The Vans Warped Tour has launched again — a sure sign that summer is here and the time is right for punk fun, not on the streets, but the at the sites of this annual fun-fest for the genuinely young and young-at-musical-heart.

Emo rock took a backseat to the Warped Tour’s core sound of punk, plus dashes of power pop and some ska too, as the annual tour kicked off its “Lucky 13″ anniversary edition this past Friday (June 29th) at the Fairplex in Pomona, California.

The sold-out first of 45 dates across the country found a crowd ranging from ‘tweens to a scattering of older adults dealing well with hot (but not painfully searing) temperatures while creating an instant musical community. Though unity in diversity is still an underlying theme (along with Bush administration bashing cheered on by many), one booth was hawking “I hate Emo” shirts, so there you go.

The legends and veterans spots were filled by the ever-fierce and politically-charged Bad Religion who, of course, could be the fathers of the average late-teen concert-goers, as well as that juggernaut of fire Pennywise, and an early day appearance from late ’70s L.A. punk scene icons, The Circle Jerks.

As in the past, L.A.-based Epitaph Records was behind some of the most riveting sets, from Bad Religion and Pennywise to the expanding-beyond-psychobilly Tiger Army, which is on the Hellcat label.

Among the younger heroes were Florida’s New Found Glory (no longer major label and seemingly happy to be indie label rable-rousers again), Capitol’s inventive Yellowcard, Virgin’s Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (also out of the Sunshine state) and metallic prog-rockers Coheed & Cambria.

Enthusiastic Punky Power Pop turns included the spunky Paramore out of Tennessee, signed to Fueled By Ramen/Atantic, fronted by red-orange-blonde-haired singer Hayley Williams and recalling the abandon and street appeal of early No Doubt, before Gwen Stefani turned to dance-pop cotton candy. Also turning in a winning set was Buffalo’s Cute Is What We Aim For, showing a knack for riff-slinging with hooks.

With two main stages on each side of the field (one dubbed 13 and the other Lucky), plus various other stages sponsored by Hurley, Ernie Ball and other companies, there were dozens about dozens of bands to sample and discover, such as sisters Meg and Dia (Frampton) from Utah, another pop-laced delight to contrast the usual helpings of aggro-cookie-monster growl outfits that also make up part of the sonic landscape.

The band and label booths were a testimony to reach out marketing and merchandising, where fans could often pick up a T-shirt or CD for only $10, considerably lower than the typical concert venue.

The Warped Tour has often be billed as a punk rock carnival (or summer camp), so the Bros. Grimm sideshow fits right in as a old-stule barker beckoned to passers-by from a podium in front of various banners displaying the assortment of freakish talents within the tent of mystery.

The festival idiots award, hands-down, goes to Hawaii’s Pepper, playing tepid funk-punk laced with reggae, coming off as a second rate Red Hot Chili Peppers/311 but neither red hot nor chili-spiced in any way. Hey, porn and lust can be swell, but the group’s on-stage blather-drool about female genetalia was like 12-year-olds discovering sex talk or the most annoying drunk frat boys at a college party who think they’re the universe’s gift–and they’re hardly that. Not even close.

Also, considering the tour’s eco-intiatives for bands, crew, vendors, etc., the attending kids need more lessons in recyclling, considering how many plastic bottles and other trash littered the event’s massive field area.

But overall, there’s still nothing like the Warped Tour. In its own special way, the most “family” musical event out there, especially when mom and/or dad and the kids all enjoy cranked-up guitars making an often-joyous racket. Supreme kudos to founder–guiding light Kevin Lyman for creating a mallable, ever-changing but dependable staple of the season. Without the Warped Tour, it wouldn’t be summer at all.

For a sampler platter on disc, try the Vans Warped Tour: 2007 Tour compilation on Side One Dummy Records, which has become another annual tradition of sorts to go with America’s longest-running touring festival.

Popularity: 2% [?]