Warped Tour 2010 Kickoff: Reviews + Interviews + Pics

Now in its 16th year, North America’s longest-running festival tour got its jump start in front of 12,000 screaming fans on June 25th at the Home Depot Center just outside of Los Angeles in Carson, CA. From the action-packed side stages brimming with smoldering talent, to the main stage lions of the festival, this is without a doubt the most varied line-up the Warped Tour has seen. MishMash brings you inside the event with photo galleries and audio interviews with some of the tour’s hottest bands, including headliners All-American Rejects, Andrew W.K., Whitechapel and more.

Photos ©Michael Mullenix and Adriana Torres

Now in its 16th year, North America’s longest-running festival tour got its jump start in front of 12,000 screaming fans on June 25th at the Home Depot Center just outside of Los Angeles in Carson, CA. From the action-packed side stages brimming with smoldering talent, to the main stage lions of the festival, this is without a doubt the most varied line-up the Warped Tour has seen. MishMash brings you inside the event with photo galleries and audio interviews with some of the tour’s hottest bands, including headliners All-American Rejects, Andrew W.K., Whitechapel and more.

Our coverage of Warped Tour starts out with The Cab, a classic American pop/rock band from Las Vegas with just a little touch of soul. Lead singer Alex DeLeon showed off his smooth vocals and vibrato style. The girls eyed him as he crooned, and the guys in the audience seemed to enjoy it too because everyone was singing along.

Fight Fair, a punk/pop band from San diego stormed the stage wearing very little clothes, and quickly captured the audience’s attention. They raged through their set with high intensity, and brought their set to a close with their hit “California Girls”.

Portland, Maine-based band Sparks the Rescue didn’t seem to mesh with the crowd. Their alt-rock sound seemed to bore the audience, leaving us wondering if they’re a breakthrough band that will soon catch fire, or are simply destined to to fade away.

San Diego post-hardcore four-piece Pierce The Veil‘s sophomore album, Selfish Machines, was named one of AP’s Most Anticipated of 2010. We caught up with singer Vic Fuentes for a little chat. Be sure to catch them on Warped this summer and visit them at: www.piercetheveil.net.

Play the Pierce The Veil interview:

Whitechapel, the hardcore death metal band from Tennessee, blew our brains out in the best way possible. Every drum beat and bass slap literally blew wind in our faces as they rocked out. This was the heaviest band that played, and with their all black attire and choreography, they put on a great show that resulted in much moshing, dancing, and wild crowd surfing.

Despite being quite popular, the well-known pop/punk band, Sum 41 played a side stage, but lead singer Deryck Whibley was eager to rock out and please his fans. The smaller stage worked to their advantage, and the crowd was wildly responsive. Naturally, the whole place was jam-packed, and they delivered a stellar set.

Play the Sum 41 interview:

Mayday Parade was another popular band that played on a smaller stage, and their performance was equally, if not more, packed. Brooks Betts, their lead guitarist, exhibited intense passion and connection with the fans, and the band got the crowd screaming and shouting their name. Another killer set.

Attack Attack, a punk/hardcore screamo band from Ohio kept up the energy with a performance that brought back the crowd surfing that sprung up during WhiteChapel’s performance. All band members wore matching T-shirts displaying their favorite beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon. They had great energy and playing skills that resulted in a highly enjoyable performance.

Self proclaimed MishMash Magazine fan Andrew W.K. delivered a straight-up rock’n'roll performance, complete with his standard dirty white attire, greasy hair, and a whole lot of headbanging. The man knows how to start a party!

Play the Andrew W.K. interview:

Mayday Parade was another popular band that played on a smaller stage, and their performance was equally, if not more, packed. Brooks Betts, their lead guitarist, exhibited intense passion and connection with the fans, and the band got the crowd screaming and shouting their name. Another killer set.

Attack Attack, a punk/hardcore screamo band from Ohio kept up the energy with a performance that brought back the crowd surfing that sprung up during WhiteChapel’s performance. All band members wore matching T-shirts displaying their favorite beer: Pabst Blue Ribbon. They had great energy and playing skills that resulted in a highly enjoyable performance.

Self proclaimed MishMash Magazine fan Andrew W.K. delivered a straight-up rock’n'roll performance, complete with his standard dirty white attire, greasy hair, and a whole lot of headbanging. The man knows how to start a party!

Play the Andrew W.K. interview:

The Rocket Summer brought a mellow, pop-rock/soul vibe to the stage. Stephen Bryce Avary is a multi-talented musician, and for a full song, he played every instrument on stage – including drums, guitar, bass, and keyboards. The lovable, talented musician was adored by fans.

The audience was screaming for main stage headliners All-American Rejects before they even took the stage. The band delivered an electrifying set that was not to be missed and lead singer Tyson Ritter charmed the audience with his quick wit, crazy antics, and piercing blue eyes. He took the stage in a unique white suit, and had exciting stage presence. He kept the audience’s eyes glued to him, wondering what he would do next. It was a show that proved impossible to turn away from, and was a great way to end the night.

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