The Warped Generation: What Happened?
by Rag Rabbit
The most impressive thing about the Vans Warped Tour is the way the machine is run. The Warped roadies work their asses off. Creating huge stages equipped with sound systems and miles of wire. Then tearing it all down, loading the trucks and rushing to the next location, rebuilding it all again, They do this across the country. Working in the night to keep the show on the road and the gates open the next day. For one day they create a rock n roll city for a subculture that likes to say and wear the word ‘ Fuck’.
We all say the word Fuck. It’s a word that can express so much by the way it is used. Commonly it is accepted when a friend uses it to express excitement or disbelief. But its frowned upon in public when used out loud. The word is not accepted on the radio, tv or any public platform (under supervision of the Federal Communications Commission). But at the Warped Tour, ‘Fuck’ is the key slogan. Not the let’s get sexy and do it kind, but more like this sucks, you suck and I want to destroy every fuckin thing so fuckin fuck the fuck off. From the stage you hear shouts like ‘put your fuckin hands in the air,’ and ‘thank you so fuckin much,’ and ‘we’re so fuckin stoked to be here.’ In the crowd black t shirts read statements like ‘fuck everything’ and ‘destroy’, ‘fuck off and die’, and ‘I don’t give a fuck so why should you.’
When Punk said fuck off, it meant step back and give respect. Here, Warpers use the word like it is cool. Like it’s the key word to the gang. Maybe it’s their way of rebelling and defying the status quo. Alright, I can back that, but I didn’t see many positive and affirmative slogans about peace and one love and consciousness.
Now I know I may be pissing a few people off. I am only generalizing. There are conscious people at the Warped Shows. The booths are an example of raising the awareness towards positive alternatives. Organizations like Save a Breast, Love Hope Strength, Human and Animal Rights and many others build a booth for a day to invite and inform the wandering Warpers. There is potential for education, even at a Warped Show.
Now about the music. The smaller stages hosted the most inspiring groups. Eclectic and diverse. But not many sounding original. The groups on the main stages must have takin the same training course at Rox R Us. They wear black, swing their heads, double kick the bass drums, they growl and show as many tattoos as possible and they say ‘Fuck’ a lot. Maybe the more you say ‘Fuck’ the cooler you are. I don’t know.
I did stay the whole day. There were a few decent acts, I heard melodies and saw passionate performances. I was able to see the good in it all with the help of humor. There was a buzz about an act coming on stage late in the day. I was anticipating something to give me a window to see where this scene and its music was going. A huge ‘flower of life’ symbol was stretched across the stage to announce this coming act. I was impressed and thought anyone aware of this sacred image had to have something to share. The crowd swelled and the group kicked into their first song. I didn’t get it, it sounded like they were playing the last song from the band before them. Is this a joke I thought, is the fact that these bands look and sound the same what is really cool? Am I so unhip? I stayed to hear more. There where fists in the air, people were getting it but I was puzzled. I had seen 8 bands before this one and it sounded like they were playing the same set list. Maybe it is cool that this group shared this sacred sybol as a backdrop, but did anyone get the meaning? Like using the word fuck, are we losing touch with the proper meaning of things and therefore creating a subculture of zombies?
The Warped Tour has an incredible history in Rock N Roll. Many great bands received their first exposure on its stages. Many relationships built. There is a conscious element to the organization itself. It is well organized and those involved at all levels are professional. So what’s the problem ? Maybe it is simply not my scene. Maybe I’m out of touch with the new rock music. I think not. Maybe it’s too much cooperate influence. It’s a fact that a young man or woman without direction is a perfect candidate for the military. Maybe it makes perfect sense that the U.S. Marines had a full page add in the Warped Tour Official Program?
Rag Rabbit- Opinions Are Like Assholes. Everybody Has One.
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