For the past 24 summers, punk rock in all its glory was celebrated with the traveling road show that is the Vans Warped Tour. All good things must come to an end and earlier this year festival founder Kevin Lyman announced that 2018 would be the final cross country run for Warped Tour, saying in a statement, “I truly am happy to get the chance to travel around the country one more time to thank you for your support, and bring you another best day ever.”
Chicago-area concert-goers were treated to a rad, rainy and unforgettable day of music when the final edition of Warped Tour Tinley Park took over the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre on Saturday, July 21. Peppered among the predominately male lineup – which featured stand-out sets from Simple Plan, Reel Big Fish, Senses Fail, Tinley’s own Real Friends and many more – the women of Warped Tour 2018 delivered some of the best performances of the sold-out event.
The members of Tonight Alive are no strangers to Warped Tour – having previously performed in 2012, 2013 and 2016 – but Jenna McDougall and company’s 2018 set was better than ever as the Australian rockers came armed with a not-so-secret weapon… new material from their latest release Underworld. Beginning their set with the album opener “Book of Love,” they wasted no time to showcase McDougall’s vocal and emotional range.
“This is a song for the lonely boys and girls in the crowd,” she said before belting into The Other Side hit “Lonely Girl.” The song reached its cathartic pinnacle with McDougall leading fans at the Journeys Right Foot Stage in a middle finger salute and defiant lament for everyone who’s fed up with being disrespected. “That feels good doesn’t it,” she said prompting another round of cheers. “How Does It Feel?,” “Crack My Heart” and “The Edge” were further highlights of Tonight Alive’s final Warped Tour Tinley set.
An occasional downpour soaked the grounds at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, but that didn’t deter Doll Skin fans from posting up early to get as close as possible to the all-female rock group comprised of Sydney Dolezal, Alex Snowden, Nicole Rich and Meghan Herring. Doll Skin one-upped the rain by smiling, shredding and unleashing perfect pop punk melodies on the Owly.fm Stage.
Elsewhere, Aimee Allen and the brothers Bivona of The Interrupters brought their infectious ska sounds to the Journeys Left Foot Stage and Tat front woman Tatiana DeMaria treated fans to an intimate afternoon set on the Full Sail Stage.
Warped Tour will be remembered as so much more than the largest and longest-running traveling music festival in North America. It has become a place to fall in love with new music – Katy Perry, No Doubt and Paramore all performed on the fest before becoming superstars – as well as connect with local non-profits and even performing artists at special on-site workshops. Warped Tour as we know it may be over, but its impact and influence on the state of popular music and the rise of the festival scene will never be forgotten. Thanks for the memories!
More information on the remaining dates of Vans Warped Tour 2018 can be found at www.vanswarpedtour.com.