Vans Warped Tour took over Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA on Saturday, June 22nd. Patrons filled the parking lot stages, amphitheater lawn, and seats under the famed double peaked tent.
With temperatures reaching the high 80s the crowd, ranging vastly in ages showed no signs of stopping. When the fans weren’t moshing or crowd surfing they were leaning on the stage railings belting out lyrics. A parent was overheard talking to a group of others, “We let our kids go do their thing, so that we can go see the bands we want to see”.
With the sun pouring down, nearly every band acknowledged their love for the sunny Bay Area and those who inhabit it. If lead singers weren’t singing, they were talking about how good the crowd looked. Several times during their set members of Action Item visited the crowd railing to sing to the girls in front and kiss their hands.
Possibly the greatest thing about Vans Warped tour besides the lineup and how well it’s run, was the diversity of bands. On one stage you have face-painted goth-rock band New Years Day, while on another stage you have a sunflower attached to the mic stand of emo-indie-alternative band, Never Shout Never.
Vans Warped Tour is easily one of the best bang-for-your-buck festivals. Featuring staple crowd pleasers like Reel Big Fish to bands hot on their album tour, August Burns Red and Black Veil Brides. There wasn’t a moment during the day where a band wasn’t playing. Even the main stage of the amphitheater was split in to two stages so once a band finished the next would start up. For this one has to tip your hat to the production company and road crews. The festival understands that they are catering to an instant gratification generation so the music never stopped.
As the sun began to set over the now cool Shoreline Amphitheater one thing was clear, Vans Warped Tour is one of the greatest touring music festivals around and it will continue to be so for many years to come.
Vans Warped Tour has now departed California but will continue its tour across the USA and even up into Canada before closing the summer out in August in Texas.
