put the cassette in the tape deck and let that fever play...

Today was my first time going to Warped Tour, and it was pretty amazing.

I went with Craig and Eddie, which was strange, but turned out really well. We got there a little after 11 (which I wasn't so happy with) and had to hike to the end of the line. The line was so long, it rapped around the parking lot, and then the outside fence of the parking lot. But while the three of us were waiting we ran into Lionel and Sadie (Craig's friend and said friend's girlfriend), and then Sam, Jared, Etc. (A group of guys my friends and I know). When we were about halfway through the line we found out that all the girls were allowed to go to almost the front, so I kind of ditched the guys I was with to hopefully catch some of the earlier bands. I ended up missing Playradioplay!, and I was pretty bummed. But I did see the end of New Years Day and I also watched some of The Automatic Automatic's set. They were so good! THen I walked around, trying to get a feel for the layout of the stages and booths, and while I was exploring I found Escape the Fate's booth and chatted with Mr. Max Green (WHO HAS DE-LUNCHIFIED!)

Around then Craig and Eddie found me and we caught the tail end of Funeral For A Friend's set and started to wait for Circa Survive. We waited in the blistering heat (did I forget to mention how fucking HOT it was?!) for about 45 mintues, but we were right at the front, so it was worth it. They were so amazing. I got hit with shoes in my temple and above my lip, but other than that, walked away faily unscathed from a very rowdy show. But oh man, Anthony Green is basically God.

I was so frustrated that Circa and The Matches were sceduled to play at the same time, so I watched most of Circa's set and then ran over to the Hurly stage to catch the very end of the Matches. Once again, AMAZING. They played Papercut Skin, which is one of my favorites, so I was happy with that.

So many of the bands I wanted to see overlapped! After the Matches finished I high-tailed over to see Escape the Fate, and saw their last song. Situations, of course, and Ronnie's ass was hanging out, of course.I saw Audrey Hitching hanging out side-stage at ETF and I wanted to tell her to put some fucking pants on. I don't like her, if you didn't guess already.

After ETF there wasn't really anyone very good playing for a while, and we were sweltering, so Craig, Eddie, Lionel, Sadie, and I just hung out in the shady grass. We cooled off for a while and then explored the merch booths, which were pretty cool, but I didn't buy any shirts or anything like that. They were handing out so much free stuff, I didn't feel like I had to buy something. So we explored and the boys needed food, so while they waited for food I explored the other booths, I found DAN in the Playradioplay! booth! We chatted for a minute and he signed my shirt (that I made with Elle for Warped... it has PRP! lyrics on it). He looked so much older in real life...funny. So then I stacked up on free stickers and whatnot, and waited in line to meet the Matches! It took forever to finally get to the front of the line, but Shawn and the rest of the guys were so nice. Shawn and I talked about drawing, which I thought was really cool, because you could really tell that he was really interested in his fans, which means SO much to me. So I got their autographs, and then ran to catch Chiodos. Craig's voice is so high! So many people watching thought that was weird, but I just thought they were being mean and jealous ;)

After Chiodos we were once again dying from the heat, so we sought shelter and waited for more bands that we liked to play. We watched this one band called the Hanks because their bassist sold us some $1 EPs , and he was a nice guy, so we wanted to see how the band was. They were actually really great! I could tell by then that our energy level was sinking, but I wanted to stick it out for just a few more bands.

I bailed again on the guys, left the Hanks and watched We Are the Fury. They were, too my suprise, really not that popular. There really weren't that many people there for them at all. But I thought they were great. Their singer really reminded me of a less cracked-out, more William Becket-esque Ronnie Winters, which is kind of weird.

After We Are the Fury finished I stayed put at the same stage (right on the barrier!) because Victim Effect were on after them. I was so excited to see VE again, and they were just as amazing as I remebered. Dawn was, as always, the coolest person ever. I was so amazed and pleasantly suprized at how many kids came to see VE when Paramore and Bayside were playing! The energy was so positive and amazing, it was an amazing time. They pulled out the same tricks as last time, but they were still really fun.

After Victim Effect we left, picking up more free stuff on the way. The ride home was long and hot, seeing that Craig's car is too ghetto (or as I'm supposed to say 'janky') to run the AC. But as soon as I got home I made up some excuse for where I had been all day, and why I was so gross, which my family easily bought, and went straight to my shower to get rid of the grime. So now I'm officially clean of Warped dirt (sans the stamp that won't come off my arm) and exhausted.

 It was an amazing day. I can't wait until next year when my darlings Katherine and Elle can come with me!