By Nadine Rodriguez – Staff Writer
nadine.rodriguez@fiusm.com
Aside from the heat and dirt, this year’s Warped Tour in West Palm Beach on July 4 was one of the best yet. With talented and energetic headliners such as We Came as Romans, Attila, Blessthefall and Memphis May Fire it came as no surprise.
There seemed to be an unspoken sense of unity among the bands as they delivered emotional lyrics, covering heavy topics like depression, suicide and addiction. Hearing these lyrics screamed out by hundreds of die-hard fans with teary eyes and smiles made it an unforgettable experience.
Warped Tour also provided fans with a means of meeting their idols and hearing them perform acoustically. Almost every band had autograph-signing sessions. Some memorable signings this year were Pierce The Veil, Neck Deep, Beartooth and Black Veil Brides. Neck Deep, known for their raw and hard-hitting lyrics, made sure to take photos with any fan that asked, assuring them it was okay if they began to get emotional. There was also an acoustic lounge which provided shade to fans as they listened to their favorite songs unplugged.
The last band to play was Set it Off, coming on a few minutes after Memphis May Fire. Although they were not considered a headliner, they gathered a large enough crowd to fill the Journey’s Left Foot Stage space beneath the actual amphitheater. As the energetic band finished their set, they provided a heartfelt thank you.
“Thank you on behalf of all the bands that have played Warped Tour so far,” frontman Cody Carson exclaimed, “This tour was created because of what we and you guys love: music.”
Attendees shared similar feelings.
“I go to Warped every year even if it does have bands I don’t know. I love the atmosphere of it and the collective adrenaline of the people. It gives me the opportunity to discover new bands,” said Emily Wong, an Environmental Science and Sustainability Junior at FIU.
As if on cue, as Set it Off walked off to backstage and the fans began to disperse, fireworks from nearby Fourth of July celebrations began to explode in the sky. Everything together emitted an excellent, fulfilled summer evening feeling.
