Van's Warped Tour

Wow. Wall to wall people, seven stages, 40 bands, music everywhere and a rigorous pace getting from one stage to the next. So well run though. Everything on time and the security people very cool, letting us do what we needed to do all day-- with the right credential of course-- but it was a crazy fabulous event out at the Sleep Train Ampitheatre in Marysville. I shot it for www.emusiconnect.com, a very cool and totally useful website dedicated to promoting music and events all over town.
Far and away my favorite band was The Matches. Four young guys from Oakland (and undeniably adorable judging by the dozens of smiling girls singing along in the audience) with great songs, energy and spirit that translates to one word-- EXCITING-- and I could not get enough. They played on one of the smaller stages but next time I'm betting they are on a main stage having been picked up by a label now-- Epitaph-- and the incredible talent and stage presence they have.

The Matches rock the SmartPunk Stage.
The headlining band was Story of the year and they deserved top billing. Great performance.

This is one of the NOFX guys making a lewd gesture after someone-- what were they thinking?-- sailed a breast implant kind of thing at him. Yikes.
See more of my Warped Tour pics at EmusiConnect.com, a great website for all the local music happenings in the entire Metropolitan Sacramento Area and the client I shoot lots of live music for.