MUSIC: My Vans Warped Tour experience.

Nat of Blacklist Royals performs at Vans Warped Tour 2009 at the Central Florida Fairgrounds. (Credit: Miriphoto)

The Vans Warped Tour rolled through Orlando yesterday and I, for the first time ever, decided to check it out. I probably should have done this back in 1995 when Vans first started sponsoring tours and I was of an age that this type of showcase is geared toward. Oh, well. Now is always better than never.

Approximately 73 bands performed on the seven stages set up across the Central Florida Fairgrounds. The place looked like a “Vendor City” with stages tucked into pockets amongst merchants hocking wares like CD’s, sunglasses, hats, belts, shirts and everything else the kiddies would need to make their personal statements. Oddly, there were no trash cans in this “city” and the ground was covered in plastic water bottles, smashed French fries, abandoned flip flops, and heat-stroking teens.

As a photographer, I can tell you that my job is exciting and privileged in the sense that I get to the watch the show [for free!] barricaded off from the writhing, sweating, pushing, punching and sometimes oozing general public, and within arms reach of these god-like rock and roll megaliths of iconic society. Of the 73 performances that day, I managed to check out 13. Every one of bands had a member who was compelled to spit, either lung-butter or water from their Monster cans, and shake body sweat onto the audience. The audience, in turn, was compelled to show gratitude for such gifts by spitting or hurling water back at the bands, and sometimes their own bodies came over the barricades as well. Lucky me, positioned in between, was the reluctant recipient of all this love as I struggled to protect my equipment. Did I mention I see these shows for free? Alas, nothing truly is. At least I do get paid to be there, but I’m starting to think it’s not nearly enough.

But this is really about the music, no? Overall, I was extremely impressed by how seamless this whole event went down. Like clockwork, bands rotated on and off the stages throughout the day. There was always something to be heard and seen and never a dull moment. Of the bands I did get to see, Blacklist Royals from Nashville, TN appealed most to this old girl’s sensibilities with their well crafted, good old fashioned – or if it sounds cooler – Retro Punk rock sound. Front man Nat had the coolest tattoos on his right arm that consisted of a series of female names (former lovers? retired guitars?) inked in then crossed out down his arm. Bootsie is the currently lucky lady. You can check them out at http://www.myspace.com/blacklistroyals.

To see the entire line-up of bands, go to the Vans Warped Tour website where lots of golden nuggets await to be discovered.