“Hanging out behind the club on the weekend, acting stupid, getting drunk with my best friends, I couldn’t wait for the summer and the Warped Tour, I remember it’s the first time that I saw her there.” –Blink 182

Warped is the most important days of the year to kids like me. When everyone is shoved back into the cramped halls of their local high school, this summer tour is the epitome of heaven, only instead of God and angels, you have Kevin Lyman and sweaty kids with smeared “FREE HUGS” written on their chests. Every year I find that the Milwaukee date is always relatively small, giving you easier access to your favorite musicians, and the Chicago date is always packed to the core with bikini-sporting girls and stunningly scrawny men. Dragging fellow writers Jordan and Vada, along with myself, to both dates, we all had a different little take on this geniously crafted summer festival which is finally coming to a close on the 23rd of August.

Jennnn: I’ve now gone to a total of four dates of Warped. At Milwaukee, I finally got to see local Lake County band Breathe Electric play the Smartpunk stage, a huge sign as to how big they’ve gotten, and how far they’re still going to go. I got pointed at by Vince Pierri, waved frantically, and all I could think was that they came from our area. The Wisconsin date is where I met TV/TV for the first time, a band seeping with unbelievable talent and have the personalities of someone you would want in your best friend. I’m eternally grateful to frontman Josh Ocean for the marvelous commentary to me and this site in between songs. It made the Milwaukee date all the more wonderful. I met You, Me, and Everyone We Know for the first time since first hearing their album a few months ago. At the second rendezvous at Warped in Chicago, I spoke to Grant Harris (Breathe Electric), nearly collapsed from watching the Millionaires, saw Christofer Drew, and finally completed my life goal of meeting Craigery Michael Owens. I also got hit in the head with shoes two times in the middle of Anti-Flag’s Wall of Death and famous circle pit. YMAEWK’s Ben Liebsch waved towards me from remembering meeting me at Milwaukee and I smiled like a three year old, haha. Oh, and you should really listen to I Fight Dragons. They’re…different (in the sickest way). Finished the day by chatting it up and promising an interview with TV/TV in the fall, and my day was then complete. It all had come to a close, but this is all going to get me through the next few months of sitting at my desk and thinking of all the wonderful times I had at Kevin Lyman’s Warped Tour ’09.

Jordan: So last week I had my first Warped Tour experience. I’ll admit I was skeptical about having to work while being a first timer, but it was all worth it. I got to see a ton of amazing bands, topping the list being You, Me, and Everyone We Know, I Fight Dragons, and Breathe Electric. But I think that my favorite part of my Warped Tour experience was being able to hang out with a band native to New York City, TV/TV. We ran into them in their tent early in the day and then during their set lead singer, Josh Ocean mention Station Static, which was unbelievably awesome. So if you have yet to hear them get over to their Myspace.

Vader: My first year at Warped was an interesting one. From getting lost for about an hour, to witnessing the horror of what is the Millionaires (thanks for that, Jenn). The great thing about Warped was that I was able to discover and meet smaller bands. Bands such as Breathe Electric, TV/TV, and nevershoutnever. I had always heard Jenn talking about Breathe Electric and how good they were but I never took the interest to actually check them out. After I saw their set I finally saw what she was talking about. I liked the energy their show carried, plus their synth player is total boss. I am satisfied with my purchase, or rather Jenn’s purchase for me, of their EP. Overall my first year of Kevin Lyman’s ingenious “punk rock summer camp” was a great experience. I’m definitely counting down the days til next summer. Nicest bands to meet: TV/TV and Valencia.

See you next year.