Warped Tour attracts young, old

VANS WARPED TOUR, Utah State Fairpark, Saturday.

Donna Reed attended the Vans Warped Tour for the first time Saturday.

"I wanted to see the band The Academy Is," said the Ogden resident. In fact, she wanted to see the band so bad, she brought her daughter Stacey.

"She's here because I am," said Donna. "Her dad didn't want to come, so I brought her along."

The Reeds were blown away when they walked through the Utah State Fairpark gate.

"I didn't know that there were so many 'alternative' kids in Salt Lake," she said. "You don't know how many there are until you see them all together — punks and Goths and all that."

Reed said it was neat to see everyone here for the music. She said she likes The Academy Is because the band sounds like another of her favorite groups — Fall Out Boy.

"There's an understanding that rock music is only for kids," said Reed. "But I think that's wrong."

Stacey Reed concurred. "I don't know which bands are here playing," said the younger Reed with a smile.

The Reeds were two of thousands who made their way to this year's Warped Tour.

Now in its 12th year, the tour has become a summer tradition throughout the country. Salt Lake City is a regular stop for this punk-rock circus.

This year's event boasted nine stages. Each band played an average of 25 minutes, but the sets were explosive.

Up-and-coming groups such as the Pink Spiders, Audition and The American Black Lung battled the 100-degree heat to attract an audience.

Local groups such as Trademark and Meg & Dia proved they could hold their own alongside the national acts such as Bouncing Souls, Saves the Day and Anti-Flag.

But it was the old-schoolers Helmet and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts who showed the young bucks a thing or two. They sounded as vital and current as they did 20 years ago.

Event organizer/founder Kevin Lyman said the festival is a great way for new bands to get noticed, but also a comfortable place for cultural vets such as Jett and Helmet to be part of the niche they pioneered.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com