The Vans Warped Tour returns to Las Vegas this Friday, June 28, at the Silverton Hotel & Casino. Once again, the traveling festival features an eclectic mix of bands ranging from ska, hardcore, punk, folk and everything in between. It can be hard to decide what bands to see, especially with so many stages overlapping and set times not revealed until the morning of the show. But in an attempt to help lead you to the cream of the crop we have our third annual “bands not to miss at the Warped Tour” list! In no significant order except for alphabetical:
The Aquabats – Honestly, do I even need to say anything about this band’s live performances? With their signature bright blue outfits and silver caps, MC Bat Commander and his team of heroes are here to fight crime and face villains all while playing their hits. Look out for props like pool floaties and beach balls when they play “Pool Party!” – Ian
The American Scene (acoustic) – The American Scene’s Safe For Now was one of my favorite records last year and they impressed me even more with their live show when they rolled through town a few months back with The Story So Far. Frontman Matthew Vincent is on Warped this summer, playing American Scene songs as well as tunes from his recently released split with Alexander Correia of The Tower and The Fool. If it’s anything like the acoustic performance we filmed with him, it is sure to be a huge highlight. – Steven
Big D and the Kids Table – I’ve been following Big D since 2004’s stellar How It Goes. A solid ska/punk band back then, they’ve managed to redefine themselves with every new release. It will be interesting to see which songs they pick out to play from their extensive catalog, but whatever they choose, it’s going to be great. – Ian
Forever Came Calling – If you’ve seen the Warped Tour documentary No Room for Rockstars or have seen one of our Stripped Down Sessions with vocalist/guitarist Joe Candelaria than you’ve only gotten a taste of what this band has to offer. With some of the best lyrics and catchiest hooks in the pop punk scene right now it’s been awesome seeing these guys get bigger with every year and I’m excited to see them on the big Warped stage. – Steven
letlive. – One of the bands representing the heavier side of the musical spectrum at Warped this year is California-based post-hardcore band letlive. Saying “hardcore” and “Warped Tour” together is enough to make some people preemptively cringe but letlive.’s style is heavily rooted in Glassjaw influence and are sure to win over music fans young and old alike. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing them live but I’ve heard that they are even more intense on stage and I can’t wait to check them out. – Steven
Motion City Soundtrack – I’ve been trying to see this band live since I was 15 years old and have yet to succeed. Furthermore, I had no idea they were on Warped until about four days ago and now I’m extra glad I requested Friday off work. Motion City has always been fun to listen to, easy to relate with and they’ve always been unique. It’s been eight years since Commit This To Memory came out, so what’s the big deal in waiting a couple more days to finally see them live? – Felipe
The Story So Far – TSSF has been all over the place. Literally, overseas and all. And it’s only right that they join one of the most popular annual tours in the country while they’re in their prime. Fresh off their sophomore album What You Don’t See and split EP with Stick To Your Guns, the roasting crowd at the Silverton will finally hear some of the newest songs live. And don’t worry about the heat, the last time this band was in town the room came close to two-hundred degrees, albeit on the floor in some bar, but still. Be there. – Felipe
The Swellers – Every time I see The Swellers, they push the bar in terms of just how great a punk band can sound live. Singer Nick Diener sounds amazing in a live setting and the band flawlessly plays their most complex songs with grace and gusto. – Ian
Allison Weiss – Indie rock songstress Allison Weiss released one of the year’s catchiest albums with her No Sleep Records debut Say What You Mean, and she’s built up a reputation as an excellent live performer, hitting the road with bands like Pentimento and Handguns. This is her first performance in Vegas and I can’t wait to hear how the songs sound live. – Steven
The Wonder Years – The Greatest Generation was a great success so I hope their set is full of new stuff. This album revived my love for The Wonder Years, keeping their sincerity and expanding on some heavier topics, while also turning up the tempo and aggression. Soupy & co. never disappoint on stage and their crowds don’t either. Look for an excited bunch of people to watch an excited bunch of musicians do their thing. – Felipe
The Vans Warped Tour takes place Friday, June 28 at the Silverton Casino. Doors are at 11am and tickets start at $29.65 and can be purchased from the Silverton website. For more Warped Tour fun, check out our playlist of Warped Tour bands performing Punks in Vegas Stripped Down Sessions here.
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