Baking in the 110-degree sun, the Warped Tour's opening day in Peoria, Arizona, was a melting pot of super-charged performances, poor sound, shadeless areas and a vast collection of litter.
Muddy sound hampered sets throughout the day, ranging from Alien Ant Farm's late-morning performance to Rancid's co-headlining set in the early evening at the Peoria Sports Complex. Vocals by Good Charlotte singer Joel and Natas rapper Esham were missing during the first songs of their respective sets on two different stages. Rancid's music wavered between sets of speakers while 311's subsequent performance on an adjacent stage could have been clearer.
New Found Glory's singer Jordan Pundik asked the question of the day, "Who here's hot?" Fans, whose clothing choices ranged from tank tops and shorts to black leather pants and shirts, clamored for every possible slice of shade. Small areas provided by lemonade stands and tunnels that lead from the concession stands to the seating areas were little relief from the intense heat. Parents in the Reverse Day Care area were the lucky few who were housed in a closed, well-ventilated tent.
Despite the problems and the heat, the vibe was generally upbeat and the performances were energized. A New Found Glory, Rancid, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Alien Ant Farm and old-school punks Fear lead the charge at the all-day festival, while Good Charlotte, H20 and Natas are poised to be this years break-out acts.
Detroit's Natas, who before this appearance hadn't performed in Arizona, attracted rows of fans who mimicked the band's look by hiding their faces with scarves. Lead rapper Esham pumped his fist in the air while leading the crowd in sing-alongs. Natas member Mastamind questioned the group's inclusion in this years event. "Never thought you'd see us on the motherfuckin' Warped Tour, huh?" he asked the crowd.
Natas didn't waste any time creating controversy, either. In their set, they included the song "Chemical Imbalance," which brags of putting Eminem's daughter in a coma. Eminem's side project, D-12, is slated to join the Warped Tour later in the summer.
Hank III (otherwise known as Hank Williams III) and Assjack went unappreciated on a side stage where the handful of watchers seemingly had no clue as to his family's storied past. Williams laid down a performance of raunchy punk rock backed by a fervent upright bass player and fiddle master, who used a towel adorned with the Target stores logo as a chin rest.
Humor was speckled among the punk rock snarls. Kool Keith's DJ Evil spun alone through most of the set before the rapper strolled out with ten minutes remaining in his scheduled performance. He repeatedly referred to the Peoria, Arizona, audience as "San Diego."
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, a collection of veteran punk rock musicians who perform covers, kicked off its set with a cover of John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads." "Were going to start out with a song we wrote an hour ago," said lead singer Spike who donned a Hawaiian shirt and Me First straw hat like the ones sold for at souvenir stands. "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Over the Rainbow" also echoed throughout the stadium.
"What's up? Are you ready for some punk rock? Are you ready for the real deal?" said an emcee to introduced Rancid to the audience. Lead singer and guitarist Tim Armstrong and mohawked Lars Frederiksen charged out of the gate and didn't let up until the band's set ended. Their hit, "Ruby Soho," saw fans with rainbow-colored mohawks and heavy boots flying through the air in an attempt to body surf to the front of the stage. In an apparent show of agreement with the announcer, there was a mass exodus of people who left the Warped Tour after Rancid's performance leaving about half the crowd to stay for 311 and Less Than Jake, who closed the day.
The six stages of music were placed throughout the complex -- the Seattle Mariners spring training home -- interspersed with various extreme sports events. Incredibly Strange Wrestling lived up its name, providing beer-bellied wrestlers and a vulgar commentary as entertainment. Piles of skater-fashioned shirtless teens watched the two cyclists in the Balls of Steel cage, the biggest sports draw of the day.
The stadium was littered with Yoohoo sampler cups and shopping bags, a clear sign that the Vans Warped Tour '01 is even more commercialized this year. The Target-sponsored Reverse Day Care tent and the PlayStation 2 booth were the further proved that. The heat couldn't be helped, but once the sound problems are worked out, the Warped Tour will be well worth the relatively low ticket price.
CHRISTINA FUOCO
(June 25, 2001)