FAST AND FURIOUS REIGN AT VANS WARPED.Byline: Rick Mortensen Staff Writer THE TOUR THAT exports the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, lifestyle played its first Southern California date Tuesday at Fairplex in Pomona, proving itself the best organized, most musician-friendly tour of the summer. Perhaps the most uncommon aspect of the Vans Warped Tour Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues (generally parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected). - besides the skateboarding and motorcycle sideshow See Windows SideShow. - is its egalitarian approach to the 60-odd bands on its five stages. While they range in stature from unsigned to multiplatinum-selling, each band gets one half-hour set, and the order of the bands changes each day, so there's no headliner. This meant that some headline-caliber bands - such as the Used, Glassjaw and the Dropkick Murphys - played early afternoon slots when crowds were sparse. Far from complaining, however, these bands went all out with their sets and used a good portion of their patter pat·ter 1 v. pat·tered, pat·ter·ing, pat·ters v.intr. 1. To make a quick succession of light soft tapping sounds: Rain pattered steadily against the glass. to tout bands that were coming up. Stages featuring well-known bands were placed next to stages with lesser-known bands, and the perfectly staggered sets allowed the up-and- comers to get the dispersing crowd's attention. The most electrifying e·lec·tri·fy tr.v. e·lec·tri·fied, e·lec·tri·fy·ing, e·lec·tri·fies 1. To produce electric charge on or in (a conductor). 2. a. performer of the early afternoon was punk guru Andrew W.K. - of Coors beer commercial fame - who assembled a six-piece band in his own scruffy image. The band's anthemic, high-energy paeans to youth and individuality - which bear a trace of parody - were interspersed with sermons from the bearded frontman front·man n. 1. also front man A man who serves as a nominal leader but who lacks real authority. 2. Music A leading singer with a group. admonishing ad·mon·ish tr.v. ad·mon·ished, ad·mon·ish·ing, ad·mon·ish·es 1. To reprove gently but earnestly. 2. To counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution. 3. his young charges to enjoy every minute of their lives. The power chord-laden tunes - with expert piano fills by Andrew W.K. himself - inspired the crowd into friendly mosh pits. During a stage dive, guitarist Jimmy Coup pulled audience member Anthony Vanchure up on stage, coaxed him to the microphone and let him shout several choruses of ``Fun Night.'' Vanchure, who was celebrating his 18th birthday, had driven from San Diego for the show and had drawn a scruffy beard on his face in homage to Andrew W.K. Rancho Cucamonga-based band Rufio's energetic set drew a huge hometown crowd and provided a perfect showcase for its new album, ``MCMLXXXV (1985).'' Frontman Scott Sellers - who looked and sounded like Opie from Mayberry - earnestly delivered well-crafted pop-punk tunes like ``White Lights'' and ``Science Fiction,'' while bassist Jon Berry and guitarist Clark Domae leaped at each other from all angles. Putting in its sixth Warped Tour appearance, ska-punk band Less Than Jake gave a road-polished set mostly featuring material from its new album, ``Anthem.'' Dueling frontmen Chris and Roger (the band eschews last names) winked and mugged for the audience, and horn players J.R. and Buddy added to the energy by jumping around when they weren't playing. The set was tight and smooth, with one song leading into the next. The laid-back ska tune ``The Science of Selling Yourself Short'' had an infectious, bouncy groove that provided a break from the more hard-driving numbers. In contrast to Less Than Jake's set of mostly new material, punk band Rancid ran·cid adj. Having the disagreeable odor or taste of decomposing oils or fats. rancid having a musty, rank taste or smell; applied to fats that have undergone decomposition, with the liberation of fatty acids. led off with its mid-'90s radio hit ``Ruby Soho,'' and followed it with a bevy bevy a flock of birds. of other three-chord sing-alongs, each showcasing the talents of bassist Matt Freeman in a break or full-blown solo. Rancid's set was interrupted by an accident in the pit, but the band handled the situation magnificently, calming the crowd with acoustic covers and lame jokes until the medics removed the injured party. After that, Rancid worked the crowd up again with material from its new album, ``Indestructible in·de·struc·ti·ble adj. Impossible to destroy: indestructible furniture; indestructible faith. [Late Latin ind .'' WARPED TOUR - Four stars Where: California State University Enrollment  , Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd. When: Noon Friday. Tickets: $27. (213) 480-3232; www.warpedtour.com. In a nutshell: Egalitarian, fan-friendly, energetic. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Evan Menezes gets some air during a skateboard demonstration at the Vans Warped Tour stop at the Fairplex in Pomona. (2) Proving he's more than an unwashed ex-boyfriend of Kelly Osbourne, singer Bert McCracken energizes the Vans Warped crowd with his band, the Used. Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino/Staff Photographer |
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