On July 21, 2019 Warped Tour will it’s 25th anniversary run. Last year saw the final coast to coast tour, and at the time of publication there is no promise of any other festival under the Warped tour brand, anytime soon.
Over the past year, tears have been shed. Tweets have been sent. There has been discussion about what Warped tour has on alternative/indie rock genre(s).
The impact of Warped Tour will be felt for generations. The scene would not exist in it’s current state without it. Warped tour was never a perfect institution. But we all kind of loved it anyway. It truly was misfit summer camp.
The majority of the discussion surrounding Warped tour and it’s legacy over the past year have centered around the music. But that’s not I remember.
I was fortunate enough to attend the Albuquerque date of the 2016 cross-county run. I remember loving every minute of it. I still have the pick I caught at Set It Off’s set. It was there I fell in love with the Maine. It was the one and only time I ever saw the Summer Set. Having been living in that world, electronically, for a year at that point being actually surrounded by like minded people was like being in haven.
I had seen Fall Out Boy in concert a few months prior, and that has stuck with me as the moment I knew that it wasn’t just a phase and that I could I accomplish whatever I put my mind too. But growing up in a town that is no where near a major city, and lacks it’s own music scene, made it all seem like a pipe dream.
I remember my music teacher saying off-handily, once that not everyone can be rock star but everyone can work in music. Warped tour was the first time I really believed her. If you paid attention at Warped tour, you got to see all it took really put it on. You got watch one act’s stuff be torn down and the next’s put up. You got to see the photographer’s and all they had to do to get the shot. For me it was the realization that about half the people there, were paid to be there. That their job was to do this or that, and without them the whole thing would be different or not even possible.
Warped Tour also provide many with an in to the industry. Due to sheer volume of tents and booths, volunteers were often relied on. This gave many, a foot in the door to the industry.
I remember standing, nearly barricade, watching Set It Off’s set. In that moment I knew. Maybe it wouldn’t be a musician, but I needed to work in music, I needed to be involved in making sure that things like Warped tour keep happening.
The pick that I caught that day, I see as a sort of “Penny from Heaven”.
I only got one day to experience Warped tour in it’s full and complete glory, but I am pretty sure that’s all I will ever need. The impact that one day had on my life is still yet to be seen, just like the lose of Warped tour on the scene. But I am so grateful to everyone that made it possible.
