Vans Warped Tour 2012 squeezed some hardcore genre juice to come up with this year’s tour line-up. Plans to attend a Metal, Rock & Rap show will exceed your expectations. Talk about getting more for your money at a music festival. You’re about to embark upon a realm of hardcore, metalcore, pop, hip-hop, punk chiptune 8-bit, reggae, alternative, dubstep, ska, indie, screamo, post hardcore and shock rock. A brilliantly organized musical “shit show” festival to remember. @VansWarpedTour is this generations Lollapalooza. You will tell your future children about attending this festival to convince them you were once “cool”.
Every band on the line-up is, in their own right, more than deserving of their spot on this tour. By posting the line-up in alphabetical order, it is both fan and band friendly. However, don’t simply look for your favorite band and stop there; keep scrolling and research the bands’ Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and Homepages.
Vampires Everywhere!
One of the most followed and aesthetically adorned shock rock bands of this year is; “Vampires Everywhere!” (founded and fronted by Michael Vampire). The band is in the obvious “V” section of the Vans Warped Tour band line-up listing. Vampires Everywhere! is an “already up and keep on coming band of 2012”. Not a fan of the vampire obsession? I wasn’t either; until I heard VE! cover of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” on YouTube. Michael’s energetic and brilliantly executed lyrical rendition of this song will take you to a place in your mind you never knew existed. You will find yourself laughing and head-banging your way to Vampires Everywhere! Twitter or Facebook page while pressing replay over and over. Is this song really a Katy Perry cover and not a VE! original billboard hit? Michael’s version of the chorus “let’s go all the way tonight” will play in your head as you suck yourself into those skinny jeans for the weekend madness you’re about the create. Teen girls will want to be turned by vampires instead of lip synching to Katy. Grown kids alike will appreciate the genius and humor this version delivers.
Vampires Everywhere! band members aren’t actual vampires but one cannot deny the century old fascination with vampires and the energy they possess and give off in our imagination. You will be addicted or at least intrigued by the ingenuity of VE! progressive mix of rock, shock-rock and screamo lyrics unlike any other band on airwaves. Jango music app plays VE! on Escape The Fate and Falling In Reverse stations but there is ultimately no comparison. All three bands are must hear groups but different in their own way.
Vampires Everywhere! album “Kiss The Sun Goodbye” dropped last year. They are working on a new album to be released this year. Vampires Everywhere! band members encourage interaction with their fans on Twitter. @VAMPEVERYWHERE @michaelvampire @PhillipKross
Keep an open mind and remember, music is about self expression, the fans, intense stage presence and unstoppable fun. VE! will not disappoint you vocally, visually nor musically.. Enjoy the show.
Machine Gun Kelly
On a totally different level of lyrical genius comes the Midwest rapper, Machine Gun Kelly. He “brings it” with his street sound, hip-hop mixed beats and melodic background singers. Move over Eminem. A new kind of Caucasian gansta is taking over and making moves into the ever evolving rap scene. Two of MGK biggest followers aka “Ragers” are Michigan natives and Tweeters @KaAmTaLnYdNa and @StuffMcAwesome The girls had this to say about MGK; “[The music] it’s very upbeat, you go to his shows to rage”. Adding; “[MGK] its party music with inspirational lyrics. You can also follow MGK on Twitter: @machinegunkelly
Ticket Information
Vans Warped Tour tickets go on sale March 30th. The lucky cities and dates for upcoming shows in your area are listed on their schedule page:
http://vanswarpedtour.com/dates
The Band Line-Up
Featured Artists:Tonight Alive – Pop Punk, Rock
A Loss For Words – Pop Punk, Post Rock
After The Burial - Metal
Ballyhoo – Reggae, Rock
Bangups – Rock & Roll, Punk Rock
Bayside – Punk Rock, Alternative
Bless The Fall – Metal, Rock
Chelsea Grin – Deathcore, Metalcore
Dead Sarah – Rock
Echo Movement – Rock, Reggae
Every Time I Die – Rock, Metal
For Today – Rock
Funeral Party – Indie
Hyro Da Hero – Rap, Hip-Hop, Rock
I Am The Avalanche – Punk Rock, Alternative
I Fight Dragons – Rock & Roll, Chiptune / 8-bit
Impending Doom – Metal Metalcore
It Boys! – Rock, Pop
IWresteledABearOnce – Metal, Rock
Living With Lions – Punk Rock
Lost In Society – Punk Rock, Alternative
Machine Gun Kelly – Rap, Hip-Hop
Make Do And Mend – Rock, Punk Rock
Man Overboard – Pop Punk, Punk Rock
Mayday Parade – Alternative, Rock
MemphisMay Fire – Post Hardcore, Metal
Mighty Mongo – Rock, Ska
Polar Bear Club – punk Rock, Hardcore
Rise To Remain – Metal
Senses Fail – Punk Rock, Screamo
Sick Of Sarah – Rock, Indie
Skip The foreplay – Metalcore, Dubstep
Sleeping With Sirens – Chiptune, 8-bit
Stepdad – Elector-Pop, Indie-Pop
Super Water Sympathy – Alternative, Indie
T. Mills – Rap, Hip-Hop, Pop
The Constellations – Indie, Rap, Hip-Hop
The Ghost Inside – Rock, Alternative
The Green – Reggae, Pop
The Silver Comet – Alternative, Pop Rock
The Fight – Punk Rock, Hardcore
Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds – Rock, Reggae
Twin Atlantic – Rock, Alternative
Vampires Everywhere! – Rock, Metal, Shock
Vanna – Post Hardcore
We Are The In Crowd – Pop Punk, Pop Rock
Music Genres in The Line-Up
Post Hardcoreis a bit tricky to explain. Think of it as a time line; The music that developed from musicians fading away from Hardcore Punk scene. Born out of Post Hardcore are the sounds of Math Rock and Screamo. Most recognized post hardcore bands are Jesus Lizard, Rollins Band (fronted by former Black Flag vox Henry Rollins), Ministry, KMFDM and Fugazi,
WTH is Match Rock you ask? It is a very complex atypical, rhythmic time signature sound (stopping and starting) evolving from most recognized Frank Zappa into a unique rock based genre. Talented engineer and guitarist Steve Albini of Shellac can shred this sound and most likely was the pioneer of Math Rock. An even more obvious and entertaining variation of Math Rock comes from drummers, such as Larry Gorman of “Glassjaw”. For those math brained individuals, Wikipedia explains it this way; “most rock music uses a basic 4/4 meter (however accented or syncopated), math rock frequently uses asymmetrical time signatures such as 7/8, 11/8, or 13/8, or features constantly changing meters based on various groupings of 2 and 3”. For those of you, who just shook your head at this explanation, simply think back to the stopping and starting scenario; like a kiegel or avoiding climax with a pause and change and a new position and movement).
Atari and Nintendo had a rock baby named it Chiptune 8-bit.
80’s nostalgia, musically inclined, undercover game geeks made this 1950’s sound popular among the gaming addicts. Synthesized electronic music produced by human products of the 80’s gaming era. They use vintage computers and video gaming systems with 8-bit sounds infused with rock music. Struggling musicians? Probably not. Struggling with growing up and out of their parent’s basement? Possibly yes.
Shock-Rock, See Vampires Everywhere! above or G.G. Allen, The Who, Iggy Pop, David Bowie. It’s all about entertaining the masses and to shock the people who don’t get that “it’s all for show and about the fans”.
A South London born genre of electronic music comes DubStep. Enhanced drum patterns, injection of random vocals and vibey body moving beats like slow motion pop locking. The drum and bass drop beats are mimicked through techno and other electropop bands. Skream is one of the first Dubstep pioneers of his genre. Grab a pair of “Beats” headphones by Dr Dre jump on your fixie, dance in a 7-11 parking lot and you’ll understand this hip, evolving genre.
Important webpage’s and Twitter Information below:
Warped Tour Homepage and Tickets: http://vanswarpedtour.com/
Band Lineup: http://vanswarpedtour.com/bands
Shop Vampires Everywhere!http://vampireseverywhere.cinderblock.com/music
Vampires Everywhere! “Teenage Dream” cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_f8cKFQb_s
Machine Gun Kelly: http://www.mgklaceup.com/splash/
Twitter Mentions:
@VAMPEVERYWHERE
@michaelvampire
@KaAmTaLnYdNa
@StuffMcAwesome
@MachineGunKelly
@VanWarpedTour
@PhillipKross
Comments