So obviously this is a little late, but on Monday I went to Lakewood to see the lineup for Warped Tour 2011, and I must say, I have never been more impressed. I went with a few friends of mine, and met up with plenty more there later. But it's time to do what I'm working on improving, and that's reviewing the music (which may lead to new albums in the future, hinting at "The Devil Wears Prada's" album "Dead Throne").
To start out, I saw Attack Attack! who I thought was to be unimpressive because of the recent removal of Johnny Franck, the bands clean vocalist and rhythm guitarist...formally of course. A giant American flag draped the back of the stage as they opened with "AC-130" which I must say sounded a bit awful live. It seemed like Caleb Shomo was a little tired and not putting forth the full scream, but I did give them a chance. After this they played a remix intro to "Sexual Man Chocolate" which sounded awesome, but as soon as the clean singing started, it was a bust.
From here I moved on to The Word Alive, which was an amazing set. They played mostly heavier songs from their album "Deceiver" as well as telling the interfering security officers to stop fucking up their pit. It is a metal show after all. I even got a piece of lead singer Tyler "Telle" Smith's hand when he went out into the crowd after amazing screaming and a sick back flip on stage. From here, I went to my personal favorite August Burns Red, which I have yet to review their new album (but will after this, so look for it above :D). They kicked ass, as always, and I picked up some merch from both of these phenomenal bands for their efforts. Next up was Of Mice & Men at 2:10, which saw the return of Austin Carlile, the lead screamer, and a MUCH better fit then replacement Jerry Roush, seeing as he had already insulted the former's dead mother, of which he wrote a song about and screamed for wonderfully. Take that Roush! But I look forward to your EP with Glass Cloud the same...
Then came We Came As Romans, who were completely off, as always, but are of course very good on the album. I guess it just wasn't their day, so off we went to wait for D.R.U.G.S. Led by Craig Owens, former of Chiodos, the band got off to an insane start at 4:30, and was all about the winking, including myself and my friend. He also told my friend, probably his biggest fan in the world, that he was the fucking man, and handed him the mic to sing. We both got a handshake, but he got his wishes. After that came Dance Gavin Dance which opened with "Lemon Meringue Tie", my personal favorite song from them with an oddly familiar voice of Johnny Craig, who was supposed to have been in rehab. But I'll take him back on the drugs if he will do more shows like that, just awesome. After this a break ensued while waiting on the final three bands on the list, Miss May I, A Day To Remember, and The Devil Wears Prada.
Upon sitting and waiting, it had not rained yet, and it rains every year, no matter what, so I mentioned that it would probably be during TDWP's song "Escape" about a zombie invasion. Soon conversation with high school friends moved on to the Miss May I show with a crazy amount of large black beach balls and a marathon circle pit that would show up any. Watching and awaiting ADTR, I carefully planned. ADTR was going on stage, and after hearing the first part of "Swing" at Miss May I's show, I was ready. ADTR opened the show with "I'm Made Of Wax Larry, What Are You Made Of?" and kept the crowd going absolutely insane. They even played, in tribute to Millencolin and not usually in the U.S., the song "No Cigar" in tribute to their roots. After a circle pit of massive proportions and a wall of death that the army of 300 could not have conquered, the band took it's leave with "The Downfall Of Us All" and left the stage to TDWP.
After moshing for so long, I took a break and surrendered to watching TDWP which was not a bad choice. Opening with a few songs from their most recent album "With Roots Above And Branches Below", the band started to form the clouds overhead. As soon as the song "Escape" from their "Zombie EP" started, the rain started to fall and did not let up until after the final song "Assistant To The Regional Manager" a clever "Office" title, and leading into part of "Recovery". An unfair use of special effects by using nature, but one hell of a show.
These were only a few of the main bands that I cared to comment about in detail. In addition, the beginning band of Astro Jones with their punkish pop style, a second of I Set My Friends On Fire, Kelsey, Pepper, and a little longer sets with Relient K, Family Force 5, and Big D, it was a well rounded day of awesome with which I am already waiting to see again next year.
