Warped Tour: The Final Run – Part 8
What do Blameshift, Oh, Weatherly, Makari, and Marko and the Bruisers have in common? In addition to being talented US bands, they’re also all playing in the final run of the Warped Tour! While some have already performed, and others have yet to perform, here is what they had to say about their thoughts on the experience. If you’d like to catch up on other Warped interviews, check out our previous posts:
Final Run – Part 4
Final Run – Part 5
Makari
Based out of Orlando, Makari is a five-piece ambient rock outfit signed to InVogue Records. Their latest release ‘Transient’, produced by Andrew Wade, finds the band further refining their sound, and offers a glimpse into the band’s debut LP Hyperreal, due out August 3rd. With dreamy and delicate guitar work, driving bass and drums, soaring and melodic lyric-driven vocals, the band allows you to drift on a sonic sea of delay and reverb just long enough before dropping you back into straightforward, high-energy grooves. The interview questions are answered by lead guitarist, Matthew Beljan.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
MB: This being Warped Tour’s final run, we are incredibly excited to be a part of it. Warped Tour was something we all went to when we were younger, and it’s an honour to play on its closing run.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
MB: I think Warped Tour has had a pretty noticeable influence on the music community. It’s a place where lots of people discover their favourite band for the first time, or make important memories with their friends and bond over a specific artist or artist set. It has brought a lot of people together to support music/musicians, and to just have a fun time.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
MB: It’s a HOT all day great time, filled with talented artists. friends and family.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
MB: August 3rd, our full-length Hyperreal comes out, and we’ll be pushing it on the road, touring, and coming to a town near you!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
MB: We love and appreciate all of our fans who have been with us on this journey, and the ones just finding out about us! Please go and pre-order Hyperreal, and we’ll see you soon!
Gabe Kubanda
In 2011, beginning with an old school bus powered by used vegetable oil, Gabe Kubanda launched the Epic Proportions Tour, travelling the United States to bring national recognition to various upcoming/unsigned bands while simultaneously promoting the importance of music education to aspiring high school students! After 650 concerts, 21 tours, and one crazy bus crash rollover (spoiler: we survived!), Gabe and the Epic Proportions Tour are only gaining speed as they grab international attention on their upcoming shows in Europe!
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
GK: Mixed feelings, of course. Warped has held so many memories for me. I played the Ernie Ball stage back in the day with my old rock band, and then multiple years as a solo artist. Each version, year, and city has been a special experience for me.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
GK: I think Warped has provided a safe place, for the most part, for the younger audience to really find their inner voice, a place to congregate with other fans who also love the same bands. For us musicians, it’s given us a platform to be heard; and for me specifically, Kevin Lyman was one of the influencers for starting my own tour. He got me thinking bigger than just ‘being a band’.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
GK: Hot, sweaty, crazy, fun!
What else does 2018 hold for you?
GK: Man, the rest of this year is nuts. I’ve been in the studio working on new music, which I can’t wait to release to my fans. We also have a US tour starting mid-August, and we’re launching in Europe this September!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
GK: Keep on, keepin’ on! You guys are the best, and you know it! To find out more about how to be involved with the Epic Proportions Tour, or for bands submitting for tour inclusion, visit EpicProportionsTour.com or GabeKubanda.com
Blessing A Curse
Blessing a Curse is a hard rock band from Orlando, Florida. Formed in 2013, they released their debut record Satisfaction for the Vengeful via Smartpunk records in 2016. They are currently in the studio with Stephan Hawkes (Chelsea Grin/Attila) recording their sophomore LP. Our questions are answered by bassist and vocalist, Ronnie Mitchell.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
RM: Honestly, it still feels insane to us. A lot of us spent the last 10+ summers going to Warped to see our favourite bands. To be included in the last one ever is really special.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
RM: I think it’s obvious that Warped Tour has had a direct influence on so many artists over the years. It’s always been the big one everyone wanted to be a part of. I remember going to my first one in ’07 and thinking, ‘this is it; this is exactly what I want to do’.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
RM: It’s been used in the past by Warped before, but it really is the truth, so I’d say it’s the ‘best day ever’.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
RM: We’re about to spend the rest of the summer in Portland, Oregon, with Stephan Hawkes to record our sophomore record on SmartPunk Records, and we’re really really stoked about that. Then we have the Warped Tour dates immediately after. After that, we’ll be fine-tuning and gearing up for our next release, which will hopefully be in the beginning of 2019.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
RM: Thanks for sticking with us through the growing process over the years. We do this for many reasons, but there’s nothing more gratifying than having someone impacted by your words, or riff, or presence. Album number two is in the works, and it’s heavier and more aggressive than ever. Come see us at the final Warped Dates, ya might just catch a new song or two. We’ll have some fun things to do over at our merch tent, and we’ll be hanging out all day every day, as well. We just wanna meet everyone and have a good time, that’s what it’s all about, right?
Love Canal
From the band’s inception in 1982, the punk scene in California was ripe for new bands. Following in the footsteps of their peers from Huntington Beach (T.S.O.L., The Vandals, China White and The Crowd), Love Canal has kept the beach punk sound alive. 36 years later, the band is better then ever, and their new release ‘If It Ain’t Broke, Break It!!!’ on Hostage Records has been called ‘Punk Album of the Year’ on three different continents.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
LC: We’re excited to have the opportunity to play the final Warped Tour. When I found out this was it, I called Kevin Lyman and said every punk band from then ’til now had played Warped, except Love Canal. Since this is it, I asked him if he could find a spot for the band, and without hesitation, he said YEP!!!!
Love Canal started in 1982, so not only were we the oldest band to play Warped Tour in 2018, but we were the eldest with an average age of 54. I was the oldest to play Warped in 2018 at 56. What’s cool about that is it shows the diversity and how awesome Warped has been all these years. It doesn’t matter who is on the bill, you could always find a band you liked, young or old, or a new band you had never heard of before.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
LC: Vans Warped Tour has had a huge impact. I mean, if you think about it, nothing like this had ever been done before in the history of music. NOTHING! ZILCH! NADA! It’s a massive undertaking, a logistical nightmare, but Kevin and Vans pulled it off; not once, but 25 times! The impact it had has spanned a generation, think about that. So many unheard bands became household names because of it. So many legendary bands found new fans because of it.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
LC: Never before, never again.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
LC: Playing Vans Warped in 2018 will definitely be one of the biggest highlights for Love Canal this year. We have a new album out on Hostage Records, produced by Grammy Award Winner Cameron Webb, who also produced the last eight MOTORHEAD albums, a couple NOFX and Pennywise albums. We are looking forward to doing a little touring throughout the year in support of the album.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
LC: Thanks to everybody that came out just to see us at Warped Tour. With all the great bands to see on the bill, it’s an honour and pleasure to play for you.
WASI
WASI is an electro-punk meets alt-hip-hop band based in Los Angeles, CA. Their songs create a reminiscent pop soundtrack to those So Cal nights of angsty garage punk shows, and skinny dipping at the beach. Built on grassroots, do-it-yourself ethics, WASI makes loud strides in their self-proclaimed genre, riot-pop. Comparable to the sounds of Pussy Riot meets MIA, they combine their influences of alternative hip hop, punk and top 40’s pop to create anthems that speak to your own tender time.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
W: We were so thrilled to be part of something that was a huge influence for us growing up. Growing up, Warped Tour was the first space for us where we were able to go and be our little emo/punk selves. It was where we got to be part of a scene that our favourite bands led, and to be part of its final run is an honour.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
W: Warped Tour made a lot of people’s favourite bands more accessible. They were all in one space, and tickets were (and still are) affordable. It let us broke teenagers have something to look forward to every summer.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
W: Warped Tour is the sweatiest mosh pit experience of your life.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
W: We’re recording with AFI’s Hunter Burgan, which we’re super psyched about. We have some shows and festivals spread throughout the summer, but our main goal is nailing this next record.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
W: Don’t be afraid of yourself! Going to our first Warped Tour, the idea of being in a band was a total dream. Little did we know, a little later we would get the experience to be onstage at Warped. It might sound cheesy, but never give up on your dreams, because you never know what lays just around the corner.
Telltale
Telltale is a pop punk band from the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia. The quartet released their debut EP, Good Intentions, in September 2017, drawing comparisons to Like Pacific, Waterparks, and Fall Out Boy. Telltale then spent the spring of 2018 touring the Midwest and East Coast with Settle Your Scores and Sink the Ship. The group just finished recording their debut full-length with producer Zach Jones of My Enemies and I, which is set to release later this year.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
T: It’s honestly pretty surreal. We’ve all grown up going to Warped Tour, so it’s truly an honour to get to play on the final run.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
T: The tour’s influence on the scene has been MASSIVE. I think most bands in the alternative scene see Warped as a rite of passage. It gives artists validation that their music is really impacting the community.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
T: Warped Tour is the hottest, craziest, must unique festival or show you’ll ever attend.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
T: We just finished recording our debut full-length with Zach Jones, so that’ll be coming out at some point. We’ll also be doing regional touring this summer with our friends in Hang Tight, The Second After, and Downhaul, so be on the lookout for those dates.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
T: Connect with us on social media at @telltalerva.
Marko and the Bruisers
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
MM: Personally, I grew up with the Punk-O-Rama albums, showing me and guiding me to the best music I’ve ever heard. So, to be a part of its final tour is a dream come true.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
MM: Warped Tour has, over the years, brought music to people who otherwise would not have been discovered. As a kid, the Punk-O-Rama albums got so much great music to us young punks that would not have heard them, and that’s amazing!
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
MM: Warped Tour is a place where great talent is displayed, and discovered.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
MM: We have a 7″ vinyl split with The Prozacs, and another EP planned for later in the year. We have shows booked up to January, and are looking for more!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
MM: To our fans, you mean everything to us. We play these silly songs that we love, and all your support means the world to us!
Chaser (FL)
Incorporating influences from artists both old and new, Chaser is a four-piece alternative rock outfit from Palm Beach, FL, that distinguishes itself through its explosive power riffs and insanely catchy hooks. After working on music in the past together, the four of them reformed as Chaser to signal a transition away from their previous works. Chaser officially came together in January 2016 to record their debut EP Take What You’re Given at Wachusett Recording Studios in Massachusetts with producer Alan Day of Four Year Strong. Since the recording, Chaser has become a staple for South Florida’s local rock scene.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
C: Being able to be a part of the final Vans Warped Tour run is beyond our wildest dreams. We’re so grateful to be a part of the festival, and we can’t wait to play on August 2nd in Jacksonville.
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
C: Warped Tour had a huge impact on the music scene. The festival became the best place to watch all different types of music and discover new bands. It’s truly sad to see it go. The legacy of Warped Tour will live on in the music community.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
C: It’s the best thing about summer, period.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
C: We’re releasing our sophomore EP Life I Used To Love on all platforms on July 27th, which we can’t be more excited about. We put so much work into this release. We had the opportunity to work with our good friends Mike Harmon of Wachusett Studios, and Alan Day (Four Year Strong). We’re gearing up to announce our fall tour and release our music video. With that said, we have so much going on this year, and we are more than excited to show everyone what’s to come.
Do you have any last words for your fans?
C: Catch us on the Full Sail Stage at Vans Warped Tour on August 2nd in Jacksonville playing new songs from Life I Used To Love, which will be out July 27th!
Oh, Weatherly
We’ve all been there at one point or another in our lives. Revolving our lives, our universe, our everything around one singular thing; and in most cases, that one thing is a relationship. The idea that ‘I can’t live without them’ dominates your every thought, and you do everything in your power to hold on. That’s exactly where Oh, Weatherly vocalist, Blake Roses, found himself not too long ago. Never afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve, Roses turned to his best friends, guitarists Angel Bedoy and Reece Alan, drummer Colton Lakey, and bassist Beau Harris, to create introspective and relatable music. Channelling the pristine crispness of bands like Boys Like Girls, and the emotional upheaval of bands like Pierce the Veil, Oh, Weatherly takes a varied and diverse approach to their style of pop rock.
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
OW: I think I speak for all of us when I say, we are extremely stoked and pumped to be able to share our music with so many new people, and create lifetime memories with each other through Warped Tour!
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
OW: I think Warped Tour helped so many humans go out, be themselves, and be able to watch so many of their favourite bands on the same day. Also, giving smaller bands an opportunity to perform, and have a taste of what’s to come later on in their careers.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
OW: FUN AND HOT.
What else does 2018 hold for you?
OW: We are releasing our debut album on July 29th, entitled Lips Like Oxygen, and we’re definitely going to be touring a lot more across the country!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
OW: We love you all so very much, and can’t wait to meet you! Please pre-order our album Lips Like Oxygen, and we will see you very soon!
Blameshift
Blameshift is a four-piece female-fronted hard rock band based in Long Island, New York. The band has spent the last eight years relentlessly touring, logging over 500,000 miles and playing thousands of shows. They just finished a stint on the last ever Vans Warped Tour, and recorded a new song with their long-time producer, Erik Ron (Godsmack, New Years Day), which will be released in early fall!
This is Warped Tour’s final run, how do you feel being part of it?
B: We are so honoured to be a part of the final run of Vans Warped Tour. It is such an iconic tour and has given so many rock bands an opportunity. We feel genuinely sad that this era is over. It feels surreal to be a part of something so epic. We feel extremely lucky!
What sort of influence do you think Warped Tour had on the musical community?
B: I think Warped Tour brought rock ‘n’ roll music to the masses. It really gave a voice to up-and-coming bands by allowing them to get in front of thousands of new fans. So many major artists were launched through this platform, it’s crazy to think about.
If you could describe Warped Tour in one sentence, what would that sentence be?
B: Warped Tour is rock ‘n’ roll summer camp!
What else does 2018 hold for you?
B: We just finished a new song with our good friend and mentor, Erik Ron, who just had a number one song and album with Godsmack. So, it’s been really exciting to get back into the studio with him. We are really excited about this new song. It has a fresh and catchy sound I think our fans will really like. We will be doing a music video and releasing the song sometime this fall!
Do you have any last words for your fans?
B: Thank you so much for your love and support. We truly have the best fans in the world. They have been with us through thick and thin, and we couldn’t do any of this without you. We love you!
