What a scorcher of a day! The return of the Vans Warped Tour to Melbourne was met with exhausting temperatures, sunburnt bodies, and a stellar line-up of bands from the punk and hardcore ilk.
Whether you were enjoying the infectious melodies of Man Overboard or the intensity of Hatebreed, there was definitely something for everyone.
Reel Big Fish got the good fun party times going with their ska-punk tones, while pop-punk stalwarts New Found Glory treated us all by playing their breakthrough album Sticks And Stones in its entirety. Each song was played to a highly receptive crowd, and the tunes slapped smiles across the happy faces in the audience. You couldn’t help but enjoy it.
When it came to the heavier side of things, Confession, Hatebreed, and The Amity Affliction gave the crowd everything they had. Each group powered through their heavy riffs and pounding drums, sparing no ears from the damaging volumes that rang from the stage.
Millencolin were at the top of their game playing note-perfect songs filled with catchy choruses and witty lyrics. Their performance at Vans Warped went down a storm, giving the punters not only a set packed with classics but also a very special treat. Pro-skating legend Steve Caballero not only thrilled the festival goers with his mad skating skills and insane ramp tricks throughout the day, but he also found the time to join the Swedish pop-punkers on stage for a roaring rendition of ‘Kemp’, proving that he is not only a fine skateboarder but a bitchin’ bassist as well.
Aussie metal legends Parkway Drive took to the stage with punishing riffs and a scream from hell. They tore through their set and had their loyal followers giving just as much energy back as what came from the stage. There is a reason why the five-piece have done so well for themselves both here and overseas, and their set at Vans Warped proved just why they are a force to be reckoned with. Severely brutal stuff.
The Offspring returned for their second time in a year and came armed with both new anthems and old classics. They leapt into the thrashing ‘All I Want’ followed by with the instant crowd singalong ‘Bad Habit’ before getting everyone dancing to the groove of ‘Come Out And Play’.
The American punk rockers were on fire, and Dexter Holland’s voice was in fine form as he powered through each song with his signature wail, while guitar slinger Noodles ran around the stage with never-ending energy. Their new songs sounded great, but their classic hits like ‘Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)’ and ‘Why Don’t You Get A Job’ went down a storm.
Considering they didn’t play an encore, it was most surprising that they chose to finish their set with a slow tempo number like ‘Self Esteem’ – but once that chorus hit, it reminded everyone why, almost 20 years on, it remains a solid tune.
Trying to see every band was near impossible and the heat didn’t make it any easier. At times, many people choose to find shade instead of securing a good spot at the front of stage. With little to no undercover or shady areas, you couldn’t blame them.
For those that did brave the heat and decided to mosh it up, Vans Warped Tour 2013 no doubt left a permanent imprint of awesomeness in their minds. The return of the tour came in the form of a decent-sized festival that celebrated a great day of music, extreme sports, and fun in the sun. Hopefully Melbourne will see it return again next year.
