I arrived at the college campus around 10am, prepared for my second ever Warped Tour. Oddly enough, exactly one year to the date as my last venture to Warped Tour. The entrance line was massive, just completely ridiculous-looking. Word was it sold out. Scalpers were taking advantage of this. One dude was selling tickets at twice the face price. I'm not saying Warped Tour isn't worth $60, but come on now.

Security was everywhere, but barely looked at my press wristband as I entered the venue through an entrance near backstage at about 10:30, before gates were to open properly. My guest and I pounced about the compound to find where stages and booths would be located. First on our list: the Undead booth, which is new this year. Free face painting, mostly being dolled out to fans of My Chemical Romance, in an attempt at having a “Tour Of The Undead.” Throughout the day I saw about seven people with the makeup. Sad?

I found InMemory at the shanty Hot Topic Stage. I had not seen this band perform live since 2002, so I was very ready to rock out to them. They were still setting up so it was off for more wandering. Sadly I missed over half their set due to miscalculated wandering time. Only getting to see “Accents Are Overrated” was still better than not seeing anything at all.

I enjoyed Atreyu’s set from the Monster VIP area. In my brain, Monster drinks will forever equal Warped Tour, for the sheer amount I have consumed whilst warping my brain. During Thrice’s set, we figured out that the red things we had gotten free from the Van’s merchandise booth by saying a code word, was in fact, a CAPE! Not to be without the face mask, of course. By Hawthorne Height’s set, I had already sacrificed mine to be used as a protective layer between my denim ass and the highly trashed asphalt. I still have the mask. 'Cause you know, I might want to rob a bank. Thanks Vans?

The Silence was playing when my compadre and I arrived at the Ernie Ball Stage. The lead singer told everyone to get in closer to the barrier. That also amused me that there was a barrier for the little ‘stage.’ They were quite good. Band shirts and belt buckles were tossed into the crowd to entice some crowd reaction. There were maybe four people in the crowd totally grooving to the tunes. I had not heard any of their music enough to know what to expect, but I was entertained.

A Thorn For Every Heart is one band that I do not listen to on any regular basis, yet I find myself thoroughly enjoying their live set time after time. It was completely rocking. All the band members working the stage. Lead singer Kelvin semi-jumping into the crowd proved to be quite fun. They played the Ernie Ball stage, which on further inspection is more of a trailer that opens up to a stage. Genius?

My numero uno ‘want to see band’ for this year’s Warped Tour, like about every other person at Warped Tour, took the stage in the early afternoon. When My Chemical Romance came on stage, the whole crowd went completely crazy. To the tune of the “Star Spangled Banner,” Gerard paced the stage with microphone in hand. Seemingly everyone and their mother (seriously) watched this band. So what if over half of the crowd only knew lyrics to “I’m Not Okay” and “Helena"? The band still rocked the fuck out, and the whole set was simply amazing. I was in pure -ohmygawdit'smyfavoriteband- mode with my dancing shoes on and my snapping fingers going.

Lead singer Gerard Way might have changed his toxicity level since last year but that does not make for one dull live on-stage moment. Posing the question, “Are my pants too tight?!” he followed it with a swiveling of his arse towards the mostly female crowd. The crowd retorted delightfully with a “No!” Another popular comment he tends to make to a crowd is about ‘skeezy rock dudes’ wanting girls to flash their tits to get backstage. As he once said about suicide: don’t do it.

Opened with “Give Em’ Hell Kid.” Threw in “I’m Not Okay,” “Our Lady Of Sorrows,” “Thank You For The Venom,” “To The End,” “You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us In Prison,” “It’s Not A Fashion Statement…” and “Cemetary Drive,” but not necessarily in that order. Ended with “Helena.” I said so long and good night, despite only being 3pm when the band ended.

Hidden In Plain View

I was practically oozing with excitement before this band came on. It was time to rock, and rock we did. Playing only songs off their February release “Life In Dreaming", Hidden In Plain View took the Hurley Stage by storm. Songs played included “In Memory,” “Top 5 Addictions,” “A Minor Detail,” “Ashes, Ashes,” “Garden Statement,” “Bleed For You” and ended with their latest album’s version of “Twenty Below.”

My little time to act like an idiot came when lead singer, Joe Reo, let us know, “This song is about where we come from” and I just had to yell “Garden Statement!” The immediate evil looks from three people bunched against me were surprising. Also surprising: the peanuts hot- glued to various objects comprising the Hurley Stage were still attached. Well, the shells at least.

So here comes ‘holy moley’ like, number 56 of the day. Perusing the tour bus lot simply because I had the present ability to, I returned to slightly outside the compound gates both empty handed and not knowing what to do next. Oh, is that Joe and Spencer from Hidden In Plain View that I spy? Yes, it is. Mike, Chris and Rob are only another ten feet away. Contemplating waiting for their attention from some string beans in short shorts, I recognize someone in my peripheral vision. GERARD-FREAKING-WAY (did I mention this is also ‘time to act like an idiot part 2’?)!

Professionalism aside, I attempt to walk up to him without tripping/throwing up/otherwise making an ass out of myself. He’s talking to some people (read: fans) I had met at past MCR shows, so it was doubly awesome. Waiting our turn patiently, not wanting to be a bother, I glance over to see the HIPV dudes are wandering off. That’s when Gerard starts the conversation. For some reason, I find it awesome that he initiated it. We took pictures and I could not properly speak. It was coming out mumbo-jumbo. He’s so freaking nice. When I think about it, I start grinning like an idiot. Moving on…

Avenged Sevenfold

My first fog machine experience of the day! I like this band but not enough to throw myself into the depths of the mosh. It was quite enjoyable from the photo pit, thank you very much. At one point I was in the direct way of where the slight breeze was bringing the fog. I got a mouth full of it after getting hit in the back from a random person’s random object being randomly thrown. I think it was a shoe, 'cause when I looked down to see what had bounced off me, there were nothing but shoes and empty water bottles. I stuck around for “Chapter Four”, “Unholy Confessions”, and “City of Evil” before hauling ass to Fall Out Boy. Fog tastes nasty, by the way.

Fall Out Boy

The last band to play. Death was upon my body, so despite this being one of my favorite bands, it was hard to get really excited and be part of the huge crowd. I enjoyed what I could and finally just gave up for the day. I promised myself I would watch them at Ventura and Pomona to make up for today’s laze.

After chatting it up with a batch of newly acquired concert friends, my partner in crime and I retired from Warped Tour and were ready to leave Long Beach in the dust.

Now, you would think the story is over, since we are in the car, and in sight of the exit. While in the line to leave the parking lot, Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance was spotted fitness running outside the compound. It was totally the vegetarian icing on my baked-in-the-sun Warped Tour cake!

Review by: Candice