Warped Tour: 2008-2011

(My sister and I in 2010 and 2011)

I first went to Warped in '08, even though I begged to go in '07, but I was only 12 so neither of my parents allowed it. In 2008, my dad took my sister and I and we had the time of our lives. Our plan was to see Pierce The Veil, The Academy Is..., We The Kings, Mayday Parade, Cobra Starship, and All Time Low. Sadly, All Time Low cancelled the last minute to do a preformance on FNMTV. If you don't remember FNMTV, it was that short-lived show that Pete Wentz hosted on MTV every Friday night in '08. (What the hell ever happened to it? It introduced me to a lot of bands/artists..) Anyway, we ended up meeting Jamie from PTV and ran into Gabe from Cobra Starship. Also, that show was 16 days before my father passed away, but for those 16 days he played Kelsey & The Chaos' EP every damn time we were in the car since he wandered around the grounds and discovered them. (Spoiler alert: They're annoying to a lot of people)

We didn't get a chance to go in 2009, which really bummed me out since all of my friends met John from The Maine and it was the last time All Time Low was on the tour until this summer.

2010 rolled around and we ended up seeing We The Kings, Mayday Parade, Hey Monday (from a distance since we had already seen them 3 times), 3OH!3, Pierce The Veil, You Met At Six, Anarbor, NeverShoutNever!, Automatic Loveletter, and The Rocket Summer. That day was my favorite Warped because I finally got to meet Juliet Simms (I can't find my picture with her), plus Travis and Danny of We The Kings. The security guard was stingy and didn't let us take pictures with them, but I did get the best hug I've ever gotten and it was from Travis. I also gave him one of my bracelets and he told me he loved me and I almost melted on the spot. I think I told him that he smelled good... Probably the best thing I've ever said to any musician, though. He held my hand for about two minutes since my sister and I were the last in the line. 

(For some reason, my iPod thought it would be a good idea to crop off Josh's head. But here's You Met At Six, We The Kings from the side of the stage, Hey Monday from a distance, and the beautiful view of the lake.)

(And here are the two men that made my entire damn day. I will never be thankful enough for the talk I had with Travis - he's so sweet.)

And then 2011 was the year for one big band to come out for Warped: A Day To Remember. 3OH!3, Paramore, Go Radio, Family Force 5, and Relient K were the only people we saw last year. I didn't mind it because ADTR was the one band that I needed to see more than any other and my sister and I started crying during "Have Faith In Me". Jeremy is such a beautiful singer/screamer and I don't think I was happier in that moment. During the song, everything was silent other than that specific crowd singing along. It was perfection in so many ways. Even though we couldn't get close, it was the best show I've ever seen at Warped. 

(3OH!3 crowd and August Burns Red which I only took a picture of because the fog was amazing that morning.)

I am very excited to say that Warped for me is next Wednesday and it'll probably be the greatest of them all on account of seeing We The Kings for the 5th time, Mayday Parade for the 4th time, Pierce The Veil for the 3rd time, Mod Sun, All Time Low for the 9th time, Sleeping With Sirens, and whoever else we decide to see. Hopefully Taking Back Sunday and a few others will fit into that mixture. I will have a full story next Thursday or Friday depending how worn-out and out of it I am from post-concert depression.

OH! As for merch, here's a collection of what I could find from over the years. I grabbed whatever was closest to me and quickly took the pictures. Let's be honest, Warped sells the best sunglasses. (;

(The Warped bag I've had since '10, it fits more than you'd think and is very handy throughout the day. Two of my Warped tickets from '10 and '11, and my Jac Vanek gropuie cut-off. She is the sweetest girl ever, btw.)

(3 of my 10 band booty shorts from 3OH!3, Mayday Parade, and Pierce The Veil. My Travis Clark autograph which I treasure. Also my WTK and ATL shirts from way back in '08. I don't wear them anymore, but it's too good of a memory to not keep around.)

(Oh, the sugnlasses. Personally, the heart-shaped ones are my favorite. They go in years from top to bottom [08, 10, 11])