Warped Tour 2010 @ Darien Lake Darien, NY July 14, 2010

Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 16:34 Written by Steve Bowe Wednesday, 21 July 2010 16:25

    I try to be as positive as possible when reviewing shows and I promise I’ll do that now as well.  But the truth is, Warped Tour 2010 had more uneventful moments than I usually expect at a show as large as Warped Tour.
    It’s not possible to hit every single stage and experience every band that plays, and maybe that was the issue on Wednesday, 7/14/2010, at Darien Lake in Western New York.  Or maybe I’m becoming a worse music snob than I thought I was.  Who knows?  One thing I’m not going to do is point out the bands that I thought were “less than average.”  Maybe someone will dig them, but there were way too many moments where I walked away from the experience thinking, “why the hell are they on this tour?”  That being said, let’s focus on the positive for now.  There were some guarantees within the line-up.  Andrew W.K. is always a party, Sum 41 plays like they’re at a party and someone just happened to have instruments to play and Every Time I Die should have named themselves “Every Time I Have A Kickass Time.”  Unfortunately, conflicting set times, as well as interviews that bands didn’t show up for, prevented attendance at All American Rejects, Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence, Pierce the Veil and a few more.
    Lest you think I’m reverting back to negativity, I will correct you right now.  There were a few stellar moments when I witnessed bands that nailed it 100%.  Emmure is always a treat to see live.  Picture Meshuggah with a slight hint of what might be hip-hop.  You have to look for it, but it’s there – and it kills.  Nasty-as-hell guitars, solid drums, bass that actually exists on its own within the songs, topped off by a guy who sounds like his warm up routine revolves around gargling roofing nails.  Spectacular!  On a totally different note, Reverend Peyton and His Big Damn Band make you want to move out to the country, drink moonshine and yell random shit for no reason.  This is a band that brings the crowd into the performance like none other.  One of the best pickers to ever play a slide, his wife playing washboard and his cousin playing drums.  Need I say more?  These three (3) are truly a wonder of nature.  
    All in all, it wasn’t a spectacular day.  I’m not saying that I didn’t have a good time, I just didn’t walk away from every stage thinking, “Holy crap that was great” like I have at previous Warped Tours.  Then again, you may ask one of your friends that was there and they’ll tell you that I’m just a music snob.  Guilty as charged.

We would like to thank Noel Kiswiney of MSOPR for allowing Backstageaxxess.com to review the show.