Warped Tour: The Final Run – Part 10
It would make sense to stop at Part 9. If you think about it, we have already made our way from Frank Turner and Unearth to Not Ur Girlfrenz and Rob Riccardo. However, we’re not satisfied, and you shouldn’t be either! So, here is part 10 in our Warped Tour series where we speak to bands about their experience on the Warped Tour’s final run. If you missed some posts, then check them out here:
Final Run – Part 2
Final Run – Part 3
The World Over
The World Over is a four-piece alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. They are inspired by artists like Tommy Lee, Amos Williams, Mars Volta, and Rihanna (I’m not sure if that’s a joke or not). Their latest EP, Mountains, was released in 2017 and is available via Amazon.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
TWO: It is definitely an honour to be a part of the last run! Warped has been a part of all of our upbringings, so being on the other side of the stage, being able to play and experience it this way is just indescribably cool for us all.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
TWO: We think that people who listen to music like this, who feel alone, can come together here as a community and feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves; that’s something that’s very unique to Warped in our opinions.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
TWO: Warped has been an unforgettable experience in our lives! To be part of something that we all grew up watching is pretty special for us. It means a lot. Special would be a word we could use. The history here. How many bands come up through Warped? Definitely a cool experience, and something we won’t forget.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
TWO: We have a few things in the works. We have a new song ready to be put out, so that will be something we roll out soon. We were in the studio in May and got a lot accomplished. Touring, touring, and more touring. In the meantime, our Warped Afterparty tour begins on July 12th, and from there we will see where the road takes us.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
TWO: We appreciate your support immensely for allowing us to continue pursuing our passion. Stay tuned for some new stuff brewing in The World Over pot! Don’t forget our new Punk Goes Pop cover is out on Spotify and other music platforms as well.
Far Above The Ground
Far Above The Ground is a four-piece pop rock/alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band is comprised of Jason Rowman (drums), James Bannon (bass), Mike Mazurkiewicz (lead guitar and backing vocals), and Ryan Stark (guitar and lead vocals). Far Above The Ground were the featured artist in Judd Apatow’s film Trainwreck, and they won Boston’s Battle of the Bands. Our questions are answered by Ryan Stark.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
RS: Stoked! I have been attending this tour for years whenever it came around the New England area, but to be able to get on stage with the band is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Truly, I just can’t wait to play and potentially make some new fans.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
RS: I believe it influenced kids to want to form their own bands, maybe pick up an instrument. I remember going years ago and just being so inspired to want to form a band, get on stage, and give everything I had.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
RS: The majority of the band is in its thirties, so I guess the one word that comes to mind is ‘nostalgic’, especially over a few Warped Tours ago seeing all my favourite bands that conquered the music charts in the 1998-2005 time period.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
RS: After Warped Tour, we are opening for Grammy-winning 3x platinum band, Soul Asylum. The show’s on August 16th at Pinz in Kingston, MA. It’s awesome to be opening for one of your influences; Husker Du, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, these bands all had a major impact on us. Hopefully, just keeping up with the band’s progress and keep opening for big national touring bands.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
RS: Just get out and check out the shows. Go catch a show, maybe get inspired to form your own band or reunite an old band, possibly pick up an instrument that you always said you wanted to do. I remember seeing local bands from my town and being blown away!! I was forever changed, and sixteen years later I’m still playing and gaining some serious momentum. To check out our newly released music go to reverberation.com/farabovetheground. You can also find us on Spotify, iTunes and Apple Music.
Gardenside
Releasing their debut EP in the early months of 2017, Gardenside is one of the newest bands infiltrating the alternative music scene. Capturing the essence of bands like Jimmy Eat World and Weezer, while injecting pop punk-inspired roots, their album is quickly gaining notoriety as one of the catchiest and most original sounding debut releases in years. Los Angeles-based Gardenside is moving fast, and about to be your new favourite band. Our questions are answered by band members Jeremy Harris and Robbie Craig.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
JH: We’re crazy honoured to be part of the last Warped Tour! We all have great memories attending past tours, and it was really a cool experience to be able to play the final one.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
RC: It gave bands a chance to be part of something bigger than a local show. Without Warped some bands wouldn’t be as big as they are now, and it gave the younger generation something to look forward to every summer. There’s no place like Warped Tour.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
RC: It’s a summer camp for music lovers.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
JH: We’ll be heading into the studio real soon to knock out some new bangers! Also, we’ll be out on the road with Neck Deep in September/October!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
RC: Thank you to anyone that came and saw us at Warped Tour, bought a shirt from us, asked for a picture, or even just came and talked to us. Thank you for the continuous support!
Nikol
Nikol is an alternative rock band out of Raleigh, NC, similar to the sounds of Evanescence and Flyleaf. After a successful nationwide radio campaign, the band’s first full-length album, Bittersweet, landed them thirteen licensing offers for shows such as Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Real World, etc. Nikol returned to the studio to record a five-song EP, White Lies, with Drew Fulk (Upon A Burning Body, Motionless in White, Crown the Empire) and Kile O’Dell (Failure Anthem, Motionless in White, Cursed Sails). Nikol is comprised of Alex Lopez (bass), Michael Brantley (drums), Andrew Matthews (guitar), Zach Giordano (guitar), and Nikol (vocals). Each question has been answered by a separate band member.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
AL: Although it was sad hearing this year would be the final run of the tour, we feel extremely lucky and blessed to be a part of it! Vans Warped Tour has been around since I first started really getting into music. I’ve been fortunate enough to have attended the tour several times throughout the years, and have some great memories there. I’ve enjoyed countless bands that have inspired me to continue pursuing my passion for music. When I first started learning how to play the bass and guitar, I could have never even imagined I would be playing a stage at Vans Warped Tour, let alone the last one. Throughout my life I can only remember a few ‘pinch me, this can’t be real’ moments, and I know being able to perform during the final Warped Tour will, without a doubt, be something I’ll never forget.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
MB: Music, in general, brings people together and helps us put aside our differences. By bringing in so many different genres, we can all come together, make friends, discover new bands, and just enjoy life with people in our communities that we may not have met otherwise. For that, we are very thankful.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
AM: Vans Warped Tour is the highlight of the summer, and a bucket list item fulfilled!!
What else does 2018 hold for you?
N: We are planning to record some more songs with Dan Korneff in NY, which will be amazing! We are playing at the Inkcarceration Festival in Mansfield, Ohio! We were invited to record at Full Sail awhile back, so we hope to get down there to get some acoustic tracks ready for our next release. Another tour, more shows, new merch, and our constant hope is that more opportunities will present themselves that we don’t even know are coming yet!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
ZG: We could never thank our fans enough for their support and all they do! Music is all about community and having a shared love. The music is best when there’s a strong connection. We appreciate every interaction we can get with our fans, whether that’s live at a show, on Facebook, on Instagram, someone sharing one of our music videos, just having people enjoy the music in any form. Really, we want to thank anyone who is a fan of music and supports musicians. Without a great music community, events like Vans Warped Tour wouldn’t be possible.
So, to the fans who have/will come to our shows, connect with our songs, and shared a love for our band in any form, you mean the world to us! You are the driving force behind our creative spirit, the reason we are where we are today, and the inspiration for us to keep the dream strong and alive. We thank YOU for everything, and we’re excited to keep rocking out with you!
Orchards
Orchards is a six-piece alternative metal band from Dallas, Texas, signed to We Are Triumphant Records. The band released their debut EP IDLE in December 2017, and currently, it has over one million streams combined across all digital platforms. Orchards are currently working on the follow up to 2017’s IDLE, with a release date TBA. Our questions are answered by band vocalist, RJ Lee.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
RL: Honestly, we are completely stoked that we were asked to play our hometown Dallas, Texas, during the final run. It means a lot to be included in the long-lasting legacy this festival will leave when it’s over.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
RL: I think Warped Tour’s influence on the musical community has been tremendous. For a lot of kids, Warped Tour was their first show. That place where they felt accepted, and discovered new and different music for the first time. It’s sad that this is the tour’s last full country run, but I hope Warped Tour is able to still inspire kids to come to shows and foster that sense of community that it has created throughout the years of its existence.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
RL: Warped Tour is that safe haven for the kids that don’t belong anywhere else.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
RL: We are currently wrapping up the follow-up to our debut EP, IDLE. We are hoping to have the first single off of the new record released soon, but we don’t currently have anything set in stone, more news on that very soon! Other than that we have a few other festival shows lined up through September, and a possible tour later this fall; then we’re taking some time off to regroup and start writing our first full-length record.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
RL: Thank you for believing in our music. Without you, we would not exist.
Ashley Leone
Ashley Leone is a contemporary R&B artist/writer whose pop sensibilities are reflected in her soulful, yet relevant sound. Drawing much inspiration from the perils and promises of topics like love and lust, Ashley is no stranger to vulnerability- in her music that is. ‘Sometimes it ends up being brutally honest, which I just can’t help’, she says. ‘When I’m creating, I have the least amount of boundaries, and I can fully say what I need to’. Ashley Leone is originally from Philly, but currently living in Nashville, TN.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
AL: I’m so excited to be a part of it. This will be the first festival I’ve played, so I’m really looking forward to it. I feel very lucky to be able to play the last Warped Tour.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
AL: I’ve never personally been to Warped Tour, but from everything I’ve ever heard, it seems like it’s had one of the greatest impacts on the community. It seems like it offers a safe place and environment for kids to go and be themselves.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
AL: An experience I have yet to experience and am stoked to be able to, especially on the stage!
What else does 2018 hold for you?
AL: For me, 2018 will have more shows, new releases, visuals, and a lot more songwriting.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
AL: I really appreciate you supporting my music, and I have some new things coming soon.
Leaders and Kings
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
LAK: We are very happy and honoured to be a part of the last Warped Tour.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
LAK: I think this was the tour that all the upcoming bands were featured on and really got great exposure. I think for the music community, it was a huge breath for new bands especially, but it’s still a great place to see the favourites from years ago.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
LAK: One word can cover it, ‘summer’. This was the tour not only we went to for years as band brothers, but it was the summer experience. A time you will always remember hanging out with your friends and keeping memories that will stay forever. A sentence I guess, ‘a place where memories happen’.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
LAK: 2018 is going great. Our band members are also cinematographers, so we have been working on a few feature films. One horror coming out soon called Red Forrest; it is about a haunted priest and will be on Amazon Prime at the end of July. We’re also finishing up a reality show that shows behind the scenes of our band’s lives called Making It In Music City. Season one is on Amazon Prime now, but we’re filming season two during the rest of the summer. On the band-side, we’re finishing up our new album. So it is going to be a great and busy 2018.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
LAK: Thank you to everyone coming out to our shows, thanks to everyone watching the reality show, and can’t wait to see you all at the last Vans Warped Tour.
Wilder Sons
Wilder Sons are a band native to Southwest Florida, who have been crafting a beachy alt-rock style to stimulate the senses of the progressive alternative scene. Transcendent guitar riffs weave effortlessly between catchy melodies, upbeat bass lines, and complex drum progressions; all of which paint a captivating backdrop to the lead singer, Brian’s reminiscent lyricism. Wilder Sons continue to push the boundaries, creating a new sound that is pulsating through the prism of the Southwest Florida scene, and beaming out to a national audience.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
WS: It’s an honour, to say the least. We’ve all been going to Warped since we were young bucks. Also, we’ll be there for the LAST day of the LAST cross-country Warped, which is even more special.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
WS: Major influence, as you can imagine. Warped brought punk, pop-punk, emo, hardcore, and everything in between to the forefront of mainstream culture back when it started, and it has continued to do so throughout its 23-year lifespan.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
WS: Summer breezin’ with a punk twist.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
WS: 2018 has been a good year for us so far, and we believe it’s going to end with a bang! We recently signed with Legend Recordings, and we’re about to release a four-song EP. Keep your eyes and ears open!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
WS: Fans, old and new, keep doing you! Keep on being fans of WS. We love you deeply.
Flight Club
Flight Club is an American rock ‘n’ roll influenced pop-punk band from Richmond, VA. Pulling influence from bands such as My Chemical Romance, The White Stripes, New Found Glory, and The Foo Fighters, Flight Club takes high-energy, bouncy punk jams, and adds a healthy dose of mean, melodic riffs.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
FC: Warped has been a staple in our lives, both as musicians and as fans of the music that came with it. We’ve each spent many summers going to the shows, and daydreaming about what it would be like to be behind the scenes, to be on the stages. We have been lucky enough to be a part of the last few years, individually and as a band, working on Warped Tour, and getting to see it from the inside out. It has been nothing short of a dream come true. Being a part of the final tour has given us a sense of euphoria, allowing us to close this chapter of our lives in the best way possible.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
FC: Warped has done incredible things for both fans of the music community and active members. Listeners are able to go out and see all of their favourite bands interact with each other, meet them face to face, or even find their next favourite band. For musicians, Kevin Lyman and rest of the Warped crew show that hard work truly pays off. We’ve seen bands go from playing a few days on WT’s smallest stages to playing the main stage all summer long in the course of one year. While there are labels, management, roadies, and sponsors involved, Warped Tour embodies the DIY dream at its finest.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
FC: Where’s catering?
What else does 2018 hold for you?
FC: We’re planning on spending the rest of the year writing, recording, and setting up the next chapter of Flight Club. We’ve undergone a lot of changes as people, and as a band during the first half of 2018, and we’re very eager to see where it will take us.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
FC: Thank you to everyone who’s given us a listen, who’s picked up a CD or shown us to their friends, who’s high-fived us at Warped Tour the past few years. If it wasn’t for the support we’ve been given thus far, we wouldn’t have been able to pursue this crazy lifestyle. We hope we can continue to give you the enthusiasm you’ve continued to give us.
No/Hugs
A mix of polished alternative rock and pop/punk makes Boston’s No/Hugs one of the most unique bands to catch. Composed of primary members Narcissus A-Ngel (vocals) and Kat Dukeshire (drums), the band delivers absolute madness on stage, with high energy arrangements and bold performance.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
N/H: Being part of Warped Tour’s final run is not only an honour, but a HUGE excitement for us. This is a tour that has hosted so many of our influences throughout the years, and to be added to that lineup is something that we take very seriously, and at the same time are very humbled by.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
N/H: Warped Tour is a place that allows artists to truly be themselves, no matter what that means. That open-minded acceptance from Kevin Lyman and crew has given many acts a good push in the right direction, and has given both bands and fans mutually a lot of crazy memories along the way.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
N/H: The hottest, loudest and most diverse festival of the year.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
N/H: Our Warped set was very exciting because it acted as a single release for our new track titled ‘Your Satisfaction Is Fake’. It’s a single that we hold close to our heart as it deals with the LGBTQIA struggles, in particular, trans-bullying and suicide. We’re very proud of how it came out. This is the first track that we put forth as a band that doesn’t only have a part of the chaotic alternativeness that No/Hugs is, but also shows the world what we care and feel for.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
N/H: Thank you so much for making this community called No/Hugs stronger by the day. We wouldn’t be anywhere near here without you and your support. You mean a lot to us, and know that a small part of every single one of our songs and performances is indefinitely dedicated to you. You can track our tour dates on Bandintown and follow us on socials at @nohugsband.
No/Hugs is one of the best bands on this article.