Traditionally, the music of Warped Tour has leaned heavily on punk and hardcore. However, there is still a lot of great pop music mixed in as well. If you are a pop fan, these are your best 10 bets of acts that will be appearing at all Warped Tour dates.
1. The Cab
Courtesy Decaydance
The Cab play highly melodic rock. They record for Decaydance, the label which brought us Panic! At the Disco and Gym Class Heroes among others. Their first album Whisper War hit #1 on Billboard's Heatseekers album chart while the single "Bounce" reached the pop radio top 100. A second album is due later this year.
Watch The Cab perform "Bounce" live
2. Gardening, Not Architecture
Photo by Bryan Sheffield, courtesy Sarah Saturday
According to their press materials, Gardening, Not Architecture is an "electronic-tinged ethereal powerpop" project by singer-songwriter Sarah Saturday and engineer-producer Beau Sorenson. Look for Sarah solo onstage performing sweet sounding songs with a strong, energetic undercurrent.
Watch Gardening, Not Architecture perform "If You Only Knew" live
3. Mayday Parade
Courtesy Atlantic Records
Pop punk band Mayday Parade just missed the top 30 on the album chart with their 2009 release Anywhere But Here. The band are Warped Tour veterans first appearing in 2007.
Watch Mayday Parade perform "Black Cat" live
4. Never Shout Never
Courtesy Sire Records
Never Shout Never is a primarily acoustic pop project of 19 year old Christofer Ingle. His debut mini-album What Is Love? reached the top 25 of the Billboard album chart in early 2010. It was produced by veteran pop-rock producer Butch Walker. Ingle fronts a touring band referred to as The Shout.
Watch Never Shout Never perform "Big City Dreams" live
5. Mike Posner
Courtesy J Records
Mike Posner has exploded on to the pop singles chart with "Cooler Than Me." He recently graduated from Duke University. Mike Posner's style of pop hip hop is a rarity on the stages at Warped Tour.
Watch Mike Posner perform "Cooler Than Me" live
6. The Pretty Reckless
Courtesy Interscope
The Pretty Reckless is led by Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen. The band has a raw, punk style edge. However, their single "Make Me Wanna Die" was a recent top 20 pop hit in the UK. A debut album is expected near the end of summer 2010.
Watch The Pretty Reckless perform "Make Me Wanna Die" live
7. The Rocket Summer
Courtesy Island Records
The Rocket Summer is a solo project of singer-songwriter Stephen Bryce Avary. His brand of music is catchy, upbeat, positive pop-rock. The most recent album Of Men and Angels reached the top 40 of the Billboard album chart in February 2010.
Watch The Rocket Summer perform "Brat Pack" live
8. Sum 41
Courtesy Island Records
Sum 41 are true pop punk veterans. Their first studio album All Killer No Filler was released in 2001 and reached #13 on the US albums chart. It has since been certified platinum for sales. Their most recent studio release Underclass Hero was a #7 hit in 2007.
Watch Sum 41 perform "Still Waiting" live
9. We Are the In Crowd
Courtesy Hopeless Records
We Are the In Crowd are new kids on the block. The band was just formed in 2009 and then quickly signed to independent label Hopeless Records. A key hook of the band is the interplay of male and female vocals. Look for them to perform the hot single "For the Win."
Watch We Are the In Crowd perform "Easy" live
10. We the Kings
Courtesy S-Curve
We the Kings perform pop punk but it definitely has a very sweet, melodic undercurrent. Their singles "Check Yes, Juliet," "Heaven Can Wait," and "Secret Valentine" have all found pop radio success. The current release "We'll Be a Dream" with teen pop singer Demi Lovato will endear them to an even broader young base of fans.
Watch We the Kings perform "Check Yes Juliet" live
