Past, Present, Future: Warped Tour 2016

Warped Tour 2016
White River Amphitheatre, Auburn, WA
08.12.16

Acres of black pavement radiated the summer heat, as the Vans Warped Tour rolled into town for their second-to-last show of the summer, spread across seven stages outside the White River Amphitheatre. A tour known for their punk rock roots and skateboard culture, the 21st year of Warped Tour had a little bit of everything and now some brand new faces. That is the great thing about Warped Tour – every year there is something for everyone. No matter if you like pop rock, punk rock, screamo, metal, ska, rap, or hip hop, you’ll be able to find a band to enjoy. 2016 was no different.

The older crowd, who have been going to Warped Tour for years, had the pleasure of watching Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish. If you are not feeling the current political options these days, Less Than Jake’s lead singer might be a good third party option playing the full set in a super patriotic red, white, and blue suit, complete with a blue and white star-spangled jacket.

The fans who started going to Warped Tour in the early 2000’s were super stoked to see New Found Glory, Yellowcard, and The Maine. The NFG drummer even played drums for Yellowcard’s set.

The last couple of years have seen a major shift in the Warped Tour music and we saw those bands grace the main stage. That list includes Sleeping With Sirens and Tonight Alive. SWS gathered the largest crowd of the day and for good reason. Each member brought a killer show, full of jumping, mic swings, and endless energy.

New members to the main stage this year brought additional discoveries for our playlists. Memorable ones included: Set it Off and Issues. Issues, being ahead of the recent re-birth of Pokemon, showed their love for Pokemon with their custom designed amplifiers, and playing the Pokemon theme song in full at the start of their set.

Warped Tour 2016 brought the past, present, and future of the alternative music scene together, and only left everyone waiting for year 22.

Review and Photos by Logan Westom

Set It Off