When it comes to the topic of annual summer tours that run through North America, there’s no conversation that can be truly relevant without paying serious consideration to the one and only Vans Warped Tour. Year after year, Warped Tour provides an unprecedentedly massive festival experience to millions of fans; showcasing roughly a hundred artists on upwards of over 40 dates each summer.
The production quality and relevance of who’s playing and the scene to which it appeals to makes the tour more than just an event, but a cultural experience with no true equal. In 2014, Warped Tour returned to Metro Detroit, making its third appearance on the grounds of The Palace of Auburn Hills.
To even try to say something about a quarter of the performances that took place on the day would read less like a story, and more like an essay paper. When it comes to Warped Tour, anyone who knows what they’re doing understands the importance of getting the lay of the land when you arrive and figuring out what sets you’re going to watch. Shy of possessing the gift of omnipresence, no one gets to see everybody…but hey, that’s actually a really good thing. This means that your crowd is not only diverse, but constantly given the chance to either see a band that they really enjoy, or discover something new. And, let’s be honest, sometimes you need a break to cool down or nurse your knees back to health.
So who were some of the big winners on this year’s tour? One of the first names that comes to mind is the loud & lewd party animals of the century in Attila. If there’s one thing that truly can’t be discounted with this band, it’s definitely their intensely passionate fan base. With their fearless leader, Fronz, leading a sea of wild fans, an onlooker could witness from hundreds of feet away just what kind of devastation these guys can insight. If you’re a fan of circle pits, this was a show you couldn’t miss.
If you were on a hunt to find the true vanguards of hardcore jams and unforgiving aggression, then the boys in Every Time I Die were more than ready to live up to their well earned reputation. A few weeks out from the release of their newest effort ‘From Parts Unknown’, it was hard to know when you were supposed to divert your attention from admiring their tight and tasty instrumentation and transition to getting hot and heavy, banging against total strangers. Am I talking about sex? Not necessarily. Was their a Trojan air sign flying by the stage during their set? You bet your ass there was.
One of the most enticing performances from my perspective was that of revered British genre dismantlers, Enter Shikari. The band is currently working on their fourth studio album with a zen-like calm and focus. Along with jamming out fan favorites like ‘Zzzzonked’, ‘Destabilised’ and ‘Radiate’, Enter Shikari unveiled a new song off the upcoming release, titled ‘Anaesthetist’. The group was decidedly vocal throughout their set; galvanizing the crowd with a powerful message and unhinged personality. Also, watching Rou Reynolds belt out those powerful falsetto tones at the end of ‘Radiate’ was a truly chilling moment.
Playing at the same time as Enter Shikari, only a few hundred feet away, was the iconic alternative act Anberlin. Currently on the first leg of their farewell tour, the band played to an audience of genuinely emotional and loyal fans. With the release of their final album, ‘Lowborn’ to come in just a few days, Anberlin was not only on point in execution, but heartwarmingly jovial and fun to watch. For what many thought might be the band’s final appearance in Detroit, the experience was far more that of a celebration between two adoring parties than anything resembling lament.
Some of the biggest die-hard fans at this year’s Warped Tour definitely belonged to The Devil Wears Prada. One of the most celebrated names in the metalcore scene today, Prada drew a crowd that was equal parts formidable and impressive. The band, currently celebrating their 10 year anniversary, decided to offer a live show that featured songs from several of their releases. This was voted on by the fans via an online survey that the band was utilizing for each date of the tour. Whether it was classic fan favorites like ‘Dez Moines’ and ‘Assistant to the Regional Manager’ or the band’s newest single ‘Sailor’s Prayer’, Prada reigned with the might and stature of a Mammoth.
Touring on the strength of their newest release, ‘Real’, The Word Alive had one of the day’s tightest performances. With their growing reputation as one of Metalcore’s most talented bands, the group performed with an overall quality that was near studio quality. Frontman Telle Smith unleashed the kind of primal strength and boundless energy that turns spectators into believers, while drummer Luke Holland proved himself as one of the most gifted young drummers in the scene today. The Word Alive had every intention of getting in on the circle pit loving, also; encouraging the crowd to form the biggest circle pit they’ve ever scene for the song ‘Glass Castle’.
Closing out the Kia Soul stage for the evening was Parkway Drive. Renowned by fans and followers for their awesome live show and intense sound, the group had an enormous crowd that wasn’t the least bit shy about getting loud and physical. Lead vocalist Winston McCall continuously challenged the audience to get as aggressive and wild as they could. An expression of joy and excitement from his face and that of Parkway as a whole motivated the Warped fans to engage in moshing, shouting, and banging their heads like rebels with a cause. Whether it was tunes from their most recent album, Atlas, or ‘Carrion’ from the band’s 2007 release, Horizons, Parkway had all the makings of a well oiled machine with plenty of miles still in the tank.
As this year’s Warped Tour begins to come to a close, it does so living up to the promise it holds to expose fans to new artists and feature bands that are trailblazing and defining the alternative scene. A seamless experience with so many great acts leaves us more than excited for the tour’s return next year!
