On June 21, Warped Tour begins its farewell tour, and, well, we’re hit with all the feels. Love it or hate it, Warped Tour curated one hell of a festival for 23 years–far longer than I’ve ever committed to anything myself. During those 23 years, they’ve supported many, many musicians from all over the Midwest.
The Academy Is… | Hoffman Estates (Chicago), IL
Their 2008 release, Fast Times at Barrington High, is undoubtedly one of the best emo-pop albums of 2008. The Acamdemy Is… cut their teeth in the same music scene as Fall Out Boy, whom they would later tour with. The Academy Is… played Warped in 2011 and 2017.
American Opera | Saginaw, MI
American Opera played Warped Tour in 2015.
Alkaline Trio | McHenry, IL
Alkaline Trio played Warped Tour for four years–2002, 2004, 2007, and 2010.
The All-American Rejects | Stillwater, OK
AAR played in 2001, 2003, and 2005, and then again in 2010.
The Ataris | Anderson, IN
The Ataris were only booked for Warped in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2014, and most recently in 2017.
Atmosphere | Minneapolis, MN
Atmosphere played Warped tour in 2004 and 2005.
The Atomic Fireballs | Detroit, MI
The Atomic Fireballs brought an awesome energy and sound to Warped Tour with their raucous energy and brass section. They played Warped only once, in 1998.
Attack Attack! | Columbus, OH
Attack Attack! played Warped tour from 2009 to 2011.
Beartooth | Columbus, OH
Beartooth played Warped for four years: 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018.
Black Dahlia Murder | Waterford, MI
They played Warped Tour in 2013.
Black Veil Brides | Cincinnati, OH
Black Veil Brides are classic Warped tour: rippin’ guitar solos, intense screams, the embodiment of any -core band you’ve previously known. They played Warped in 2011, 2013, 2015, and will be playing the final 2018 circuit.
Chiodos | Davison, MI
Chiodos, known for their punk energy, metal riffing, and piano melodies, tackled Warped Tour from 2006-2009, and then again in 2012 and 2013 following lineup changes within the band.
Cinematic Sunrise | Detroit, MI
Cinematic Sunrise is yet another Craig Owens’ project. In 2007 and 2008, Cinematic Sunrise played Warped Tour.
The Color Morale | Rockford, IL
I once dated a boy from MySpace who did merch for this band. I don’t know much else about them. The Color Morale played Warped Tour in 2014 and 2016.
D.R.U.G.S. | Pontiac, MI
After frontman Craig Owens was let go from Chiodos in 2009, he turned his energy towards D.R.U.G.S (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows), a supergroup of sorts, featuring members of Matchbook Romance, Story of the Year, Underminded, and From First to Last. D.R.U.G.S. released one self-titled album in 2011 and played Warped that same year.
The Devil Wears Prada | Dayton, OH
This metalcore band with soaring harmonies is a Warped Tour favorite. Having played Warped in 2008, 2009, 2011, and finally in 2014, the outfit has never failed to bring a healthy balance of clean and screamed vocals, heavy and melodic riffs, and rhythms to breakdowns to the Tour’s many cities and stages.
Fall Out Boy | Wilmette (Chicago), IL
Classic Midwest emo. Fall Out Boy played Warped Tour in 2004 and 2005, and tugged on my poser emo heartstrings for many years beyond that.
Foxy Shazam | Cincinnatti, OH
Foxy Shazam took the Warped Tour stage in 2011.
I Fight Dragons | Chicago, IL
I Fight Dragons played Warped Tour in 2012 and 2014.
I See Stars | Warren, MI
One time I went to go to a good show, but I accidentally saw I See Stars. I See Stars played Warped in 2010, 2013, and 2016.
Koo Koo Kanga Roo | Minneapolis, MN
Koo Koo Kanga Roo are just plain-and-simple fun. They took the Warped Tour stage(s) in 2015 and handed out plenty of super-high-fives along the way.
Ludo | St. Louis, MO
Ludo played Warped Tour for three years in a row, 2006 through 2008.
Mac Lethal | Kansas City, MO
He played Warped only once in 2013.
Machine Gun Kelly | Cleveland, OH
Machine Gun Kelly graced Warped Tour in 2012. His major label debut album, Lace Up, was released in October 2012.
Masked Intruder | Madison, WI
Masked Intruder took the Warped Tour stage in 2016.
MC Chris | Libertyville, IL
MC Chris played in 2007, 2008, and again in 2014.
MOD SUN | Bloomington, MN
There’s nothing I love more than vintage MOD SUN. When the former drummer from Four Letter Lie and Scary Kids Scaring Kids started releasing bedroom recording, I was skeptical, but was an instant fan after hearing the throwback sound and witty lyricism of 2009’s I’ll Buy Myself. MOD SUN’s continued to pursue positivity through music and released the album BB in 2017.
MOD DUN played Warped Tour in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
Motion City Soundtrack | Minneapolis, MN
Motion City Soundtrack has played Warped Tour a whopping ten times: 2002-2006, 2008-2010, 2013, and 2015.
P.O.S | Minneapolis, MN
P.O.S. played Warped Tour in 2009.
Plain White T’s | Lombard, IL
Plain White T’s played in 2005 and 2006.
The Ready Set | Fort Wayne, IN
Where Warped has always skewed largely in two directions–to the screamo crowd or to the lighter pop-punk crowd. The Ready Set, with their catchy lyrics and electro-pop beats, fall into the latter. They played in 2011 and 2014.
Real Friends | Tinley Park, IL*
I’ve got a soft spot for emo outfit Real Friends–they’re from my hometown (or, like, the town next to my hometown). Towards the end of 2017, they released an energetic new song, “Get Out”, their first since their 2016 release The Home Inside My Head. The outfit recently canceled their Australian, UK and European tours in order to focus on mental health and to make this Warped Tour something really special. We applaud vocalist Dan Lambton’s honesty and are looking forward to a kickass Warped!
Real Friends have played Warped Tour in 2013, 2014, 2016, and this year, 2018.
Reggie and the Full Effect | Kansas City, MO
Reggie and the Full Effect played Warped Tour once in 2005.
The Spill Canvas | Sioux Falls, SD
The Spill Canvas played Warped Tour once in 2007.
Stepdad | Grand Rapids, MI
Stepdad is a shot of dopamine. The band’s bouncy, electropop instrumentation makes for one hell of a show. Stepdad played Warped Tour in 2012.
Story of the Year | St. Louis, MO
Story of the Year played Warped Tour in 2002-2005, 2008, and 2013.
We Came as Romans | Detroit, MI
We Came as Romans played 2011, 2013, and 2015.
Well, it’s been real Warped Tour. Thank you for supporting so many bands for so many years. Whether you’re a Warped Tour veteran, or you’ve attended it for the first (last) time this year, share you favorite Warped memories with us below.