Warped Tour 2001

live in Chicago (2001)
Warped Tour

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 22nd 2001

NOTE: For some reason, I can't get my HTML to work and the pictures won't load up. If you'd like to see my pictures from Warped, click here or click on the links after each band.

Well, this is sort of a new thing for Punknews.org, a review of a concert. I'm doing this without Aubin's approval, so how punk rock does that make me? If you answered "More punk rock than this festival!" you would be absolutely correct.

I have been attending the Warped Tour in Chicago since 1997, and have seen it peak in 1998 and then slowly decline since then. 1999 and 2000 brought flavors-of-the-week bands such as Lit and Papa Roach, and 2001 is no exception. Sum 41, Good Charlotte, and Alien Ant Farm all grace the bill this year, doing their job -- getting kids who live off of MTV and haven't ever supported a local punk show into a much bigger enviornment so they can spend way too much of their mom's money. Of course along with the one hit wonders, we get plenty of bands with "cred" like Rancid, AFI, the Vandals, and Less Than Jake which make it okay for the "real" punkers to come out and enjoy the day. Regardless, Warped Tour will always be a mixed bag, and this year was no exception.

My day started off rather badly when I was denied my press and photo passes. Even though I had submitted my application in May and it had been confirmed, I was not on the list, therefore I could not get in. So I had to buy a ticket. Not cool, since I only had so much money and 35 dollars was a bit pricey. Nonetheless, I plowed ahead and got inside an hour late [missing the Ataris -- dammit!]. The first attraction I had my eyes on? Not a band, but wrestling. Incredibly Strange Wrestling, to be precise.
Picture: ISW in action.
Picture: More ISW craziness.
With characters as crazy as 69 Degrees [a Scientologist boy band], El Pollo Diablo [literally, the Devil Chicken], and Macho Sasquatcho, this show was quite a treat. Plus, the ISW people pass out tortillas and encourage you to throw them at the wrestlers. It doesn't get more fun than that.

After the fun was over there, I wandered into the end of the Vandals' set, where I witnessed Warren leading the crowd in a singalong of "I Have A Date." The band sounded a great as they ever have, and were incredibly tight musically. If only I had gotten to see more...

As soon as the Vandals ended, another Kung Fu Records band started up only yards from the end of the crowd. Their name? Antifreeze.
Picture: Antifreeze delivering the goods.
They were a great pop-punk band, and their trio of vocalists really harmonized well. I jaunted over to the merch table as soon as they were done to pick up their newest album, "Four Letter Words". Good stuff.

From there, I ventured to the Volcom stage to see the almighty Lawrence Arms. As they rocked their hometown crowd, singer/bassist Brendan made many derogatory comments towards the festival and promised all their fans that the next time they play in Chicago it will be at the Fireside Bowl for only 5 or 6 bucks. These guys always rock live.
Picture: Hometown boys in action.

After the Arms closed their set, I headed on over to the main stage to see H2O. As I walked, I grew more and more worried about what they would sound like now, as "Go" was really not what the band had ever sounded like before. It was obviously a "Major Label" album, with much more pop-punk than hardcore, and even a cover of Madonna's "Like A Prayer"! As I set myself up for disappointment, H2O cleansed me of all my worries. I've seen them live 3 times, and this was no worse than either other time. They put everything they have into their live performance, and [smartly] they stayed away from their weaker material on the new album and rocked out for 30 straight minutes.

After H2O was the moment I had been waiting for - 311. Now some of you may say that 311 is not punk at all, but I disagree. They started off as an underground band, and success came to them, not the other way around. They've also have enough problems with major labels to know that DIY is better. No matter what you think of them, they put on an *incredibly* solid and diverse live show, playing tracks from every album but "Soundsystem" I believe. The best thing was it wasn't just a "greatest hits" showcase like Green Day's last year -- they played the songs that they LIKE to play. Rock and roll, man.
Picture: Nick Hexum of 311 [this picture is really sweet, I promise!]

The day started to wind down and I started to get more sunburned and bruised, so I again went back to the Volcom stage to see the Benjamins [it was either them or Less Than Jake, who I knew would have an insane pit and I've seen them before anyways]. The Benjamins, for those of you who don't know, are a quartet from Milwaukee, WI and whose two main influences are Weezer and Superdrag [which is fine with me, since those are two of my favorite bands]. They rocked live, and played some new material too, which was a bonus.
Picture: It's all about the Benjamins, baby.

After the Benjamins closed their set, I hauled ass to go see Soulcracker. Yes, that's the same Soulcracker that was on VH1's "Bands On The Run" and the same band who was robbed on that very same show [fucking Flickerstick...]. Anyways, for some reason, even though they had a half hour to play they only played for about 20 minutes, which sucked because they really did rock hard. I picked up their CD [review forthcoming] and it's just as good as I thought it would be. Watch out for this band.
Picture: "Hi! We were on VH1!"

As the sun started to set, what band would be better to close the festival than Me First And The Gimme Gimmes? Jake Jackson [of the Foo Fighters] was playing guitar tonight, even though it had been reported that someone else was filling in for him. I don't know if this was a one-show deal or something, but either way it ruled. The Gimmes were in rare form, with everyone taking turns at telling really lame jokes and Fat Mike throwing the set list into disarray. They played selections from all three of their albums, including their latest, "Blow In The Wind", but, unfortunately, "Country Roads" [which is my favorite Gimmes song personally] was left off the set list. Regardless, their show was a blast, and it came complete with a Tiki Bar [which was being manned by Heather from the Teen Idols]. The band most assuredly was having a ball themselves, and there was no better band to close the day with.
Picture: As supergroups go, this one is as almost good as *Nsync.

Overall, the festival was okay, at best. I saw some good bands, but some of these bands on the tour have no business being there. And speaking of business, what gives with Target of all companies sponsoring the tour? I don't think I've ever seen a spiked bracelet or bondage pants there, but maybe this is a new market they're trying to tap into. But I digress. The Warped Tour has been getting more lackluster every year, although it seems like they're at least trying to get back on track. I wish them best of luck, and even though I'm sure I'll bitch about the festival next year too, I'll still go for the free stuff, if nothing else.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (June 17, 2006)

Oh, my world. It is ok

Anonymous (June 14, 2002)

remember those bands on 97 that no one really liked. they had like maybe 300 fans in attendance. blink 182 and limp bizkit? i wonder what happened to those bands...

eric2guns (May 18, 2002)

I was at the warped tour and only saw three sets I even enjoyed. I was at the one in Squaw Valley. It was like the fucking dust bowl there. All these lame pop punk bands played. They weren't lame for being pop punk but rather for being Atypical and boring. i got to see Vandals which is always a good show, Kool Keith who fucking rocked it hip hop style (he played shit off Dr. Octagon so of course I was stoked) and then of course Rancid. Rancid played an amazing live show, but only played for so long. It was worth the price of the ticket(oh wait, I got in for free) to see Rancid. It was worth sitting through hours of shitty bands. Warped Tour. Next summer they will be called the "Pepsi presents the Warped Tour" and N'Sync will headline.

punk_kid (August 3, 2001)

i hope furnace fest takes off next year and moves around a little bit so i dont have to make a 20 hour drive to get there.

Anonymous (July 28, 2001)

"To the guy who said that he thought it was funny to see the straight edgers there, why do you like "What Happens Next?" then? You do know they are a Bandana-Thrash Straight Edge band, do you?"

What Happens Next? isn't a straight edge they've even said so themselves, the only member of the band thats is straight edge is Max. "though we are by-and-large "clean" dudes, we are not a "straight-edge" band" direct quote from the band, sorry i just had to clear that up, as for Warped Tour this years pretty much sucked (reasons include Good Charlotte and NFG) compared to 98. Bad Religion played Warped 98, i dont see how anything can top that.

Anonymous (July 26, 2001)

Went to the Cincinatti show. Rancid destroyed everyone by comparison. Pennywise, Vandals, Bouncing Souls, all put on a good show. I give Rancid's performance a 10, but the rest of the tour is pretty lame now.

Anonymous (July 26, 2001)

to the person who mentioned Furnace Fest...sounds like a cool festival, but Im thinking that New Found Glory might not go over so well with some members of the audience...

Anonymous (July 26, 2001)

96, 97 and 98 were the best warped tours...If you want a festival to remember try hellfest...god that was fuckin awesome!!!! worth the 800 miles I drove all the way.

Agreed these years were the best. I have seen Warped every year from 95 to 2000. By far and away 98 was my favorite year. I was going to go to the Houston show last Sunday until I heard it was $27.00. Plus, the only bands I was remotely interested in seeing were AFI, Me First, and H2o (because I heard they were playing a lot of old stuff).

I would have loved to seen Hellfest, if nothing else just for Earth Crisis' last show ever...

Finally, whoever is from Boston, I highly recommend going to that warped show just to see Bigwig and Shutdown.

Anonymous (July 26, 2001)

To the guy who asked if I knew What Happens Next? was sXe: No shit. I like them regardless. I wasn't fucking ripping on sXe, I just thought it was funny that all the different crowds (such as sXe, for example) came out for the Warped Tour, although none of the respective genres were represented on stage. Jeez....

Anonymous (July 26, 2001)

this years warped tour was a change, it came to corpus christi,texas so it saved me a drive to houston or another big city, or atleast i thought i was making a good decision. The highpoint bands were: the vandals,spitvalves,fenix tx, Less than jake,H20,Ataris

Lowpoints: Sum 41 (this was the only band people got into alot, Why??? Because it was a Mtv teeny booper crowd here), Good charlotte, Alien ant farm

AFI is good but they are alot better in a small venue with the right atmosphere, and rancid i like their music but i don't like certain bands members, and matt freeman looked like the lead singer to smash mouth, pretty funny but they were still pretty good

The tour has changed alot, don't know if i'll go back next year...i think i'll just draw the line when i see warped headlined by Kid rock and sponsered by Fubu

Anonymous (July 25, 2001)

To the guy who said that he thought it was funny to see the straight edgers there, why do you like "What Happens Next?" then? You do know they are a Bandana-Thrash Straight Edge band, do you?

punk_kid (July 24, 2001)

k nevermind i see

punk_kid (July 24, 2001)

dude u have to start yer picture thingys with src=

yeah so anyways warped sucks. i mean its a great idea. it used to be good but now it just isnt. 'furnace fest' looks amazing, 60 bands, 3 days, its like the woodstock of punk too bad its so fuckin far away. most of the people that go there are just assholes who are their to see whatever band they heard on th eradio or saw on tv. fuck them.

hitxmiss (July 24, 2001)

I haven't been to Warped Tour yet (as it doesn't come to Boston until early August) but I don't like what I'm hearing. Maybe it's because I don't care about "corporate sponsorship" being there or how "punk rock" the bands playing are. I'm just stoked that I can pay $26 (or is it closer to $30, now?) and see Me First & the Gimme Gimmes, Rancid, Alien Ant Farm, the Ataris, the Bouncing Souls, Less Than Jake, the Vandals, Grand Theft Audio, No Motiv, the Dropkick Murphys, and Pennywise. And I cannot wait. Really. Who cares if it's not "punk?" It's still rock n' roll.

Anonymous (July 24, 2001)

I attended the tour in Cincy too, and I thought it pretty well sucked. $7 a beer and you had to stand in this small square they laughably called a beer garden, with hardly any chairs and no shade to escape the sun. $3 for a bottle of water, and you got harassed by the vendors for a tip. No vegetarian food, at all (very punk rock). Most of the people behind the counters at the record label booths were total assholes and seemed very unhappy to be there, and reasonably unwilling to provide any assistance AT ALL. I think the Anti-Racism booth offered the most "punk" merchandise, literature/videos, etc., that was a positive. Musically, the high points: The Business, Rancid, AFI, Alien Ant Farm (I'm serious), and H20 and Less Than Jake were decent. The low points: Everything else. It was funny to see all the crusties walking around with the Crass patches and shit, I just kept wondering: what the fuck are they doing here, the same thoughts when I saw the reasonably large sXe crowd, neither one of those genres were represented there at all. The biggest cross-section of people there were the "college guy with the hottie girlfriend/tough guy posturing, when does Limp Bizkit play?" folks. I hate to sound so negative, but the whole experience left a really bad taste in my mouth, and a REALLY severe sun burn on my face. Let me say hello to the very few people I saw with What Happens Next?, Lifes Halt, and Hellnation shirts, I was the guy with the 625 Thrashcore shirt that was sweating a lot. Regardless, overall, I would probably recommend going to the Warped Tour because (at least in my part of the country) its really the only time we'll see anything remotely considered punk, most bands tend to skip Cincinnati (I don't blame them). I really liked The Business constantly making sheep noises on stage, afterall, the show was technically in Kentucky. Anyway, thats my take on the whole thing. Overly commercial, and way to watered down.

Anonymous (July 23, 2001)

you forgot the souls, RANCID, and the YOHOO tent which kicked ass b/c i didnt have to buy any water

Anonymous (July 23, 2001)

just a thought on the target thing, i thought that was really wrong for them to be sponsering the tour considering that you can probably only find 311, sum 41, good charolatte, and alien ant farm in the stors, i dont no i havent been in a target for a couple years, im still kicked out of the one here for skateing around in side the store on one of those cheap ass skateboards they sell.

Anonymous (July 23, 2001)

I just saw the tour in cincy. you can read my full review at www.angelfire.com/zine/pacer . but I'll sum it up for ya. Me first, h20, the souls, and LTJ, were easily the best, Ataris and vandals rocked too. Kool keith, good charolotte, and 311 were terrible. AFI's guitar sounded like shit, Rancid played the same set list as when i saw em three years ago, and fenix tx were suprisingly ok. midtown was rockin too.i got really sunburned and a backpack full of free stuff. warped rocked- fathead

flanders (July 23, 2001)

what about rancid,AFI,and the bouncing souls?

Anonymous (July 23, 2001)

what about rancid? pennywise? bouncing souls?

coldjuly (July 23, 2001)

96, 97 and 98 were the best warped tours...If you want a festival to remember try hellfest...god that was fuckin awesome!!!! worth the 800 miles I drove all the way.

guitarer1c2 (July 22, 2001)

I've only attended two Warped Tours so far (this year and last year) and I'd have to say that this years was far better. Even though last year had NOFX, this year had LTJ, Rancid, the Ataris, Me First, and tons of other awesome bands. The only thing that sucked about this year's tour was the fact that the venue changed from the Metrodome (in Minneapolis), to Float-Rite park (in nearby Somerset). Float-Rite is nothing but a fucking dirt bowl so you can probably understand why it kinda sucked.

Anonymous (July 22, 2001)

The Circle Jerks were supposed to headline this year, that would've been great, especially with Rollins band there too. But I guess I'll see them on their club tour.

Go support the jerks.

Anonymous (July 22, 2001)

You were right when you said 98 was the peak year for Warped. I wish they'd make a bill like that again. 97 wasn't too bad either.

Anonymous (July 22, 2001)

decent review
my only comments are y didn't you see rancid?

Anonymous (July 22, 2001)

Too bad the Warped Tour does not come to the East of Canada, ah wel, the line up is alright, not as great as other years, but he best band on it by far is The Ataris!

Anonymous (July 22, 2001)

Cool review. I'm going to the one in orlando this week. I have to agree with you there are a lot of bands there this year that don't have their place. What's up with Kool Keith and D12 being on the tour? I hope they leave those fuckers off next yeat, I remember in miami in 99 when eminem was booed after two songs. Anyways i think most of the bands are still cool, cool attractions, and stands for pacsun and and vans, may make it more commercial, but it's cool to shop around there, gives it an outside mall type feel( and the prices are lower too). Oh well thats it.