Stop Your Complaining; 10 Bands Worth the Price of Admission at Vans Warped Tour
We are officially inside 10 days until the very last full cross-country Vans Warped Tour begins on June 21 in Pomona, CA. It's very possible that you are one of the non-believers and you have something negative to say about the Warped Tour lineup every year, but still find yourself trying to find last minute friends that might want to go.
Well it's time to stop your complaining; with General Admission tickets at about $45 for this touring festival featuring nearly 100 bands throughout the entire summer, we've got 10 bands that are worth admission. *Note these are bands that will be appearing on ALL dates this summer, and appear in no particular order.
Don Broco
A British rock band formed in Bedford, England in 2008. The band consists of Rob Damiani (lead vocals and electronics), Simon Delaney (guitar), Tom Doyle (bass) and Matt Donnelly (drums and vocals). The band's debut album Priorities was released on 13 August 2012, followed up by Automatic on 7 August 2015. Their latest album, Technology, was released on 2nd February 2018.
This band is a ton of fun live and you should dedicate a portion of your day to watching at least one song of their set; you'll most likely find yourself hooked and staying for more. Don Broco has so many amazing songs that can catch your attention, but the only way I could really see introducing someone to them is with this live music video of one of their newer songs "Everyone", so you can see what you'll experience.
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In Hearts Wake
An Australian metalcore band from Byron Bay, formed in 2006, currently consisting of vocalist Jake Taylor, bassist and singer Kyle Erich, lead guitarist Eaven Dall, drummer Conor Ward, and rhythm guitarist Ben Nairne. They have released three EPs, Into the Storm, The Gateway, and Ark Prevails, and four full-length studio albums, Divination, Earthwalker, Skydancer, and Ark. The band's lyrical themes include environmentalism, environmental justice, climate change, conservation, and other social issues.
If you're a fan of metalcore, you may know of a little band, that is also from Byron Bay, by the name of Parkway Drive. In Hearts Wake is what Parkway has left behind; the memorable hooks, the crushing breakdowns, and all out metalcore to its core. With unreal stage presence and incorporating the crowd into every show, In Hearts Wake will be one of the more popular bands on the Mutant stages.
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Reel Big Fish
an American ska punk band from Orange County, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold certified album Turn the Radio Off. Soon after, the band lost mainstream recognition but gained an underground cult following. As of 2006, the band is no longer signed to a major record label, and has since been independent. After many line-up changes throughout the years, front man Aaron Barrett remains the only founding member in the band.
For all of those complaining about Warped Tour not being what it used to be, Reel Big Fish should be a pleasant treat for you. They've been a part of Warped Tour in some way seven times, so it is only fitting they make a final appearance; and for the entire tour! Get ready to skank to your heart's content.
The Maine
An American rock band from Tempe, Arizona, formed in 2007. Their first release, the EP Stay Up, Get Down was released in late 2007, followed by a five-song EP titled The Way We Talk on December 11, 2007. The band's first full-length album, Can't Stop Won't Stop was released July 8, 2008. Their second full-length album, Black & White, (July 13, 2010) sold 22,634 copies in its first week and on December 6, 2011, the group's third album, Pioneer, was released and it peaked at No. 90 on the Billboard 200. Their fourth full-length record Forever Halloween (June 4, 2013) reached No. 39 on the Billboard 200 by selling over 10,000 copies in its first week and was followed by its deluxe edition on June 17, 2014. Their fifth studio album, American Candy, was released on March 31, 2015 and Lovely Little Lonely, their sixth full-length record, was released on April 7, 2017.
The Maine had some minor mainstream success early on in their carriers, however they've been able to produce a more consistent success with more recent releases. They continue to have a very dedicated fanbase, and the band itself is very invested and dedicated to their fans as well. You'll feel the love and dedication on both sides during The Maine's set each and every day this summer.
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Simple Plan
a Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec. The band has released five studio albums: No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002), Still Not Getting Any... (2004), Simple Plan (2008), Get Your Heart On! (2011), and Taking One for the Team (2016). The band has also released an EP titled Get Your Heart On – The Second Coming! (2013), in addition to two live albums: Live in Japan 2002 (2003) and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005).
The band performed at the Vans Warped Tour every year from 1999 to 2005, and then again in 2011, 2013, and 2015. With such a prominent presence on Warped Tour and being one of the bands that have found major mainstream success, Simple Plan should be a no brainer to catch and sing-along to on the 2018 tour.
Trash Boat
A British pop punk band formed in St Albans in 2014. The group consists of lead vocalist Tobi Duncan, rhythm guitarist Dann Bostock, lead guitarist Ryan Hyslop, bass guitarist James Grayson, and drummer Oakley Moffatt. The group has released two EPs; one was released independently in 2014 while the other was released after signing with Hopeless Records in 2015. The band's debut album, Nothing I Write You Can Change What You've Been Through, was released on 17 June 2016.
Trash Boat is still gaining speed in their careers but are one of the current pop punk bands that deserve the recognition.
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Assuming We Survive
An easycore band formed in 2007 in Los Angeles, California. On September 3, 2013, Get Busy Living released an EP that was funded and self-produced through a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. And on September 12, 2014 they released their second EP, Assuming We Survive. Through excessive touring, the band managed to build a steadily growing fanbase, allowing the band to perform as a local band on the Warped Tour between 2012 and 2015 as Ernie Ball's Battle Of The The Winners. In 2013, Assuming We Survive performed at the Aftershock Festival, and two years later at the invitation of the band A Day to Remember at the SelfHelp Fest. After Assuming We Survive signed to Third String Records, their debut album, All Roads Lead Home, was released on June 24, 2016. The band did take part in the entire 2016 Warped Tour and will be making their final Warped Tour appearance each day this Summer.
Chelsea Grin
An American deathcore band from Salt Lake City, Utah. Formed in 2007, the group is signed to Rise Records and have released two EPs and four full-length albums. Chelsea Grin was originally formed by Alex Koehler and former bandmates under the name Ahaziah. The band's first members were Alex Koehler (vocals), Chris Kilbourn (guitar), Austin Marticorena (bass guitar), and Michael Stafford (lead guitar). Early on in the band's career, they released the songs "Crewcabanger" and "Lifeless" as singles, both of which were received well by listening audiences on Myspace.
Many years later the band has seen many member changes, varying shifts in music stylings, and a lot of backlash from their fanbase at times. Just recently the band announced the biggest change to their lineup with the departure of their founding vocalist, Alex Koehler; In his place is Lorna Shore vocalist, Tom Barber. Chelsea Grin has decided to continue as a 4-piece band, but you can expect to experience the same chest crushing performance.
Waterparks
an American pop rock band formed in Houston, Texas in 2011. The group currently consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Awsten Knight, backing vocalist and lead guitarist Geoff Wigington, and drummer Otto Wood. The band has released three EPs, two of which were released independently while the third was released via Equal Vision. The group released its first full-length album, Double Dare, on November 4, 2016 via Equal Vision and their second full-length album, Entertainment, released on January 26, 2018.
Waterparks is one of the more unique bands in the pop rock/pop punk genres, and gained their popularity extremely quickly. They went from a relatively unknown band and then took on their first tours with huge bands like Good Charlotte, All Time Low, and Sleeping With Sirens; they've also opened for Aaron Carter. The guitarist/vocalist, Awsten Knight, has even admitted to teaching members of 5 Seconds of Summer how to play guitar.
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Dayseeker
An American post-hardcore band from Orange, California. The band is currently signed to Spinefarm Records. To date, the band has released three albums: What It Means To Be Defeated in 2013, Origin in 2015, and Dreaming Is Sinking /// Waking Is Rising in 2017. Dayseeker is a band that I think has stayed relatively hidden under the radar, but have enormous potential. Making their Warped Tour debut this summer, I hope to see large crowds during their sets and personally cannot wait to see this band for the first time.
For a full list of bands playing on Warped Tour this summer, CLICK HERE to head over to the Warped Tour lineup. Including the many bands playing the entire tour, there are also special guests that will be play a single day or a handful of days this summer. Be sure to take a look at the lineup specific to the city you plan to attend to see a list specific to that date! Also, you can most likely expect more special guests to be announced throughout the summer and even some surprise day of announcements.
