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Ska, hardcore bands
abundant at 'Warped'*
By Colin Bartos version of Ben E. King's "Stand By
Daily Arts Writer Me." About 50 kids in the crowd joined
Nowadays there are a million sum- the band on stage for the encore "Bro
mer festivals to choose from. There are Hymn," a tribute to the late Pennywise
always the sucky radio festivals with guitarist Jason Thirsk.
your favorite ho-hum alternative bands, The biggest bands at the festival, the
the chick festival, and that festival that Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Soci*
the remaining ghosts of the Grateful Distortion and the Descendents, all put
Dead host. Then we have H.O.R.D.E. (I in solid, straightforward performances.
mean, BORED), and Lollapalooza, Traditional ska band Hepcat was a sur-
which at one time used to showcase prise hit on the second stage, as was the
good bands, as well as many others. second stage closer, the amazingly orig-
That's all fine and good, but for a real inal swing band, the Royal Crown
festival with a variety of great bands, Revue.
cool fans, and Pop-skasters
amazing extracur- Reel Big Fish
riculars, the REV I E W seem to get more
Warped Tour is all The Warped and more popular
you need. TOU '97 every time the*
Here's the sce- -u come to town,
nario: some 20- Pine Knob Music Theatre and put in a fun
plus bands on four July 23, 1997 and energetic per-
stages played seven formance. The
hours of music. A small stage in the real stars of the show, though, were
corner of the Knob housed local talent. hometown boys the Suicide
For those in the know, Detroit has an Machines.
amazing underground punk and ska The Machines came out to a packed
scene, and the stage showcased some area and proceeded to rip through its
of those bands, including Telegraph set with a ferocity that no other band~
and Mog. could muster. With Vinnie fron
A second stage drew smaller crowds. Sponge looking on in the background,
311 wannabes Sugar Ray played here, the band felt more than at home and
as well as hardcore heroes Sick Of It gave the Detroiters a show to remem-
All and Fat Wreck Chords' punk dar- ber. A lot of the crowd sang along to
lings Lagwagon. the hyper punk-ska anthems "Break
The more popular bands played on The Glass," "No Face," "So Long,"
the other two stages: one in the pavilion "Hey," Minor Threat's "I Don't Wanna
area, and the other near the parking lot, Hear It" and others. It didn't matter if
in the shady, wooded area. The first the biggest band in the world was
band to really get the crowd hyped up there that day - the Machines had it
on the main stage was the Bouncing all.
Souls. If you had time to catch all of your
The group's contagious, goofy stage favorite bands and had time left over,
antics and infectious East Coast punk which I highly doubt, there was plenty
sing-alongs had the crowd singing and more to see. Skaters and BMXers were
dancing. Songs like "I Like Your putting on shows on the street course
Mom;' "Quotes From Our Favorite and half-pipe all day, and tents with
'80s Movies" merchandise for
and "Here We every band, as
Go" went over The best part of well as Epitaph
great, and Records, Vans
showed the the show was that Yaga and othert
band was just lined the parking
having a hell of there were so lot.
a lot of fun. The best part
"It's like sum- many styles o of the show,
mer camp,' music to behold though, was the
said lead singer - fact that there
Greg Attonito. were so many
Once the festival kicked in, it was styles of music to behold. Pennywise
quite hard to get around and see exact- offered SoCal hyper-punk; Social D put
ly everything you wanted to see. The on the rock-star show; Sick Of It All
bands went on in sequence right after covered hardcore; the Suicid
each other on different stages, so your Machines ruled the punk-ska circui
running around to catch all the acts was Hepeat played traditional ska; Royal
just as frantic as the music playing in Crown Revue introduced us to swing;
the background. It was impossible to Blink-182 offered pop; and the others
catch every band's entire set, but there fell somewhere in between. Variety is
were a lot of highlights spread through- what set this festival apart.
out. Overall, the day kicked your ass, but
Hardcore punk band H20 was solid, what you got for 13 measly bucks was
getting credit for best cover of the day a bunch of amazing, heartfelt fun
with U2's "With Or Without You." Last bands, sun, and an education in real
year's headliners Pennywise ripped it alternative music. Forget Bush an6
up yet again, playing some songs from those other electronica bands. This i
its new album "Full Circle," as well as where it's at, and the Warped Tour
plenty sof old favoriteslike "Perfeet proved it.you'd bea f w o missit ext
People, "Unknown Road" srid a hyper - years ' . = : t - -_ ;.

Artificial Joy Club
Melt
Cnen sh/Iterssp.
So, If you're In Canada,
doyo sON ce It Candea n becon?
Anywho, these posticler Canodle s
offer up a od, melodIc sewed
spriuled .1a1, pop aft
observedioes. OCechout
"Sick end Seeutfl."
R's fun, oh. By the way,
thed be back bons.

Fo1 lo i n r o c tl8Sle ends August 4,1997.
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