The Warped Experience
basketcase8
Aug 17, 2008
2 days ago was Vans Warped Tour in Mountain View, CA and let me just
say, it may have been one of the best concerts I've experienced.
Everything leading up to the concert, not so much. My car began to
overheat and it had to be towed a mile from the concert.
I meet up with Lauren and Katelyn and we head backstage to put our stuff down and figure out what we wanted to see. The 2 bands I wanted to see the most were first so we headed over to watch The Academy Is... and Cobra Starship in action. During Cobras, I got separated from Lauren and Kate but we met up backstage at the catering area again. I saw Sisky getting some food, but that was the only guy I recognized. We ate pizza again and just chilled out for a bit, as well as play some arcade games.
We left to see Gym Class Heroes and saw the remaining little bit of Angels and Airwaves. GCH were fun as always. They actually covered a metal song which was so wierd but hilarious because Travie was running around with a guitar hero controller and pretending to shred on it.
After that, Lauren wanted to see a band, but I was looking for a certain tent so Kate went with me. We found the tent where there is a bunch of musical instruments set up for anyone to play, so of course I hop on the drums. (I actually ended up playing a little bit of bass and keys, but focused on the drums since the guitar was missing a string.
)
Kate suggests we go backstage again to get something to drink so we do only to come across Alex and Ryland from Cobra Starship setting up for an acoustic session for a small group of people that payed a pretty penny to get back there. We summoned Lauren down to watch but she took forever. The setting was so much more intimate, it was great. Some girl did Travie's rap, Alex wouldnt stop saying, "Touche!" and Ryland is always incredibly funny. They adlibbed some of the lines in Guilty Pleasure ("I dont even read, cuz no one ever taught me how to...." or "So fuck them if they can't take a joke, hahaha, I'm just fucking with you.") Gabe actually read this dirty letter some girl gave him and we all laughed hysterically.
Some things said were:
Gabe: It really says penis here, no shitting ya.
*shows crowd letter*
Gabe: *reading* If you are ever feeling sad, or erect, just give me a call.
Ryland: Yeah Gabe, but ONLY if you are like "Hey man, I'm feeling kinda down," or if your like, "Hey, look I have this massive erection.
"
Gabe: You can put your Cobra in my Starship anyday.
After that we headed up to the Cobra dance party but they werent there yet so we headed back to drums and had some fun there. Then we headed backstage again (passing Nate Navarro on the way..... we passed him like 3 times during the day and I never said anything.....damn) We chilled out for quite a while. Played more basketball. Went back up for the last time to watch Anberlin.
We the Kings played at the same time Anberlin did so I went off by myself to see them. Checked out the Keep a Breast tent, went back down to get batteries, and came back up just in time to see WTK play Check Yes Juliet. Afterwards I headed over to the TAI tent because I entered into an auction to win one of The Butcher's art pieces. (There were 3 paintings and this cool little cardboard thingy) I was the highest for the cardboard thing and one of the paintings but was outbid by someone from San Diego (go figure) on the painting. I ended up winning the cardboard thing though, it was really interesting.
I hung out with Angie, who had found me at the tent, and the people working the tents. I watched the TAI merch guy dance to his headphones which was hilarious, and he was also a really nice guy. Then the Butcher showed up to the tent to see everyone who won his stuff. He was probably one of the nicest people in a band Ive ever met. He signed the cardboard thingy, thanked me, we talked for a little bit, then gave me a hug as I was leaving.
(I honestly could have died happy right there)
I joined back with Lauren and Kate and we just chilled backstage for the rest of the night. We played even more basketball and just fooled around. We met up with Angie and headed home, which turned into one of the most messed up conversations ever.
We were talking about race and it went down like:
Me: Someone actually once asked me which country from Africa I'm from. I was like, I have no idea! *sarcastically* I'm from Sudan, (everyone laughs*) help me against the genocide against my people.
Lauren: Oh God, thats terrible.
Me: Ok, I'm one of the Invisible Children
Everyone: *laughs*
Angie: See my invisible gun
Everyone: *Laughs harder*
Lauren: God you guys are terrible
Me: I'm just tired
Angie: No, I'm just terrible
Lauren: At least someone admits it...
Overall the day was freaking amazing. It started with a car breaking down and making a wrong turn in Oakland but ended with nice spicy chicken and watching Jackass at 11 at night.
What a day :-)
I meet up with Lauren and Katelyn and we head backstage to put our stuff down and figure out what we wanted to see. The 2 bands I wanted to see the most were first so we headed over to watch The Academy Is... and Cobra Starship in action. During Cobras, I got separated from Lauren and Kate but we met up backstage at the catering area again. I saw Sisky getting some food, but that was the only guy I recognized. We ate pizza again and just chilled out for a bit, as well as play some arcade games.
We left to see Gym Class Heroes and saw the remaining little bit of Angels and Airwaves. GCH were fun as always. They actually covered a metal song which was so wierd but hilarious because Travie was running around with a guitar hero controller and pretending to shred on it.
After that, Lauren wanted to see a band, but I was looking for a certain tent so Kate went with me. We found the tent where there is a bunch of musical instruments set up for anyone to play, so of course I hop on the drums. (I actually ended up playing a little bit of bass and keys, but focused on the drums since the guitar was missing a string.
)
Kate suggests we go backstage again to get something to drink so we do only to come across Alex and Ryland from Cobra Starship setting up for an acoustic session for a small group of people that payed a pretty penny to get back there. We summoned Lauren down to watch but she took forever. The setting was so much more intimate, it was great. Some girl did Travie's rap, Alex wouldnt stop saying, "Touche!" and Ryland is always incredibly funny. They adlibbed some of the lines in Guilty Pleasure ("I dont even read, cuz no one ever taught me how to...." or "So fuck them if they can't take a joke, hahaha, I'm just fucking with you.") Gabe actually read this dirty letter some girl gave him and we all laughed hysterically.
Some things said were:
Gabe: It really says penis here, no shitting ya.
*shows crowd letter*
Gabe: *reading* If you are ever feeling sad, or erect, just give me a call.
Ryland: Yeah Gabe, but ONLY if you are like "Hey man, I'm feeling kinda down," or if your like, "Hey, look I have this massive erection.
"
Gabe: You can put your Cobra in my Starship anyday.
After that we headed up to the Cobra dance party but they werent there yet so we headed back to drums and had some fun there. Then we headed backstage again (passing Nate Navarro on the way..... we passed him like 3 times during the day and I never said anything.....damn) We chilled out for quite a while. Played more basketball. Went back up for the last time to watch Anberlin.
We the Kings played at the same time Anberlin did so I went off by myself to see them. Checked out the Keep a Breast tent, went back down to get batteries, and came back up just in time to see WTK play Check Yes Juliet. Afterwards I headed over to the TAI tent because I entered into an auction to win one of The Butcher's art pieces. (There were 3 paintings and this cool little cardboard thingy) I was the highest for the cardboard thing and one of the paintings but was outbid by someone from San Diego (go figure) on the painting. I ended up winning the cardboard thing though, it was really interesting.
I hung out with Angie, who had found me at the tent, and the people working the tents. I watched the TAI merch guy dance to his headphones which was hilarious, and he was also a really nice guy. Then the Butcher showed up to the tent to see everyone who won his stuff. He was probably one of the nicest people in a band Ive ever met. He signed the cardboard thingy, thanked me, we talked for a little bit, then gave me a hug as I was leaving.
(I honestly could have died happy right there)
I joined back with Lauren and Kate and we just chilled backstage for the rest of the night. We played even more basketball and just fooled around. We met up with Angie and headed home, which turned into one of the most messed up conversations ever.
We were talking about race and it went down like:
Me: Someone actually once asked me which country from Africa I'm from. I was like, I have no idea! *sarcastically* I'm from Sudan, (everyone laughs*) help me against the genocide against my people.
Lauren: Oh God, thats terrible.
Me: Ok, I'm one of the Invisible Children
Everyone: *laughs*
Angie: See my invisible gun
Everyone: *Laughs harder*
Lauren: God you guys are terrible
Me: I'm just tired
Angie: No, I'm just terrible
Lauren: At least someone admits it...
Overall the day was freaking amazing. It started with a car breaking down and making a wrong turn in Oakland but ended with nice spicy chicken and watching Jackass at 11 at night.
What a day :-)
