VENTS Magazine 73th issue VENTS 73 | Page 45

With Song River and Olivia Henderson for Vents Magazine

Yes we know it ' s the desert , it ' s June and it ' s hot enough to ground planes and fry an egg on the sidewalk here in Phoenix , Arizona but when and where there is music the burning sun will not hinder a true rock n roller .

Unfortunately we got a late start . Having to take care of a few things some bands we work with needed we didn ' t get on the road until an hour after opening gates . What usually takes us 40 minutes to drive took a bit over 2 hours due to traffic accidents , one pile up , being rerouted 3 times , and a fire along the 303 which caused traffic mayhem for 1 01 and I-1 7 connections which backed up the 202 and I-1 0 .

Ah traffic . It is everywhere you go and you deal and keep it easy .

We arrived at our destination finally and there were still folks arriving , a good sign . We were able to find a parking spot fairly close to the entrance . With over 1 5, 000 people coming through these gates on this particular day we would say that is pretty darn good as it had reached 11 7 as we exited the I-1 0 freeway .

Arriving at the spot to pick up our credentials we bump into a well-known valley photographer who had just arrived as well . Watching how quickly and easily he is taken care of felt good because the same was extended to us and the journalist behind us . They give us brief directions ... which is to ask at the gate what we need to know ...

The security people at the gate are great . Very pleasant to everyone . No one seemed to know where to point us to for press but one security person pointed us past several tents and said , " Maybe that way ?"

30 minutes passed trying to find what all we both needed to start work . No maps left , so we circled the circumference to find the stages and the layout this year , which we both thought was much easier . It flowed better . Even though most we asked questions to didn ' t really even know where they were by location inside they all were very kind and helped us and others all while they were very hot , tired- but still smiling .

* BTW- Kudos to 98 KUPD for being the radio station we saw help others the most . That ' s one radio station that always seems to have a good attitude and genuinely have fun no matter what venue their remote crew does .

Splitting up to begin , one of us headed to figure out who was playing where and the other to find the press location . By this time the hot winds had really picked up and all the merch tents were experiencing how to keep their tents from becoming parachutes .

Due to wind even the press tent had to close early .

Okay so due to life unseen we couldn ' t do everything we had planned so you do what you can . That ' s life .

Overall attendance the age group was made up more of 30 plus it appeared and less of the usual teen angst crowd Warped is known for . Not nearly as crowded as it has been in years past . The layout of the stages and tents flowed better this year in phoenix . Even without a map it could be figured out . Many in the crowd looked burnt to a crisp and stated still not enough places to get shade and misting . Water stations to fill up were accessible . Food was yummy but expensive , nachos 1 4. 00 dollars . But that ' s to be expected . The aid station was kept busy with overheated folks . The bands mentioned the heat prior to or in mid set but they powered through it . The bands kept to their time scheduled . A couple had electronic issues . One rappers computer was overheated and wouldn ' t work so they improvised . Security and staff were present , pleasant and helpful . No one over reaching their authority . Pit entrance was clear . All photographers adhered to the perimeters given and it ' s always great to see pros that you admire at these events .

Yes , everyone was super hot but everyone smiled and joked through it . The frustrations most heard on covering Warped is they aren ' t able to have enough ' person ' power on-site to get the coverage they want . That said , most festivals only allow a certain number of press in . This year according to postings read the number of tickets available per ' magazine ' were limited due to an abundance of applicants . Thoughts ? Our own are , if they give out more per ' magazine ' that severely limits including several various outlets their chances to cover . So it seems to us they are trying to give equal opportunities to as many as they can . And another thought we had is maybe ' full coverage ' isn ' t what Warped is all about . Maybe it ' s supposed to be varied and in the focused moments from multiple locations by a variety of varied observers . In the end we don ' t know , it ' s not our festival . Maybe we can email Kevin Lyman and ask . While asking offer up some suggestions you think of . That is helpful .

Every year is different . Every year and location brings new opportunities and challenges . Festivals are what they are and so far this years Warped was different in the bands and who the line up targeted- it ' s supposed to be different each year that ' s what makes it Warped .

Just have a great summer wherever you are along he way ! And for the press that are doing multiple stops- more power to you !