Vans Warped Tour: Maryland Heights, 7.5.12

It seems to me that if Warped Tour is in town, then “perfect” weather definitely isn’t. Sure, it keeps the day from being overly pleasant while checking out a delightful lineup filled with old favorites and hardworking newcomers vying for the chance to be heard. Maybe the years I’ve spent battling cool showers or stifling heat to experience the craziness that is Warped for one day is just a product of growing up in the Midwest. While to me it seems to be just as much a part of the experience as everything else, I’ll move beyond discussing the far from temperate conditions that revealed sweat glands I didn’t previously realize existed. My Car and My Guitar is about the music, and we had the chance to check out the 2012 Vans Warped Tour when it stopped Maryland Heights, Missouri on July 5th.

Jenna McDougall of Tonight Alive

After starting the day by catching a few songs of Aussie pop-rockers Tonight Alive’s set and discovering Atlanta soul-punkers The Silver Comet, it was time to make my way over to the Acoustic Basement to check out Into It. Over It., who we’ve expressed much love for in the past. Evan Weiss managed to make the sweltering hot tent feel like a community, telling his famously personal and detailed stories before tunes like “Write It Right” and “Humboldt.” The Acoustic Basement – a new addition this year – worked surprisingly well, despite loud bands playing all day only 500 or so feet away, and Weiss – still one of the best live acts around – playing this brief leadoff set was a welcome way to start the day.

Mike Brown of Streetlight Manifesto

Streetlight Manifesto were one of few ska-punk acts on the tour this year, and they used the opportunity to cement their role as one of the best such acts of the past decade. Loud, fast, and with its always-impressive horn section, the band blasted through “We Will Fall Together” and “Down, Down, Down To Mephisto’s Café” with enough gusto that they felt like early-afternoon exercises in stamina in the unbelievably summer heat.

Koji in the Acoustic Basement

I took refuge in the Acoustic Basement for Koji’s set – definitely one of the highlights of the day. He entranced the packed tent with songs old and new, including a cover of “Wagon Wheel” that had the entire tent singing along. If you’re not familiar with his music, it’s time to change that. Luckily, then it was back to the shelter of the shaded amphitheater for high-energy sets from Warped veterans Bayside and first-timers Man Overboard, who had some of the most energetic crowds of the day. Whether it was Bayside group tackling fan-favorite classics like “Blame It on Bad Luck” with their signature emotionally-charged poignancy or Man Overboard winning over the excited youth with the speedy sugarcoated pop-punk of “Rare,” it was a potent reminder of the dedication and passion that bands put into the exhausting summer camp of Warped Tour year after year.

John Nolan of Taking Back Sunday

A headlining set from Taking Back Sunday was next, with the band’s first Warped stint since their reunited “classic” lineup being one of the biggest draws of the day. The band promptly launched into the heavy “El Paso” with a surprising energy. They jumped around their discography more to start the set, with John Nolan and lead singer Adam Lazzara trading vocals over “Error: Operator” and the Tell All Your Friends classic “Timberwolves at New Jersey,” which inspired an overwhelming number of crowdsurfers and definitely didn’t disappoint.

Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low

All Time Low stuck mostly to tried-and-true singles in their set, but that didn’t make “Damned If I Do Ya” and “Lost In Stereo” any less fun. A surprise addition to their set was “Heroes” – a fast-and-furious old-school pop-punk number that was one of the most popular songs on last year’s Dirty Work (which I enjoyed more than many people did). The band didn’t miss a beat with new song “The Reckless and The Brave,” which had a surprising amount of recognition considering its recent release, but the part of me that is still convinced it’s 2008 was definitely more excited to hear “Jasey Rae.” Despite their always-inappropriate banter involving bras, mothers, and a “fuck the sun” chant, there were cheers all around when they announced that their return to Hopeless Records and subsequent plans to release a new album this fall.

Josh Franceschi of You Me At Six

Though I’ve probably listened to British rockers You Me At Six’s most recent release Sinners Never Sleep a few too many times, I was disappointed when they seemed to be somewhat lackluster and possibly a bit under-the-weather as they launched into a less-than-punchy rendition of the aforementioned album’s opener, “Loverboy.” Thankfully, they seemed to become more alive as their set drew on, which seemed to be sparked by someone in the crowd rolling down the hill facing the stage, before launching energetically into “Reckless.”

Tymm Rengers of Fireworks

Fireworks’ set was undoubtedly excellent, but I can’t help but think that the pop-punk sextet would’ve thrived somewhere less cramped than the tiny Ernie Ball stage. Though the confines of their space limited much of their energy and movement, their small group of dedicated fans screaming along to every word quickly erased any shortcomings there. Lead singer Dave Mackinder crooned through Gospel gems like “X’s on Trees” and “Summer,” with stops along the way for passionate renditions of high-energy anthems like “I Grew Up In A Legion Hall” and “Detroit.” Fireworks managed to keep spirits high even as the day began to wind down, and this is absolutely a band to check out – the crowds and stages won’t be this small for very long.

Jimmy Stadt of Polar Bear Club

This was my fourth time seeing Polar Bear Club this year, and at this point, the consistency of their hard-hitting punk fury and technical proficiency is to be expected. Lead singer Jimmy Stadt’s vocals soared above the pounding drums and searing guitars in the auditorium, surely winning over a few new fans in the process. New songs like “Pawner” and “Screams in Caves” were just as powerful as old favorites like “Our Ballads” and “Living Saints” with Stadt jumping around the stage with the same unprecedented energy he’s showed every night for years. But nothing came close to classic closer “Most Miserable Life” – a paean to passion and an anthem for everyone who cares about punk rock that caused the pit and band to feed off each other’s’ energy and build to the song’s triumphant conclusion. Though they’re a band I’ve loved for years, Polar Bear Club are really starting to pick up a lot of steam – and deservedly so. I can’t wait for something new from this band, because they’re the very model of consistently great music. You’ll regret not catching their set, so make a point of doing so.

Longineu “LP” Parsons III of Yellowcard

Yellowcard closed out the evening as the sun set behind them, cruising through cuts from Ocean Avenue like it was the summer of 2003 all over again. Lead singer Ryan Key addressed their recent absence and was the quintessential showman, but it’s still his vocals – paired with Sean Mackin’s electric violin – that drive the band’s signature sound. New and new-ish songs like “With You Around” and “Always Summer” kept the crowd rocking out, but it was the singles – “Lights and Sounds,” “Only One,” and “Ocean Avenue” in particular – that felt most effective and exciting. All in all, it was a fitting end to another excellent summer tradition – Warped Tour is a chance to discover new bands and tough it out for your favorites… and it keeps kids coming back year after year. If the passion and fun I witnessed this year was any indication, punk rock is alive and well, and the Warped Tour isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.