Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Underoath, Thrice, Bad Religion, Less Than Jake, NOFX and Anti-Flag
are among the dozens of bands confirmed for the 2009 Vans Warped
Tour, which begins June 26 in Pomona, Calif., and will wrap Aug. 23
in Los Angeles.
Also on the bill for the 15th edition of the tour are Bayside,
Bouncing Souls, Chiodos, Escape The Fate, Meg & Dia, Senses
Fail, Silverstein, the Ataris, Gallows, Flogging Molly,
Alexisonfire and Black Tide. For a full list of bands, visit
WarpedTour.com.
Last summer, Warped was not immune to the economic realities of
producing a major festival. Tour creator Kevin Lyman wrote on the
Warped site that when the jaunt began in Southern California,
"sales were down almost 25% from 2007.
Was it true? No one had money for tickets, or for gas to get them
to the shows? Was this going to be the end for touring as we knew
it? Many people recommended cutting bands, stages, sending
attractions home ... anything to save money. Gas prices were up,
food costs were up and less people were coming to shows. When
things got tight, I stood my ground and said I believed in the
package and the tour and things would turn around -- and they did.
What turned around was your excitement for the bands we
booked."
Meanwhile, the trek's history is chronicled on "The Warped Tour: A
Concert, A Culture, An Entire Generation," a new documentary which
can be ordered from the Warped site.
