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The day dawned hot and sticky as it usually does mid-summer in the south as I packed up a couple of friends and made the two-hour drive to Jacksonville from Savannah.

Gates opened about 12:30 and the first band to hit the main stage was Aiden. Supposedly they are going to be the next big thing, but I didn’t really feel it. I got a Davey Havok vibe from the lead singer as he was wearing a long-sleeved mesh T-shirt and long black hair. Some of the crowd was actually into the band despite the horrible barrier set up at Metco Park.

First of all, the barrier was a good 30-40 feet from the stage and in between the two main stages it jutted out another 10-15 feet so nobody could get anywhere near the stage. Pretty much each band mentioned this during their set at some point.

Bad

  • NOFX: Sorry, but they spent the first five minutes teasing the crowd with playing the entire “The Decline,” and then another five minutes shooting the breeze. The only songs I could pick out (of the four or five they actually played) was “Bob” and “The Brews.” The only thing that saved them was letting some kid propose to his girlfriend.
  • ZOX: They might have ended up at the wrong concert for all I know. These guys have a violin, Yellowcard has a violin. I hate Yellowcard, I hate Zox. They should have played a cover of "Margaritaville" while I sipped a daiquiri, unfortunately I don’t drink those and it was Warped Tour.
  • Every Time I Die: The singer had white boots on, but I wasn’t feeling their type of music.
  • Motion City Soundtrack: I liked the energy on their first album, however that energy did not translate into stage presence and they were sloppy as hell. Among other songs, they played "Capital H," "Make Out Kids," "Lg Fuad" and "The Future Freaks Me Out."
  • Saves the Day: One song off of Through Being Cool!…ONE ("Rocks Tonic Juice Magic")!!! They played “At Your Funeral” and “Firefly” and some other crap. The only thing that saved them was their bass player looking like Kumar, especially when Kumar was in "Van Wilder" and he talks about parking the porpoise. I laughed out loud at that point.
Meh…
  • Bouncing Souls: I wanted to like them more. I love their albums. Maybe it was too hot, maybe they were too tired, I don’t know, but at least their lead singer got in the crowd some. Played “Hopeless Romantic,” “True Believers” and “Sing Along Forever.”
  • Joan Jett and the Blackhearts: Well, she works out a lot, and almost had a wardrobe malfunction which would have put her in the “Sweet” category, but there wasn’t a lot of energy. I did pick up “Bad Reputation” and “I Love Rock and Roll,” however, my hopes were immediately crushed as it was pointed out that most of the (kids) there probably knew the song because Britney Spears covered it.
  • Less Than Jake: Not enough songs off of Hello Rockview. They played the "Gainsville Rock City" song and maybe one other one. Two songs off of Anthem. A couple of songs off their new record, which meant no horns (bad) but at least the horn guys shot T-shirts and toilet paper with huge leaf blowers into the crowd. The thing that saved them was crowd participation, seeing as how this was pretty much a hometown show for them.
  • Senses Fail: I only knew the Bon Jovi song ("shot through my heart"), but they had some good energy and the lead singer got the crowd worked up, so good for them.
  • Thursday: They played a great set, good stage presence. I haven’t picked up A City by the Light Divided so I didn’t know many of the songs, but they played “Understanding in a Car Crash” and a couple other songs off War All the Time. The best part however, was when they told the crowd to go home and download all their music because music should be universal like water and air.
Sweet!
  • The Causalities: I miss pretty mohawks and the lead singer looks like he stole part of Shane McGowan’s dental work, but but they were amazing. The only song I could pick out was “Tomorrow Belongs to Us.” I wish more of the “let me swing my microphone in around a bunch and wear mascara” crowd would watch and learn from these guys.
  • Anti-Flag: All I really picked out was “Rank and File,” but they had a ton of energy, crowd participation and stopped their set mid-song to tell the security guards to take it easy on a kid; they then used the averted violence to show how easy it is to talk through problems and how maybe our leaders should pay attention to that.
  • Rise Against: They played toward the end of the day but had tons of energy, and were one of the top three bands as far as getting the crowd into it. They started out with “State of the Union” and the “Black Masks and Gasoline” from Revolutions Per Minute. Most of the stuff was from Siren Song of the Counter Culture. They closed with “Give It All” (big surprise). I wanted to hear some stuff from The Unraveling, but sadly nothing was played.
  • Underoath: I’ve never heard one of their songs, couldn’t tell you what label they are on, but they closed out the show and did a FANTASTIC job. Great energy, I mean they must have been drinking Red Balls (I don’t know if I told you this Joe Roggin, but I smoke rocks). The crowd was going nuts. They did their little thing at the end where they say they rock for God, but if Anti-Flag can talk about militaryfreezone.org and anybody else can talk about their new album, then God bless ‘em talk about rocking for God. Didn’t bother me.
  • Against Me!: Okay, I saved the best band for last. I was a little leery about them playing Warped Tour instead of basements and bookstores across America, but they were the gold standard of how a band should play Warped. They came out and immediately went into “Pints of Guinness Make You Strong.” They did not say one single word. They didn’t say who they were or where they were from. They just rocked. Their entire set! I can’t remember the order of all the songs (and they played two songs I didn’t know, new album?) but they played “Reinventing Axl Rose,” “Problems,” “From Her Lips to God’s Ear (The Energizer),” “Don’t Lose Touch,” “Rice and Bread,” “Baby, I’m An Anarchist,” and then closed with “We Laugh at Danger (And Break All the Rules).” They rocked me so hard my ears still hurt and I still have trouble singing, and it's been a couple of days
So it was a great day. I brought food and water and had no problem from anybody. Just don’t wear flipflops or some crusty old punks will step on your feet.



People who liked this also liked:
Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge TherapyFive Iron Frenzy - Our Newest Album EverRise Against - The Sufferer & the WitnessRyan's Hope - The Trials Of RecessionCatch 22 - Permanent RevolutionBlink 182 - Cheshire CatJohnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes AroundRise Against - Revolutions Per MinuteThe Clash - London CallingAgainst Me! - is Reinventing Axl Rose



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    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 7:48 PM (EDT)

    hater.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 7:48 PM (EDT)

    f off. saves the day has been around for a long time so give some respect & nofx wasnt bad. ur lame. go die.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 7:47 PM (EDT)

    whats wrong with playing the violon? what can u do? & why did u go to warped? ur strange

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 7:44 PM (EDT)

    what bands do you like? u sound real picky, are u a female, cause you also sound like a lil Bit*h

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 7:42 PM (EDT)

    ok first of all.. why do u even work for PUNK news, cuz like every review i read, ur dissing almost every band, & half the bands u diss r actually good, like saves the day. 2nd: " bon jovi does say "shot through the heart" but that song was redone by atreyu " you give love a bad name", & just cause one eight seven says "one gaping hole shot through my heart" doesnt make it a bon jovi song.oh they quoted like 5 words, anyone can say that, i suggest u dont go to warped tour or any tour that consist of rock/alternative/indie/punk or ska cuz u just diss everyband, i think your a little jealous, can u sing? play guitar? drums? or even get as many girls as these band mates, or even party like them? nooo i dont think so, so stop while ur ahead & go get another job.

    Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2006-07-03 15:30:51

    hahaha if you expected NOFX to give a flying fuck about their set at Warped Tour, then you know nothing about them

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 3, 2006 at 1:17 PM (EDT)

    probably the worst tour on the fucking planet, next year i'm going to Ozz Fest.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 3, 2006 at 1:14 PM (EDT)

    ETID brought the fuckin stage down with their southern rock meets metal mix, and the good part was they just played kick ass music, and they didn't waste my time by talking about punk politics like anti flag. i go to rock shows hear music not some shitty punk band whine about the war

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 2, 2006 at 5:32 PM (EDT)

    "question: did Against Me! manage to get through "Reinventing Axl Rose" without laughing?"

    HAR HAR HAR HAR

    Reinventing is an idealistic song. It was never about themselves. I still don't see how it's betrayed. If Tom felt that he has compromised himself I believe that he'd stop playing that song.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 2, 2006 at 2:12 PM (EDT)

    horrible horrible horrible review...this guy has got to go

    Posted by joeg on 2006-07-02 12:59:20

    Think like George Costanza next time you write a review. Whatever instinct tells you to jot down a Bon Jovi line, don't do it. Remember, this isn't a myspace journal entry, you've got many many people reading this so give some more effort and thought next time.

    Posted by Scruffy on 2006-07-02 12:15:38

    Two points, though they've probably been made already:

    1) Stop putting pop culture references in parentheses like we're your friends drinking on a couch and laughing because we've all seen that episode of Chappelle's Show, like, 20 times. And, if you're going to, spell Joe Rogan's name correctly.

    2 "I wish more of the “let me swing my microphone in around a bunch and wear mascara” crowd would watch and learn from these guys."

    You do realize that he Casualties audience is just as laughable as the MCR/TBS audience. MCR wears makeup and sings about vampires for no reason. The Casualties spend twice as much time on their hair as MCR ever does on makeup and sings about politics they obviously don't understand. Both are laughable bastardizations of honest, intelligent punk rock. One is not better than the other.

    Posted by fritobandito on 2006-07-02 05:07:24

    question: did Against Me! manage to get through "Reinventing Axl Rose" without laughing?

    Posted by rkl on 2006-07-02 04:19:10

    he Casulties like the warped tour because 14 year old girls are at the warped tour.

    ...just saying.

    ...

    i thought 14 y/o girls were more into screamo bullshit than oi.
    just sayin'...

    the last warped i went to was in 2001 or 2002. i didnt know who the casualties were, they were playing 4th stage, right by the midget wrestling. but they put on the best set there. only 15 people, but all of us were moshing. not ninjakick nosense, but a true pit, no punches thrown, people picking you up when you fall. ive never been into them recorded fan(id rather just listen to the exploited), but that was one of the best performaces ive seen at warped.

    Posted by guitarer1c2 on 2006-07-01 23:34:22

    I wonder what kind of "punk" this guy likes?

    Posted by swank on 2006-07-01 16:19:00

    The Casulties like the warped tour because 14 year old girls are at the warped tour.

    ...just saying.

    ps. I love NOFX going out and talking. It's hilarious. People get so pissed.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 4:16 PM (EDT)

    When I went in Kansas all NOFX played was songs from Punk in Drublic, they got all but 2 or 3 in.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 1:14 PM (EDT)

    Oh, and I'm no grammar nazi, but if you're going to say shit like this:
    "incorrectly quoting words to a well known song wrong"

    then there's no way in hell you can insult anyone else's level of intelligence.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 1:09 PM (EDT)

    I don't know if the guy a few posts below this realises it or not, but he's getting angry that someone misquoted a fucking BON JOVI lyric on PUNKnews. Bon Jovi blows, who the hell cares if someone gets his lyrics wrong? Who the fuck are you? Denise Richards?

    Posted by rkl on 2006-07-01 12:11:53
    My Score:

    haha, crust punks at warped?

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2006-07-01 11:30:11

    Absolutely loved the review, dude. Go to every Warped Tour show and do the same thing. Let me live vicariously through your reviews because I can't stand 8 hours in the hot sun with 45-minute lines for $5 water while inevitably 3 of the 8 bands I really went to see are playing on different stages at the same time and somehow, thousands of the stupidest, most annoying kids in the world all managed to converge in Detroit on the same day.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 10:22 AM (EDT)

    Good Review! Don't diss the Souls they're the best band around.

    Posted by kevin__lyman on 2006-07-01 06:52:25
    My Score:

    Great review. I like how you show that there's something for everyone here. Make sure to check it out when we come through your town!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 3:29 AM (EDT)

    "shot through my heart"
    im pretty sure jon bon jovi has never uttered those words.
    hahaha,dumbass.

    'right... technically, bon jovi sang "shot through the heart" (and you're to blame / you give love a bad name).. you little semantic fucker. everyone knew what he was talking about.'

    well if you find nothing wrong with incorrectly quoting words to a well known song wrong, then you are just as retarded as the kid that posted this shit parade of a review.

    wait, you are just as retarded as the review. get aids dipshit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 1:45 AM (EDT)

    Terrible reviews of the reviewers review. Not the best I'd admit, but not that bad either. Give him a break.

    ...evildeadalive

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at 1:07 AM (EDT)

    there was more than just a few main stages... you missed out on some other quality bands on the smaller stages like the ernie ball and the vagrant stage....

    Posted by punkake2002 on 2006-06-30 23:58:10

    So, NOFX played the ENTIRE The Decline in only 5 minutes??? That doesnt make eny sanse. Terrible review.

    Posted by thisisphillynotla on 2006-06-30 18:10:55
    My Score:

    What a bad review.

    Posted by feeeding5000 on 2006-06-30 17:54:03

    If there were crusty punks there, then it wasn't the warped tour. Warped exemplifies everything wrong with modern punk. The corporate sponsorship, the compromised politics, the watered-down music, and the record labels run like big business. An embarassment to everything I feel that punk is about. Three or four years ago, I would have thought that the line-up was "sweet", but now it's just disgusting.

    Posted by miniblindbandit on 2006-06-30 17:19:37

    The Causalities? ha ha Did Aristotle come back from the dead and start a band?

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-06-30 15:50:48

    Guiness in a frosty mug? Gross.

    Room temperature dude, room temperature...

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 3:34 PM (EDT)

    " Well, she works out a lot, and almost had a wardrobe malfunction which would have put her in the “Sweet” category"

    You lost me right there.

    Posted by dietcokeofpunk on 2006-06-30 15:22:35

    these theives, these theives, in their flip flops and bro attitudes, are the very reason we do what we do

    mmm....the larry arms are like a pint of guiness, in a frosty mug, while bbq-ing some steak

    Posted by jacknife737 on 2006-06-30 14:37:18

    Seems as if this reviewer, wasn't really listening too the music, as there were a lot of "the only song i could pick out was"..like fuck man.

    Posted by coffinfullofnails on 2006-06-30 14:30:29

    these theives, these theives, in their flip flops and bro attitudes, are the very reason we do what we do.

    Posted by flahflahflah on 2006-06-30 14:24:32

    Seems to me that the reviewer didn't just "pick out" one song of each set. These comments are a little harsh for his first review

    Posted by blaubs21 on 2006-06-30 14:23:42

    that sucks about MCS. they honestly sounded the best I had ever heard them at Warped in Milwaukee.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 2:21 PM (EDT)

    It sucks the reviewer could only "pick out" one song from each set.

    Posted by sfbarker on 2006-06-30 14:20:18

    I will give Against Me! props for playing a REAL set on the tour...everyone only plays their new albums on the tour...anyone seen what Helmet has been doing? If they haven't played Unsung, death should be dealt to all in the band. That is all.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 2:12 PM (EDT)

    "shot through my heart"
    im pretty sure jon bon jovi has never uttered those words.
    hahaha,dumbass.

    right... technically, bon jovi sang "shot through the heart" (and you're to blame / you give love a bad name).. you little semantic fucker. everyone knew what he was talking about.

    Posted by flahflahflah on 2006-06-30 13:49:16

    Good thing you're not a real journalist

    Posted by welcome_to_1984 on 2006-06-30 13:48:20

    I liked a lot of the bands but I was hoping I'd hear more songs I was familiar with. Just a personal preference.

    Posted by welcome_to_1984 on 2006-06-30 13:47:15

    Actually I don't really like the Casualities album-wise (yeah my spelling sucks) but they played great live, same with Underoath. They put on an amazing show. I hadn't seen a show in two years so my review was flawed, granted, but I do love the Souls, but I was mainly there for Against Me! and Rise Against. Once again sorry for the sub-par review.

    Posted by skaboom on 2006-06-30 13:06:54

    Nothing wrong with the review itself, but I think you're visiting the wrong site with that taste in music. It is entirely impossible to think Bouncing Souls and Less Than Jake are "meh" live while Casualties and Underoath are good.

    Posted by colin on 2006-06-30 12:54:02

    where were all these people in savannah when i lived there for four years? geesh.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 12:09 PM (EDT)

    review was fine but maybe you should get to know the bands a little bit better if you are going to write a review. Still not a bad first effort and I did like the format.

    Frankthep

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 12:08 PM (EDT)

    wank, lame

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 12:06 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I don't think your review sucked. I agree with your choice in music. However I am a sucker for guys who wear chucks and listen to Against Me. Too bad I'm married to the hottest punk in Savannah otherwise I might search you out. And stop saying Hot as Balls....lame

    Posted by crackpotdemagogue on 2006-06-30 11:22:33
    My Score:

    The Warped tour can fuck off, and so can Against Me!

    I can't believe you listed 'The Casualties' as a highlight. That band are possibly the stupidist band (lyrically) on the fucking planet....So the score is for your Casualties and AM! Support.

    Posted by FatTony on 2006-06-30 10:46:54
    My Score:

    Constructive critcism? Ok, well I liked the organization of the review, but there were a few factual errors in there (such as songs that you think are on albums they aren't really on). Or maybe you just didn't write clearly. Either way, that's one of the major pitfalls of this review. It's hard to take you seriously if you pretend like you know shit you don't know.

    Also, never EVER under any circumstances put a Chappelle's Show reference in your review. And you had two! If it'd just been the Red Balls remark, I might have let it slide, but you had to follow it up.

    Posted by colin on 2006-06-30 10:45:27

    i'm really not sure why everyone is bashing this review. punknews averages about 8 or 10 warped reviews per year and usually they're all horrible, and much worse than this i might add. listing the bands in order of suck to great, keeping it short yet informative for such a large amount of information... and it's the reviewers first review?

    really, you all are being pretty harsh. it isn't that bad of a review.

    also, that drive from savannah to jacksonville is a total bitch in the heat.

    Posted by dietcokeofpunk on 2006-06-30 10:36:10

    your wrong about zox, they don't play the violin like yellowcard, their music is more akin to sublime.

    and i don't care what anyone says, the casualties are awesome live.

    Posted by welcome_to_1984 on 2006-06-30 10:06:38

    Constructive criticism? This is my first music review, I did bring paper or my voice recorder and it was hot as balls at the show... enough excuses. Rather than telling me how this sucked tell me what would make it better. Deal?

    Posted by welcome_to_1984 on 2006-06-30 10:01:33

    I did wear chucks, there were a bunch of kids in flip flops, I was the one stepping on their feet.

    Posted by kirbypuckett on 2006-06-30 09:50:51

    Just don’t wear flipflops or some crusty old punks will step on your feet.

    Maybe you would have had more fun if you wore the punx uniform.

    Chucks only.

    Duh.

    - Kirby

    Posted by Jello-core on 2006-06-30 09:41:50

    Warped tour sucks and so does this review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 9:37 AM (EDT)

    What, you expected NOFX to bother with playing songs? Dude, NOFX could go on stage at warped tour and drunkenly eat a burrito for 30 minutes and they would still sell more merch in one day than most DIY bands do on entire tours.

    -Ken

    Posted by kingofsuck on 2006-06-30 04:24:12

    So, umm, here's the review I submitted:

    http://www.last.fm/user/jordan_27/journal/2006/06/3 0/168587/

    I didn't say the Casualties or Underoath were "sweet!" Sorry.

    Posted by socrates on 2006-06-30 03:56:54

    bad review, dude.

    Posted by etwiels88 on 2006-06-30 03:24:17
    My Score:

    HAHAHAHHAA, DUDE BELOW ME IS FUCKING HILARIOUS AHDOJASFHKSDJBCKJSDNVH*ERTU)GFI

    But seriously, you might want to proof-read. I'm pretty stoked for Warped Tour this year actually. Last year was shitty.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 2:53 AM (EDT)

    "Senses Fail: I only knew the Bon Jovi song ("shot through my heart"), but they had some good energy and the lead singer got the crowd worked up, so good for them."

    "shot through my heart"
    im pretty sure jon bon jovi has never uttered those words.
    hahaha,dumbass.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 2:51 AM (EDT)

    worst fucking "review" ive ever read.
    seriously get this retard out of here.

    in summary, baaaaaaaaaaad reviewer.
    never again.

    you like underoath....
    and to write a band off,like zox, because of a violin is ridiculous.
    up the punx,right?
    asshole.

    -bryan styles

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 2:49 AM (EDT)

    holy shit! baby i'm an anarchist! never seen it played live before and i really hope they play it in los angeles! I dont think it's hypocritical playing that at all considering it is and always has been a tongue and cheek song.

    Posted by theOneTrueBill on 2006-06-30 02:38:08

    This is weird. You actually like a very wide cross section of the bands they had. Whenever I went it was for a specific section or genre and ignored 70% of the total lineup.

    Posted by fistchode on 2006-06-30 02:22:06

    I've read way shittier Warped Tour reviews.

    This one was decent. It's awesome that Against Me! didn't talk once during their set, and just rocked.

    Posted by Archangel on 2006-06-30 02:09:21
    My Score:

    Anti-Flag and Underoath were Sweet!, but Every Time I Die was bad? I'm sorry for you.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 1:48 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    this review is horrible. the star is for the 97 warped tour which will never be topped.

    Posted by MrStylson on 2006-06-30 01:27:06

    Trying to be nice, but this was a pretty crappy review.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 1:23 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Shitty review. And if Against Me! didn't play 'Those Anarcho Punks Are Mysterious', there should've been mass murder.

    -opivy

    Posted by kingofsuck on 2006-06-30 01:01:30

    This review over mine? Mine was better. Maybe I'm just biased since I wrote it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 30, 2006 at 1:00 AM (EDT)

    someone still bothers to go to warped tour?
    They started sucking in 2000.

    Posted by pdlawry on 2006-06-30 00:59:12

    is this review a joke? what the hell?

    Posted by colin on 2006-06-30 00:57:56

    baby i'm an anarchist at warped tour.

    either way, with from first to last gone, i might have to see this.

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