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The Vans Warped Tour said its goodbye to fans in 2018, with a farewell trek that included a stop at Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View.
Now, one year later, it’s back and ready to rock and roll Shoreline on June 20-21.
But don’t get confused (even though, indeed, it’s a little bit confusing). This isn’t a full-on tour, but one of a small handful of events marking the 25th anniversary of Warped that founder Kevin Lyman long ago said he planned on doing in 2019.
So, just chalk it up as another reason why music fans are so fortunate to live in the Bay Area. After all, this Shoreline stand is the only Vans Warped Tour event happening on the West Coast this year.
Lyman and company have certainly put together an impressive lineup to mark the anniversary. Andrew W.K., Bad Religion, the Offspring, Thrice, Jawbreaker, Simple Plan, Save Ferris, the Vandals, the Story So Far, NOFX, the Used and Sum 41 are among the 60-plus acts set to perform.
Music starts at 1 p.m. each day. Single-day tickets are $71 and two-day passes are $121, ww.livenation.com.
Here are our top picks for the 2019 Vans Warped Tour at Shoreline
Day 1, Saturday, July 20
Save Ferris
We basically dig any band that takes its name from a John Hughes film — in this case, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” — and covers a Dexys Midnight Runners song. But Save Ferris also checks off many other important boxes as well, including being one of the finest ska-punk bands to rise out of Orange County in the ’90s and having sensational frontwoman Monique Powell on the microphone.
Listen to: “Come on Eileen” (the Dexys Midnight Runners cover in question), “The World Is New”
The Vandals
Defiantly goofy and juvenile, this iconic Huntington Beach punk act is known for such memorably titled albums as “Internet Dating Superstuds,” “Look What I Almost Stepped In …” and “Hitler Bad, Vandals Good.” It’s pretty certain that Blink-182 would never have happened without the Vandals. But don’t hold that against them.
Listen to: “Let the Bad Times Roll,” “I’ve Got an Ape Drape”
Skating Polly
Last year, we asked Joe Doe of X to name his all-time favorite punk records. He named a number of usual suspects (like the first Damned outing and a Ramones offering). But he also listed “The Make It All Show,” which is the latest from Skating Polly. That’s a big endorsement and one you should definitely follow when this tuneful sibling trio out of Oklahoma City plays Warped.
Listen to: “Camelot,” “Stop Digging”
Off!
Make a date with this Los Angeles hardcore punk super-group, featuring Keith Morris (Circle Jerks/Black Flag), Steven Shane McDonald (Redd Kross), Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides) and Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From the Crypt/Hot Snakes). The band made its live debut at the big South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, in 2010 and has been a popular concert attraction ever since.
Listen to: “Wrong,” “I Don’t Belong”
Fishbone
We have several friends who’d probably no longer speak to us if we forgot to include this legendary funk-punk-metal-ska juggernaut. So, here’s a vote for Los Angeles’ mighty Fishbone, which still features original members Angelo Moore, John Norwood Fisher, Philip “Fish” Fisher, Walter A. Kibby II and Christopher Dowd.
Listen to: “When Problems Arise,” “Sunless Saturday”
Bad Religion
The single best reason for attending Day One of Warped is to see powerful vocalist Greg Graffin lead his comrades in arms though a blistering set of politically charged punk poetry. Simply put, Bad Religion is one of the greatest punk bands of all time.
Listen to: “Them and Us,” “21st Century (Digital Boy)”
Day 2, Sunday, July 21:
Jawbreaker
And the best reason for showing up on Day Two of Warped would have to be this highly influential emo/punk act, which is back in action after more than 20 years apart. It’s your chance to soak up the greatness of singer-songwriter Blake Schwarzenbach and hopefully hear highlights from the group’s four acclaimed ’90s albums, which served as a road map for such acts as My Chemical Romance, Jimmy Eat World and Fall Out Boy to follow.
Listen to: “Busy,” “Fireman”
Whitney Peyton
Word is starting to spread about this Philadelphia rapper, who has mad skills on the microphone and a knack for crafting memorable tunes. She’s known for being the first hip-hop artist signed to Tragic Hero Records, a label that typically inks metalcore and post-hardcore acts like the Dead Rabbits and Invent Animate.
Listen to: “That’s On You,” “Let Me In”
Go Betty Go
This is one of our favorite bands on the entire two-day Warped bill. Just spend a few minutes listening to this terrific Los Angeles pop-punk group – which has been compared to the Go-Go’s – and we think you’ll be singing the praises of Go Betty Go as well. There’s an immediacy, an urgency, to the music that is nearly irresistible.
Listen to: “Go Away,” “By Your Side”
Hyro the Hero
Rage Against the Machine just too mellow for you? Then it might be time to try Hyro the Hero, the Houston-born rapper who is doing absolutely amazing — and downright ferocious — things with his biting blend of hip-hop and hard rock. He’s out on the road in support of his long awaited sophomore effort, “Flagged Channel,” which follows 2011’s “Birth, School, Work, Death.”
Listen to: “Sleeping Giants,” “Bullet”
The Dollyrots
We totally dig this pop-punk outfit, consisting of vocalist-bassist Kelly Ogden and her guitar-slinging husband Luis Cabezas. But don’t just take our word on the matter. You can also ask the one and only Joan Jett, whose label Blackheart Records put out two Dollyrots albums, 2007’s “Because I’m Awesome” and 2010’s “A Little Messed Up.”
Listen to: “Because I’m Awesome,” “Twist Me to the Left”
VANS WARPED TOUR
When: 1 p.m. June 20-21
Where: Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View
Tickets: Single-day tickets are $71 and two-day passes are $121, ww.livenation.com.
