Piątek 22 Lut 2008, 16:21

UPDATE: I found out today that I have to work the day of Warped Tour, so I won't be making it after all. I guess you guys'll have to tell me how it goes ;)

The 2008 Vans Warped Tour band lineup has been released HERE.

I've never been to Warped Tour before for a variety of reasons, most of which boiled down to to time and interest. Back when I had the time and the money, I wasn't interested in that type of music. Or at least not interested enough to pay to see it live. When I finally became interested enough, my schedule got in the way. I'm hoping that doesn't happen this year, as I think I should be on vacation the week it comes into my neck of the woods. Emphasis on the think part. I actually just phoned my boss to confirm that before I started writing this but he wasn't in office. We'll see.

This year, I think the lineup is pretty stellar. Below are the bands I know and what I think of them:

All That Remains: One of the best true American metalcore acts, and probably the flagbearer (along with Killswitch Engage) for the New England metal scene. I'd hope they play
Shading and This Calling, but unfortunately they won't be playing on the tour for my date :(.

Flame point: for all their talent, the truth is they're In Flames knockoffs.

Anberlin: Just when you thought you'd heard every possible way to cry your heart out, these guys come out with the masterpiece Paperthin Hymn, which could also be the soundtrack for driving into a tornado. Good stuff.

Angels & Airwaves: I have a bad taste in my mouth from these guys. Not their fault, but from a female fan of theirs I was friends with briefly in 2006. No heartbreak here, just lies, lies, lies … idk wtf I wanna forget it and I don't think seeing them is gonna help, lol

As I Lay Dying: Fantastic. An Ocean Between Us was a masterpiece that expanded their sound without abandoning their core audience, but all the songs I wanna hear are from Shadows are Security: The Darkest Nights, Confined and Through Struggle.

How quickly
I forget
That this
is meaningless
- As I Lay Dying - Confined

Every Time I Die - OH NO not these motherfuckers again, seriously. Ugh. If you wanna see what I think of them, see here.

From First to Last - Florida screamo. The Latest Plague is all I know, and it's the usual railing against fake people that's heard in every musical genre. Boring.

Greeley Estates: I can manage seeing them. Decent Arizona emo.

Gym Class Heroes: These fucking clowns should never have gotten a record deal. Yet another act whose sole purpose is to sell ringback tones for college girls :rolls eyes:

Jack's Mannequin: AKA Something Corporate, Pt. 2. To their credit, The Mixed Tape was one of the best new singles IMO the year it came out. Live? I'm not so sure …

Madina Lake: I have House of Cards and Here I Stand. Generic.

Maylene and the Sons of Disaster: Alabama rock. Dry the River is all I know, I think it's pretty good.

Norma Jean: Redeemer is epic. Can't wait to see them live :).

Paramore: I feel sorry for the guys in this band, because no one knows they exist thanks to the girl at the front. The funny part is she looks great on TV but horrible in pics and possibly even worse live. People'll jam to their set and then forget them all.

Relient K: *yawn* wake me up for the next band

Rise Against: Rise against what? I can't stand artists who let their personal politics get too heavily mixed in with their music. You guys wanna riot? We have flamethrowers. Still wanna riot?

Say Anything: Can I go puke now? Next.

Story of the Year: Gotta give these guys props for bucking the trend and going from emo to hardcore. Doesn't change the fact that they stood apart in the emo crowd thanks to the genius of Page Avenue, while they don't sound any different from the myriads of other hardcore bands out there. They have a new release dropping on April 22, I hear.

The Academy Is...: These guys are a band? I thought they were a tshirt company. JK, they're textbook Warped Tour material.

The All-American Rejects: Cliche name. Cliche music. Cliche everything. I have some of their songs, but thanks to the above I hate them even when they're good. I want to throttle people I see wearing their tshirts.

The Dillinger Escape Plan: I don't know if I can stomach another one of their dissonant performances. Fortunately they're not playing on my date. Phew.

The Human Abstract: Cool vocals. Should be decent to see.

The Secret Handshake: Scored a timeless classic with Summer of 98. It's college/high school date music that belongs on the soundtrack to one of MTV's numerous reality shows, so I'm not sure how it'll play out live …

And that's all I know. I think I'll be going to the show just for Norma Jean, Anberlin and As I Lay Dying anyway.

Are you in or are you out?