ANTHONY (Southeast Auburn, WA 6/28)
How much do I want a picture with Sydney Sierota (Echosmith) or Tay Jardine (We Are The In Crowd)? A lot. But anyways, let’s do a top 5:
5. Anberlin (@anberlin)
Since this is undoubtedly their last Warped Tour, this long-running Florida band is a must-see before the farewell album and tour become all-too-real. Unfortunately, lowborn‘s release was pushed a month back to July 22nd, which means that Seattle may not be ready to sing along with the new material. Anberlin will play the Warheads Stage with We Are The In Crowd, The Maine, The Ready Set, Saves The Day, and more.
4. Yellowcard (@Yellowcard)
Yellowcard is to my heart as Ellie Goulding is… to my heart. I’ve loved them since Ocean Avenue, and in the years since the breakup, the reformation, and the resurgence, I’ve only come to appreciate them more. This year’s Warped run will sadly be the first major tour without founding drummer Longineu Parsons III, but Anberlin wunderkind-turned-wunderman drummer Nate Young will run the kit all Summer! Yellowcard will play the Kia Soul Stage with the likes of For Today, Breathe Carolina, Finch, Less Than Jake, and more.
3. This Wild Life (@thiswildlife)
I heard this duo perform early in 2014 for Emery’s 10th Anniversary tour. Wow. Wow. Kevin Jordan and Anthony (great name) Del Grosso make for a wondrous songwriting team, and perform with all the heart and emotion found in the studio. New album Clouded is making a ruckus, so be sure to check these guys out on the Warheads Stage all Summer.
2. The Devil Wears Prada (@TDWPband)
8:18 was my #1 record of 2013, just as the 8:18 tour was one of my favorite shows all year. These metalcore vets are poised to blow out the Electric Soul Stage all Summer with bands like Bowling For Soup, Falling In Reverse (merp), The Story So Far, and We The Kings.
1. Neck Deep (@NeckDeepUK)
This young band has carved out a pop punk sound that is both perfectly relevant and entirely their own. As far as I know, this will be Neck Deep’s first major US tour, and almost certainly their first time in the Pacific Northwest. New album Wishful Thinking is definitely one of my top records of 2014, and if the live footage on YouTube is any indication, these guys are a blast live. Neck Deep will take the Hard Rock Kevin Says Stage with A Lot Like Birds, Dangerkids, State Champs, and more.