Vans Warped Tour hits St. Petersburg, Florida

By Chyrisse Tabone, Tampa Correspondent

July 3, 2015—Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg, Florida

Vans Warped Tour: Presented by Journeys

The Vans Warped Tour cruised through town on the cusp of the July 4th holiday weekend to a hot and muggy afternoon. Vinoy Park is located on the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent a city marina, which offered a beautiful of of palm trees, shiny blue water, and lots of holiday boaters passing by the venue.

Vans Warped offered eight (8) large stages with names like ‘Shark Stage,” “Kevin Says Stage,” and “Unicorn Stage,” as well as an “Acoustic Basement” tent, a “Comedy” tent. There were plenty of vendor booths featuring merchandise from dozens of bands that participated as well as record label booths. There were an impressive number of booths featuring information, literature, and merchandise benefiting charitable causes and well as social and/or political movements. There were a few food vendors and a small filtered water stand for refilling bottles (although I had to search for the location). There were even misting tents and areas for parents to hang out while the kids enjoyed the music.

The crowd was very well-behaved but showed a lot of enthusiasm for the bands, despite the blustery heat. There was plenty of dancing and crowd-surfing (although signs posted noted their prohibition).

The best part about Vans Warped, of course, is the huge fanfare of bands that are playing systematically on the various stages like clockwork. The bands played on time according to the schedule and the choice of bands was really exciting! It is always nice to see up and coming bands on the brink of success early on in their career when they give their fans 110%. There was a lot of jumping, leaping, kicking, hair-flying, and real rock entertainment. I do not know how they crew has been traveling from city to city and pulling this off because they are in a different city everyday. They must be subsisting on little sleep and Monster Energy drink.

I cannot say enough good things about the quality organization of the Vans Warped Tour and the bands in general. The only downside was Mother Nature with the heat all day and then a huge downpour with lighting around 5:30 p.m. I was already walking to my car at this point but heard the show was closed down.

Highlights of various bands are presented below; however, there are separated galleries for New Years Day and Black Veil Brides.

 

General Atmosphere of Vans Warped-St. Petersburg

 

NECK DEEP

 

AS IT IS

 

JULIET SIMMS

 

 

BEBE REXHA

 

 

AUGUST BURNS RED

 

 

CANDY HEARTS

 

 

KNUCKLE PUCK

 

 

 WE CAME AS ROMANS

 

 

 MISS MAY I

 

HANDS LIKE HOUSES

 

BABY BABY

 

 

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Chyrisse Tabone, Ph.D.
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