds at the Vans Warped Tour can be a bit overwhelming.
When gazing out into the sea of youthful reaching arms, one would think
they were looking upon a mock-up of the Gestapo.
The Vans Warped Tour has been a tradition for punk rock fans everywhere
to enjoy every year when it rolls through town. Bands that rarely come
through the declining scene in Denver such as NOFX, Flogging Molly, and
The Vandals join this tour. Die-hard punkers come and stand in line for
hours in 90 degree heat just to relish in the sounds of their generation.
These days are long gone.
Sacred were the days when The Vans Warped Tour was a muddy, vigorous
show that left your body sore for days after. The 2004 VWT came close
to the old days, but the overabundance of hipsters overcame it.
On July 18, 2004, I attended my fifth VWT. As I drove into the parking
lot, I considered my goal for the day: staying for the entire show.
Throughout the years that I have gone to this concert, the ever-changing
scene seems to move too fast and I find myself dodging out early.
The liberality of this concert seems to be more convenient every year,
according to the crowd. Swarms of kids were sitting in the backs of their
cars taking shots of cheap whiskey and smoking joints nonchalantly.
When I finally arrived at the line, I was becoming more apprehensive
about going inside. Confusion set in when I spotted the pretty blondes
wearing high heels. I was saddened to find young girls in trendy high
heels taking the place of the tattooed, gutter punks.
The Warped Tour has always been an all ages show. The crowd seems to
get younger every year, even with the older bands that play the show.
In a group of three women, ages 22-27, all agreed that the show should
be 18 and up.
Devon, 24, an attendant of the concert, commented about the excessive
trash that covered the ground, with receptacles only inches away, “There
is no excuse for this, and it’s all these damn kids!”
While the weather was searing, and the majority of the crowd was more
concerned with being social than listening to the music, I did find a
positive facet to my experience. Awareness about the upcoming elections
was strongly emphasized.
Every line that formed came fully equipped with two or more people who
walked up and down the line and asked, “Are you registered to vote
yet?” However, most of the political ballyhoo had an Anti-Bush influence.
The commentary on stage between bands was surprisingly political and
racy, as opposed to just racy.
Even Flogging Molly, an Irish band, made comments about the elections.
Anti-Flag shouted to the pliable crowd “We are the death of George
Bush’s nation!” Clenched fists immediately shot into the sky
at the band’s suggestion, and pounded into the air along with the
music.
When the show began at noon, I was uneasy about the crowd. Around 5:30
p.m., I was passive and somewhat content. Perhaps it was all the reminiscing
about past VWTs. The grand memories about fast mosh pits and mud-wrestling
pits were instilled in my brain.
Thankfully, this helped me to enjoy the bands I did like, which made
me forget about the reign of pop culture engulfing the youth around me.
I took comfort in the select few that shared this pacifistic peace of
mind.
So, I did not accomplish my goal, although I maintained a tolerant and
inert attitude throughout, and that was achievement enough in itself.
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