A.K.A.s to Be Joined Onstage by Gym Class Heroes?: Warped Tour Warm-Up
buzzbot
Jun 12, 2008
It hasn't been easy for A.K.A.s (Are Everywhere!) to get on Warped Tour – as singer Mike Ski tells Buzznet, they resorted to an e-mail petition and "other acts bordering on stalking" to get organizer Kevin Lyman's OK. But now they're on the bill, and they've got some big things planned for this year's summer trek.
It's going to be a long summer for the A.K.A.s, who will be traveling as part of the tour for the entire stretch – in their van. "I'll be killing time looking for someone else's bus to cool down on!" Ski admitted to Buzznet.
Despite the five-member crew's close confines while trekking from city to city, Ski still seems optimistic – scary-optimistic, in fact. The upbeat musician also hinted at a possible collabo with Gym Class Heroes, some cool handmade merch the band will be selling and more.
Buzznet: Share some highlights, good or bad, of past Warped Tours you've played or attended.
Mike Ski: In 2005, the A.K.A.s had worked exceptionally hard to get on Warped Tour, including an e-mail petition, a weekly e-mail to organizer Kevin Lyman every Wednesday for six months, and other acts bordering on stalking. For us, just having the opportunity to play was a highlight and a victory. The main highlight is having the chance to meet kids and other bands, and the endless possibilities to be creative and connect with new fans and friends. After breaking down on the way to the first show, an unusually kind mechanic stayed at the shop till 10 p.m. fixing our trailer. After we made it to the show, played and hustled all day ... we had access to the water park next door for a fun-filled night of swimming and water slides. It was an amazing turn of events.
Bad highlights for us were little to no sleep with the all-night drives in the van and not having an escape from the heat. While we were loading our gear after playing one day, I saw a girl pass out, fall out and piss all over the ground. I felt so bad for her. It's important to protect yourself from the heat and stay hydrated!
Being subject to mother nature's wrath is also an interesting highlight. In Buffalo [New York], our stage was actually struck by lightning and our merch tent blown away and completely destroyed in a storm that followed. Running to the van in the pouring rain carrying two guitars, I literally lost my shoes.
Buzznet: Which bands are you most looking forward to seeing perform? Who do you think will blow up after Warped?
Ski: I'm looking forward to seeing one of my faves, Rise Against, every day! Also excited to see The Aggrolites, The Bronx, Against Me!, Beat Union, Set Your Goals, Broadway Calls and hopefully be acidentally turned on to something new that I haven't heard by a new band (another exciting thing about Warped Tour).
I think Beat Union is awesome, and if people connect with them, it will be a turn of the tides towards great music. I haven't seen them yet, so I'm hoping they're a radical live band.
Buzznet: What will you be doing to kill time on the tour bus?
Ski: We'll be in a van, so I'll be killing time looking for someone else's bus to cool down on! Despite the heat, we'll be doing our best to be around our merch booth all day and helping out friends from peta!, Hooligan Skates, etc. and making the most of the chance to be around and meet kids. We'll also be spreading the word about reusing, recycling and conscious consumerism. The Kevin Says Stage we are playing is completely run by solar energy, so we're stoked to spread the word.
Buzznet: What's the best way to cure the heat while touring with Warped?
Ski: Drink lots and lots of water. Any chance to re-energize yourself by sneaking into the air conditioning for a couple minutes ... and try to shade yourself from the hot sun. I love seeing kids taking a break under a tree in the grass and relaxing in the shade. I want to make sure I take the time to do that too!
Buzznet: How has Warped evolved over the years in your opinion?
Ski: When I first went to Warped Tour in the mid-'90s, it was still awesome, but nowhere near the scale it has achieved now. I think it has definitely reached a "phenomenon" status. One of the most impressive things about Warped Tour is that it has reinvented itself to stay relevant to young people consistently. Kids always look forward to Warped Tour all year, every year. That is magical. It's become a way to introduce people to new music and ideas rather than just being a music festival.
Buzznet: List a few items on your rider that we might not expect.
Ski: Haha, this is a good one. We don't have anything crazy like a bowl of vanilla soy ice cream. [Keyboardist] Josie [Outlaw] just said "our rider is like a poor college kid's shopping list." We'll keep going as long as we have some water and some yummy vegetarian eats. Warped Tour catering is top-notch.
Buzznet: Do you have anything unusual planned for your set, whether it be cover songs, tracks you normally don't play?
Ski: We'll be playing tracks from our new album, Everybody Make Some Noise!, to spread the word, and possibly having some occasional guest appearances from some friends (cough cough, GCH, cough) ...
Buzznet: Are you planning any props, backdrops, screens or anything else in terms of stage setup?
Ski: We'll have some screens that we are making ourselves for our stage show and planning some really cool events for our merch booth where kids can help make their own one-of-a-kind A.K.A.s shirt, get a haircut from Josie Outlaw, or other cool and unique stuff. We also print and make all our own merch, so expect some really cool hands-on artwork and a rack of one-of-a-kind reconstructed items.
Buzznet: What's the best part about playing Warped?
Ski: Hands down, the best part is that it's an open-ended opportunity that is as hood as you make it, depending on how hard you're willing to work. We'll be out there talking to people, handing out flyers, etc. ... so we're hoping to meet some new people, make some new fans and see some great bands!
Buzznet: Any tips for people going for the first time?
Ski: Make sure to dress comfortably, bring sunscreen, sunglasses and possibly a hat that will shade your little face! Also, make sure to have enough money to afford to drink water throughout the day to keep from getting dehydrated! If you're hot and need a place to sit, come to our tent, have a set ... and tell us Buzznet sent you! See you there!
Don't miss our nonstop Warped Tour coverage:
"Forever the Sickest Kids Want 'A Monkey at Every Show': Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: Roll Call - and Dos and Don'ts"
"Charlotte Sometimes Wonders if She'll Blow Up This Summer: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: A Guide to Pit Etiquette"
"1997 Keyboardist Longs for the Slip-N-Slide: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: The VIP Guide"
"Protest the Hero Singer Says 'We Don't Roll Like Carrot Top': Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Set Your Goals Are Packing Extra Boxers: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: Top 10 Must-Haves"
"Two More Killer Bands Added to Warped Tour Main Stage"
Also, feast your eyes on these pics of Katy Perry, Beat Union and more at the Warped Tour kickoff show on April 11 in West Hollywood, California – click on the image below:
Get psyched for summer with Buzznet's Warped Tour 2008 gallery:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
See which females will be rocking out on Warped this summer:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
Check out these bands that will be playing Warped for the first time:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
Find out which Warped artists are out of their twenties:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
Warped Tour dates:
6.20: Pomona, CA @ Pomona Fairgrounds
6.21: San Francisco, CA @ Pier 30/32
6.22: Ventura, CA @ Seaside Park
6.25: Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
6.26: Las Cruces, NM @ N.M.S.U. Practice Field
6.28: Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA
6.29: Denver, CO @ Invesco Field
7.1: St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.2: Kansas City, KS @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.3: Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center
7.5: San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.6: Houston, TX @ Sam Houston Race Park
7.9: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater
7.10 : Orlando, FL @ Central Florida Fairgrounds
7.11: Tampa, FL @ Vinoy Park
7.12: Miami, FL @ Bicentennial Park
7.13: Jacksonville, FL @ St. Johns County Fairgrounds
7.14: Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.15: Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.16: Washington DC @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
7.17: Cleveland, OH @ Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City
7.18: Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park
7.19: Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park Allen Road
7.20: Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean Drapeau
7.23: Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
7.24: Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
7.25: Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
7.26: Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
7.27: Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
7.28: Englishtown, NJ @ Raceway Park
7.29: Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette Pavilion
7.30: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
7.31: Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
8.1: Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheatre
8.2: Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
8.3: Minneapolis, MN @ Canterbury Park
8.5: Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
8.6: Calgary, AB @ Race City Speedway
8.8: Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre
8.9: Seattle, WA @ George Amphitheatre
8.10: Portland, OR @ Columbia Meadows
8.13: Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
8.14: San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
8.15: San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
8.16: Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre Lot
8.17: Los Angeles, CA @ Home Depot Center
Win Warped tix on Buzznet right here!
Get your Warped fix with our nonstop coverage right here.
It's going to be a long summer for the A.K.A.s, who will be traveling as part of the tour for the entire stretch – in their van. "I'll be killing time looking for someone else's bus to cool down on!" Ski admitted to Buzznet.
Despite the five-member crew's close confines while trekking from city to city, Ski still seems optimistic – scary-optimistic, in fact. The upbeat musician also hinted at a possible collabo with Gym Class Heroes, some cool handmade merch the band will be selling and more.
Buzznet: Share some highlights, good or bad, of past Warped Tours you've played or attended.
Mike Ski: In 2005, the A.K.A.s had worked exceptionally hard to get on Warped Tour, including an e-mail petition, a weekly e-mail to organizer Kevin Lyman every Wednesday for six months, and other acts bordering on stalking. For us, just having the opportunity to play was a highlight and a victory. The main highlight is having the chance to meet kids and other bands, and the endless possibilities to be creative and connect with new fans and friends. After breaking down on the way to the first show, an unusually kind mechanic stayed at the shop till 10 p.m. fixing our trailer. After we made it to the show, played and hustled all day ... we had access to the water park next door for a fun-filled night of swimming and water slides. It was an amazing turn of events.
Bad highlights for us were little to no sleep with the all-night drives in the van and not having an escape from the heat. While we were loading our gear after playing one day, I saw a girl pass out, fall out and piss all over the ground. I felt so bad for her. It's important to protect yourself from the heat and stay hydrated!
Being subject to mother nature's wrath is also an interesting highlight. In Buffalo [New York], our stage was actually struck by lightning and our merch tent blown away and completely destroyed in a storm that followed. Running to the van in the pouring rain carrying two guitars, I literally lost my shoes.
Buzznet: Which bands are you most looking forward to seeing perform? Who do you think will blow up after Warped?
Ski: I'm looking forward to seeing one of my faves, Rise Against, every day! Also excited to see The Aggrolites, The Bronx, Against Me!, Beat Union, Set Your Goals, Broadway Calls and hopefully be acidentally turned on to something new that I haven't heard by a new band (another exciting thing about Warped Tour).
I think Beat Union is awesome, and if people connect with them, it will be a turn of the tides towards great music. I haven't seen them yet, so I'm hoping they're a radical live band.
Buzznet: What will you be doing to kill time on the tour bus?
Ski: We'll be in a van, so I'll be killing time looking for someone else's bus to cool down on! Despite the heat, we'll be doing our best to be around our merch booth all day and helping out friends from peta!, Hooligan Skates, etc. and making the most of the chance to be around and meet kids. We'll also be spreading the word about reusing, recycling and conscious consumerism. The Kevin Says Stage we are playing is completely run by solar energy, so we're stoked to spread the word.
Buzznet: What's the best way to cure the heat while touring with Warped?
Ski: Drink lots and lots of water. Any chance to re-energize yourself by sneaking into the air conditioning for a couple minutes ... and try to shade yourself from the hot sun. I love seeing kids taking a break under a tree in the grass and relaxing in the shade. I want to make sure I take the time to do that too!
Buzznet: How has Warped evolved over the years in your opinion?
Ski: When I first went to Warped Tour in the mid-'90s, it was still awesome, but nowhere near the scale it has achieved now. I think it has definitely reached a "phenomenon" status. One of the most impressive things about Warped Tour is that it has reinvented itself to stay relevant to young people consistently. Kids always look forward to Warped Tour all year, every year. That is magical. It's become a way to introduce people to new music and ideas rather than just being a music festival.
Buzznet: List a few items on your rider that we might not expect.
Ski: Haha, this is a good one. We don't have anything crazy like a bowl of vanilla soy ice cream. [Keyboardist] Josie [Outlaw] just said "our rider is like a poor college kid's shopping list." We'll keep going as long as we have some water and some yummy vegetarian eats. Warped Tour catering is top-notch.
Buzznet: Do you have anything unusual planned for your set, whether it be cover songs, tracks you normally don't play?
Ski: We'll be playing tracks from our new album, Everybody Make Some Noise!, to spread the word, and possibly having some occasional guest appearances from some friends (cough cough, GCH, cough) ...
Buzznet: Are you planning any props, backdrops, screens or anything else in terms of stage setup?
Ski: We'll have some screens that we are making ourselves for our stage show and planning some really cool events for our merch booth where kids can help make their own one-of-a-kind A.K.A.s shirt, get a haircut from Josie Outlaw, or other cool and unique stuff. We also print and make all our own merch, so expect some really cool hands-on artwork and a rack of one-of-a-kind reconstructed items.
Buzznet: What's the best part about playing Warped?
Ski: Hands down, the best part is that it's an open-ended opportunity that is as hood as you make it, depending on how hard you're willing to work. We'll be out there talking to people, handing out flyers, etc. ... so we're hoping to meet some new people, make some new fans and see some great bands!
Buzznet: Any tips for people going for the first time?
Ski: Make sure to dress comfortably, bring sunscreen, sunglasses and possibly a hat that will shade your little face! Also, make sure to have enough money to afford to drink water throughout the day to keep from getting dehydrated! If you're hot and need a place to sit, come to our tent, have a set ... and tell us Buzznet sent you! See you there!
Don't miss our nonstop Warped Tour coverage:
"Forever the Sickest Kids Want 'A Monkey at Every Show': Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: Roll Call - and Dos and Don'ts"
"Charlotte Sometimes Wonders if She'll Blow Up This Summer: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: A Guide to Pit Etiquette"
"1997 Keyboardist Longs for the Slip-N-Slide: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: The VIP Guide"
"Protest the Hero Singer Says 'We Don't Roll Like Carrot Top': Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Set Your Goals Are Packing Extra Boxers: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: Top 10 Must-Haves"
"Two More Killer Bands Added to Warped Tour Main Stage"
Also, feast your eyes on these pics of Katy Perry, Beat Union and more at the Warped Tour kickoff show on April 11 in West Hollywood, California – click on the image below:
Get psyched for summer with Buzznet's Warped Tour 2008 gallery:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
See which females will be rocking out on Warped this summer:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
Check out these bands that will be playing Warped for the first time:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
Find out which Warped artists are out of their twenties:
[Click on picture to view the rest.]
Warped Tour dates:
6.20: Pomona, CA @ Pomona Fairgrounds
6.21: San Francisco, CA @ Pier 30/32
6.22: Ventura, CA @ Seaside Park
6.25: Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
6.26: Las Cruces, NM @ N.M.S.U. Practice Field
6.28: Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA
6.29: Denver, CO @ Invesco Field
7.1: St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.2: Kansas City, KS @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.3: Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center
7.5: San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.6: Houston, TX @ Sam Houston Race Park
7.9: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater
7.10 : Orlando, FL @ Central Florida Fairgrounds
7.11: Tampa, FL @ Vinoy Park
7.12: Miami, FL @ Bicentennial Park
7.13: Jacksonville, FL @ St. Johns County Fairgrounds
7.14: Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.15: Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.16: Washington DC @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
7.17: Cleveland, OH @ Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City
7.18: Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park
7.19: Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park Allen Road
7.20: Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean Drapeau
7.23: Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
7.24: Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
7.25: Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
7.26: Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
7.27: Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
7.28: Englishtown, NJ @ Raceway Park
7.29: Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette Pavilion
7.30: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
7.31: Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
8.1: Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheatre
8.2: Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
8.3: Minneapolis, MN @ Canterbury Park
8.5: Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
8.6: Calgary, AB @ Race City Speedway
8.8: Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre
8.9: Seattle, WA @ George Amphitheatre
8.10: Portland, OR @ Columbia Meadows
8.13: Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
8.14: San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
8.15: San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
8.16: Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre Lot
8.17: Los Angeles, CA @ Home Depot Center
Win Warped tix on Buzznet right here!
Get your Warped fix with our nonstop coverage right here.
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