Vans Warped Tour 2013 - UK SATURDAY 16TH NOVEMBER

The legendary Vans Warped Tour was back for the second year in the UK, but this timing bringing us two days of absolute mayhem. November 16th-17th was booked at Alexandra Palace for the world wide famous event to be held at for thousands of fans.

I was lucky enough to get a weekend ticket for both days, appreciating the split of the mammoth list of bands which were announced to play that weekend.

(See below for tour poster)


The tour kicked off at around 1pm where the doors of Ally Pally opened, with thousands of heads emerging through the forum, awaiting anxiously for the stage times to be announced, checking who they were going to see and when. At this moment the forum was crowded with many people of all ages and gender, roaming around the halls, screaming with their friends, running off in all different directions to catch the first band.

The first band I wanted to see appeared to be Neck Deep, and starting at 2:45, I had plenty of time to ponder around the merch halls and stages to see if anyone was about.
Just like last year, It was in the exact same space, packed as ever with people running around, getting free stuff from the Impericon and many other stalls. Already I was so thrilled with the fact of actually being there and standing inside Alexandra Palace, moments before my many favorite bands play. Just the feeling you got when you entered the building was enough to get you going for the whole day, as all I could feel was excitement and anticipation for each band to take to their set.

As soon as it hit 2:30, I headed over to the Jagermeister Stage for Neck Deep. This was my third time seeing them this year, and second time that week as previously traveling to Leeds for TWY tour, I knew the set list off by heart. Neck Deep proved me wrong, as previously not giving a halfhearted performance, I have had second doubts about them performing at warped. Starting the set off with a crowd who seemed even more pleased to be there than the band, a pushie pit of young teens circled in the middle as Kick it set off. Playing the large Jagermeister stage, Ben was bouncing all the way along it back and forth, proving a much energetic, pop punk performance before departing the stage to join in with the fully erupted, crowd surfing manic which awaited him at the floor. The band, wasted to time into getting right into the music as one song finished the next started with the heavy influence of the 4/4 drum beat, kicking in with the uprising guitar riffs, which was then later joined by vocalist Ben.
 Just about to finish the set, the band declared they would be playing "Part of me" their famous acoustic song with the help of the crowd, now seeing this done before, it could have all gone pare-shaped, however at warped it seem to work, with Ben passing the mic out to the crowd, so we could take over for the final song, Neck Deep ended their set in harmony with everyone.

Right after they were all done, I wen't to the main stage to wait for The Wonder Years to come on next, but before them Crossfaith were just finishing their set which proved to be packed with vibrating figures, bobbing up and down, causing the ground to shake. Watching this form the West stage, I could tell that they had just finished a manic set, as their fast paced, heavy strums sent echoes of moshers all around the room, warming the crowd up before The Wonder Years took off.

 Shortly after, the pop punk legends, TWY took to the stage, dragging a wave of people with them as everyone shot to the front, finger point along to "Passing through a screen door" as they opened up with upbeat song. One of the bands I was most looking forward to seeing was them, and as always they had proved to put on a show, as their set was a lot shorter than when I saw them in Leeds, this didn't stop Soupy from making his ironic, beautiful peaches about memories hes grown up with, inspiring him to carry on writing these beautiful songs. A lot of people would find them repetitive, but with the pure passion in his voice as he broke down with each story, it was clear that it came from the bottom of his heart and he truly did mean it. The set lasted for about 45 minutes with the band playing a mixture of songs from The greatest Generation, Suburbia and The Upsides, they had constructed an immaculate set list, causing surfers to plunge over and over again, enjoy the much happy atmosphere. The Wonder Years are a band who never disappoint and always bring everything they have to their shows, even at warped, you could tell that they were glad to be playing in front of any crowd, as they were doing it for themselves as well as their fans. A lot of other people really got into them as a lot of, small pits were forming with people running into each other, not caring what they were doing but just having fun in the process. Really enjoying their breathtaking performance it was back to the merch stalls for Neck Deep's acoustic set.

This took part whilst Real Friends set was on (bummer I missed them but at least I got to see them in Leeds)
The five piece band crowded round lead singer Ben who sat in-front with his acoustic guitar, surrounded by a crowd full of fans who desperate to hear some sweet sounds.
First up was "Head to the ground", with such a close view, I sat directly in-front of Ben as he began singing the first few lyrics of the song before a few more people form the crowd joined in. Watch it here: LIVE
After finishing the last verse, he had a little chat with the rest of us, generally asking us what we wanted to hear and if we were enjoying the tour so far, everyone seemed much to happy that he chose to play Dammit by Blink next which was a classic favorite in which the whole room knew and sang along to, before attempting to another song, Ben's nerves got the bets of him and he forgot the next lyrics which resulted in laughter. It's hard performing in front of a crowd and even at the stage in which Neck Deep are at you still get the nerves and forget things, as you could tell Ben would just shut his eyes and sing, he was very frightened but that din't stop him from screaming the next song, which Part of me again. This time it was his pure raw voice, just like in the music video, it echoed around each person, grabbing our gaze imminently. This was my favorite song in which they performed as it's uplifting and bright to end a set with. Luckily this time he managed to remembered the lyrics but passed the guitar on, knowing he'd mess it up, the crowd swayed from side to side slapping in appreciation.

Right after that the band did a signing to meet all their fans and proved to be full of character and chatty to everyone which was nice to see for a change.

 From one signing to the next, we moved on quickly to catch The all mighty Wonder Years as the queue had already gone out the door for them, they were high in demand for a lot of people. Seeing them live is one thing, but when you actually get upfront, face to face with one member and just talking to them is another. The band, again seemed more than comfortable talking to every single person, whilst signing autographs and taking pictures, The Wonder Years were in high spirits for a good few hours after they played an insane set.

Canterbury at their singing

We Came As Romans

 After a couple of signings, a band who I actually wanted to see were playing before Yellowcard and Parkway, Like Moths To Flames.

Providing a different mindset and atmosphere, the crowd was already going crazy by the time I got there, as it being the first time ever performing in the UK, they were more than ecstatic to play for us.
Live, the band proved worthy, and promising to return again, as they could tell they had a lot of hardcore fans out there, repeating back the lyrics, moshing along to each song.
Not even being around for that long, LMTF's have concurred their third year of being a band, as producing such an advanced metalcore sounding, they certainty got me in the motion of their music.

As they finished their set we swiftly moved to the East stage waiting for Parkway Drive, whilst Billy Talent's last couple of songs pelted out.
This way we got a great spot for Parkway as well as seeing them.

The West side appeared to pull a large group of older fans in, and even some from the East stage, as everyone loved a bit of Billy Talent whilst waiting for Parkway.
For me personally, Parkway should have headlined, as a lot of people have traveled a long distance just for them, as time pressed on the room soon became full with many excited faces.

Finally the countdown began with the ticking clock of Dark Days began to settle in, the crowd roared, screaming until each member appeared on stage with their hands in the air.
Right before Winston came on, people in the crowd had already started to form a circle pit, clearing the floor for a much large space. Zooming right into the verse, Winston arrived who was greeted with the fan cheers of the corwd, in perfect pitch, pushing their hands in the air at each word he screamed.

Seeing Parkway before, I knew I could expect it to be a mad one, with the crowd causing much havoc, but at Warped, this proved to be 10x harder, with three pits now forming in all directions of the floor.
Having Just an hour set, the band played out a mixture of songs from Deep Blue, Horizons for the oldies and also Atlas, their latest one, emerging them all within each other, everyone had their favorites played that night.


Situated at middle right, I joined in with the people around me, having enough space to move around in and not get too squashed, whilst hundreds of bodies floated along others heads, surfing their way to the front in a cyclic pattern, which seemed to never end.
In between songs, Winston took the time to give a quick talk to us and speech about themselves and what we wanted to hear as routine, they played Home is for the heartless, Boneyards, Swing, Carrion, Romance is Dead, and many more songs in which we could find ourselves connecting with.

Towards the end of the set, Winston announced that in a previous show they had 800 kids crowd surfing in one set, and asked London if we could beat that, triumph as ever, strong willed and determined, the crowd set out to break the records, and get as many kids in the air, clawing their way to the stage.

Not even counting how many made it, there was a swarm of bodies now, crashing into each other, avoid the three large, manic pits which were still going on, hundreds of kids had participated in this record challenge, proving that London still had it in them.

Honestly better than their last performance, Parkway had made their mark once again, providing Warped tour with an astonishing hardcore show for everyone to enjoy and get battered at, being the joint headliner, they were perfect to just lose your shit to and get battered along to heavy music.

Ending their set with cannons filled of confetti, drenching ourselves with its sparking dust, we all had our final song before the mighty Rise Against took to the stage just next door for the final show of the day.

(More form Rise Against and tomorrows chaos review shortly)
See Sunday review.