To see a photo slideshow of the concert, click here.
PUNK!!! In some situations this may be considered an insulting fightin' word. However, at the Vans Warped Tour -- where thousands of fans gather to surf on untamed seas of people, mosh to live music and envy extreme sport athletes -- the word "punk" is an adjective used describe not only a type of music, but a type of experience as well.
Despite the scorching 112-degree weather beating down on the Valley last Tuesday, the Peoria Sports Complex ticket office reported that over 13,000 spectators turned out for the day-long Warped Tour.
From late morning to the late evening, the Vans Warped Tour featured a mixture of charged punk and rock music on nearly a dozen stages throughout the day.
Although music is the central theme of this traveling venue, music was not the only reason thousands of fans were attracted to the outdoor event on the blazing day.
To compliment the almost nine hours of live music, the tour included hundreds of attractions from freak shows to "vert" ramps, creating a twisted fair-like atmosphere that covered all corners of the Peoria baseball field.
Lorin Smith, 15, of Phoenix, said music was not the only reason she came out.
"The main reason I came was to watch Vans skateboard contest."
According to Mando Larkin, a representative for Vans, 25 local amateur skateboarders contested in the "vertical" competition (which takes place on a 25-foot half-pike ramp.) The winner of the competition received an opportunity to move on to the Vans Amateur World Championship Final and a shot at a professional contract with Vans.
To the surprise of many, a confident 14-year-old Mike Dominguez, of Tempe, topped his competitors in the all-aged "vert" contest to move on to the finals on the second week of February in Florida.
"This was an exciting experience," said Dominguez, who explained he is one step closer to his goal of becoming professional skateboarder.
Although Dominguez won the skateboard competition, he -- like many other Warp Tour fans -- lost the contest with the heat.
"After the competition, I tried to enjoy the rest of Warped Tour, but I got dehydrated and had to leave," he said.
As mid-afternoon approached, crowds of both young and old grew under the few strips of shaded area in the Peoria Sports Complex -- far from the music. "The heat has definitely made it difficult to completely enjoy the tour," said Kristina Wierck, 18, of Phoenix.
Kris Simms, 19, of Phoenix agreed.
"I'm sort of upset that the only shade in this entire event is here, far away from any of the music," she said.
At one of the three first aid units set up at the tour, Capt. of Paramedics Bob Groholski said that heat-induced dehydration was the leading factor of the few hundred patients who sought medical attention. "This is pretty normal for this level of heat," Groholski said.
Recovering dehydrated patient Meagan Schaefer, 19, of Tempe, maintained that the primary reason she passed-out was because of a lack of water.
"They didn't allow us to bring bottled water into the complex, and water here inside (in the complex) is $3 for a small bottle," she said. "I didn't really have the money I needed to stay hydrated."
An official from the Peoria Sports Complex said that at mid-day, the policy of not allowing bottled water into the complex changed.
Security representative Brice Eckhaus said that safety concerns were one reason why bottled waters were not allow into the tour.
"We've had fans bring frozen bottled waters into the tour and actually throw the hard frozen bottles at the bands...we're all about the fun here; we don't want anyone to get hurt," Eckhaus said.
But some fans were a little cynical toward the situation.
"They didn't let us bring water in because they want to make more money off us," Kristina Wierck said. "I mean, I paid $28 to get in and I'll probably spent twice that just to stay hydrated."
Nonetheless, while the sizzling heat pounded the Warped Tour, not everybody was overwhelmed into submission by the high temperature.
Thousands of untamed fans saturated the front of the stages, creating an atmosphere that, at first glace, appeared to be a wild bar brawl; however, it was a mosh pit.
"The 'pit' is part of the full musical experience," said Tonya Wenzel, 19, of Glendale, while she eagerly waited for the appearance of the California punk band Finch. "It (the pit) looks really dangerous, but surprisingly the moshers are very cautious," she said.
Although many committed fans managed to endure the heat, Finch guitarist R2K found it challenging.
"The heat has been a little difficult for us to play in, but it doesn't seem to be affecting the fans," he said. And in many cases he was right.
"I've seen Finch play several times in Phoenix. They're a great live band -- I wouldn't miss them because of the heat, besides last year it was hotter," said fan Nicole Staron, 14, of Phoenix.
Fan Dwayne Wilson, 14, of Glendale, explained that the variety of bands was another incentive for fans to endure heat.
"It's cool because the tour offers the big name bands and the smaller up-coming bands," he said.
California up-and-coming band Homegrown agreed.
"The tour has been great for us; we've really been able to reach large diverse audiences," said guitarist Dan Hammond, 26, of Orange County. "There's everything from teens to college students to middle aged fathers here."
R2K agreed that the Warped Tour has been "awesome." But when asked whether Finch would be some day be climbing their way to top of Warped Tour, he said, "This is more then we could've ever dreamed of, and if we stay where we are, we'll be pleased."
Although, the reasons why fans endured a 112-degree, 8-hour day in the intense sun may have differed, the reality is that when the Warped Tour stops thru the Valley next year, it will most likely be 112 degrees. And it, most likely, will not stop 13,000 fans from assembling at this energy-roused tour.
Just ask diehard fan Michael Rigan, 16, of Tempe.
"It was hot last year and I came; it's hot this year; it will be hot next year, and I'll still come."
Reach Matt Garcia at matgar40@hotmail.com.
