New Lead Singer, No Problem for Asking Alexandria
For the first time, Asking Alexandria took the Warped Tour stage without their long time frontman Danny Worsnop, but with 23-year-old Ukrainian singer Denis Stoff. Despite the lineup change, the band didn’t miss a beat in their performance. The British metalcore group entranced the late afternoon crowd, and their energy conveyed a full acceptance to Stoff’s renditions of the bands’ early hits like “A Prophecy” and “Breathless.” During their set they also covered one of their newest singles, originally fronted by Stoff, “I Won’t Give In.” The set combined with the crowd’s response left little doubt that many Asking Alexandria fans have accepted the switch of lead singer.
Not One Veil, But Two
Over the course of the day, the main stages at Warped Tour were graced by many great acts. In the mid-afternoon, two of the biggest hard rock acts of the day preformed back to back. These two bands have more than just genre and popularity in common; their names even share a word, Veil. Pierce the Veil, a San Diego-based progressive rock band, and Black Veil Bride,s a Hollywood-based heavy metal band. Pierce the Veil took the stage first, lead by frontman and Warped Tour 2015 Compilation CD cover artist Vic Fuentes. The audience was lost in the emotion given over in the bands passionate performance. They opened to their newest single “The Divine Zero” and finished their 7 song set with their top hit “King for a Day.” Black Veil Brides lead by Andy Biersack then took the adjacent stage to the roar of the crowd. The crowd was transfixed and looked almost possessed as they rocked out with Andy and the band. Their set kicked off with “Faithless” off their 2014 self titled album and included their hit song “In the End,” which reached no. 39 on the Billboard Rock Chart. Multiple members of Black Veil Brides wore Raiders gear, seemingly conveying the hopes of many in LA for a return of football in the form of the formerly Los Angeles now Oakland Raiders. It was very clear that neither of the Veils disappointed.
ATL Represent (on the Big Stage)
Not all the bands were from far away; in-fact, two Atlanta based bands shone on the main stages. Metalcore band Attila and the eclectic Family Force 5, who combine pop, rock, hip-hop, and sometimes even an 80s flair to create their unique sound. Attila and front man Chris Fronzak, who was wearing what seemed to be a heavy white jacket, began their set with their song “Middle Fingers Up;” during the song Fronzak and the band told the crowd to join them and “put up their middle fingers up.” The crowd was going crazy and absorbed Attila’s passion. Family Force 5’s quirkiness was infectious and for the last act of the night on the main stage, they brought smiles to many faces. Lead by Joshua Olds, it was obvious that the band was having a lot of fun on stage; from jumping on trampolines to banging huge drums, it was a party on stage. The band performed some of their big songs like “BZRK” to “Cray Button,” which included a costumed dance party on stage. They finished up with their hit song “Chainsaw.” Attila and Family Force 5 did not disappoint their fellow Atlantans.
Blessthefall Special Appearance
Fans of Blessthefall the Phoenix-based metalcore band, were in for a special treat during their set. At the start of the 3rd song, “Guys Like You Make Us Look Bad,” current lead singer Beau Bokan handed over the mike to the band’s original lead singer Craig Mabbitt who performed the song. Craig is now the lead singer of Escape the Fate, which is also on Warped Tour.
From start to finish, Aaron’s Amphitheater was rocking all day. Other acts at Warped Tour included: We Came as Romans, The Wonder Years, Man Overboard, Metro Station, Matchbook Romance, Riff-Raff, Pvris, and much more.
Pierce The Veil Gallery
Black Veil Brides Gallery
Man Overboard Gallery
The Wonder Years Gallery
Attila Gallery
Asking Alexandria Gallery
We Came As Romans Gallery
Blessthefall Gallery
Family Force 5 Gallery
