Hardcore Hartford?
The insurance capitol of the world got a little crazy on Sunday July 17 when the traveling summer camp known as Warped Tour hauled in to town.
Reportedly (by Mike Hranica of The Devil Wears Prada) This sleepy city was the first stop in Warped history to sell out. I can tell you it was packed, it was hot and it was dusty. Getting there early to take in the parking lot festivities clearly missing was the out of venue bands. In the past there were 2 or 3 bands who would play outside the gates to entertain the hordes as they waited to enter.
This year was a bit chaotic as there seemed to be a bracelet for every facet of fan.
Early entry, backstage, staff, catering , VIP everyone had something on Tyvak strapped to their wrists, like a hospital ward,only more fun
Our wrists were adorned with the press/publicity bracelet. This gave us backstage interview access and photo pass into the barricades. That perk alone is priceless as you’ll see in coming days as we show you some amazing images from the bands we were able to catch.
No matter what your bracelet may say there is one thing about Warped that is always the same. The incredible diversity of the bands and of the fans who are there ready to see them.
I would love a fluke cold snap to come through one year though, the sun was relentless and I found myself behaving as everyone’s Warped Mom, blasting kids with sunscreen as they paused. Staying hydrated was virtually impossible and at each turn you’d see the casualties as kids simply collapsed to the ground. A battalion of police and ambulances were on the ready for just this purpose.
You would think this environment would foster some angst. I can tell you that this was by far the most harmonious tour I have ever seen. Run with precision and on time I saw no glitch. I’m sure there were some, but to my eye none at all, and that's what matters.
Over the course of the next few days we will be sharing with you interviews from bands you have never heard of and other bands you can’t hear enough about. From The Devil Wears Prada To Stephen Jerzak and some new guys in between including Britains own Asking Alexandria. It was a great day filled with amazing images and experiences.
One unifying factor within the entire Warped Experience is that everyone who participates is forever changed by it. Some claim this years line up was lame, it was certainly more diverse bringing bands like Attack Attack together with Paramore, but that’s the beauty of it all. Rapper MC Lars wandered around others stayed in hiding. At every turn in the venue were kids and bands interacting either at official 'signings' or at impromptu meet ups.
Everyone came out of there filthy exhausted and fulfilled- in one way or another.