UTG PHOTOS: Warped Tour Cleveland, PART II

July 20th, 2012

Kellie Gannon

PART II – Vans Warped Tour Cleveland (Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center) July 11, 2012

During Part I of my day at Vans Warped Tour Cleveland, I covered five bands including Senses Fail, Tonight Alive, Anti-Flag, Pierce The Veil, and Yellowcard. If you missed Part I, you can see those photos here. Moving into the second part of the day, there were so many bands I wanted to cover that all seemed to be playing around the same time so I narrowed this part of the day down to four bands. Around the middle of the afternoon I began to feel that afternoon slump coming on, so while waiting for Sleeping With Sirens to begin playing on the Monster Energy Stage I indulged in a little pick me up from a Monster Energy Drink. Coincidence? I think not.

Sleeping With Sirens, hands down, is always my favorite band to catch not just at Warped, but anywhere. It’s hard to explain just what attracts me to their sound, but it could have something to do with their insanely catchy songs, those unique pipes on lead singer Kellin Quinn, the energy and charisma that pours out from the band onstage during every show, or how relatable their lyrics are. Whatever it is, I shot my three songs from the pit, then grabbed a spot up front, put my sunglases back on, and sang my heart out for the remainder of their set. That right there is what Warped is all about.

After Sleeping With Sirens, I went back down the hill to the Amphitheater for Breathe Carolina. This band for me is a wild card and this was my first time seeing them live. I love them and I hate them and it all depends on the song. I actually love the majority of their songs for their upbeat and fun nature, but can’t stand how “Blackout” is every fifteenth song on the radio. There, I said it. Regardless, their set was absolutely flawless, and wins hand down for “most Monster consumption” for the day, because that’s the only explanation I can come up with as to how they manage to run, bounce, and jump all over the place while still singing. If I were actually handing out awards, they’d also win for “most smiles” because not once during the entire set did vocalist Kyle Even let his huge smile fade. Mid-set they were joined onstage by Mod Sun and his water gun, treating the crowd to momentary relief from the heat and humidity.

The next band I caught was Of Mice And Men. I’ve had the opportunity to see them before and lead vocalist Austin Carlisle is one of my favorite front men to photograph. Carlisle is a natural onstage and knows just how to work a crowd. At one point toward the end of their set, he even commanded the crowd to part and form the largest circle pit I witnessed that day, and he did so with such intensity. OM&M never disappoints and knows how to keep people on their toes and having a good time.

The last band I covered during the middle of the day was Bayside. Bayside was another band I really got into during high school and they’ve always had a special place in my heart. I also made sure to shoot their set because while many other bands at Warped stand out for their crazy stage antics, Bayside is always a more reserved band that doesn’t need to rely on theatrics. Their distinct sound carries across the crowd and their songs resonate. The sun was also beginning to sink lower in the sky as Bayside played, thus creating a gorgeous backdrop of light behind the stage.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the journey so far through Part I and II of the day! Scroll down for more photos of Part II! Stay tuned for Part III of this exciting day of music, photos, and fun at Vans Warped Tour Cleveland!!

SLEEPING WITH SIRENS