All good, loud, messy things come to an end-- the Warped Tour festival is in its final summer installment. Each summer since 1995, the United States has encountered this frenzied rock 'n roll traveling festival. Dozens upon dozens of bands and solo performers have performed on the multiple stages of Warped. Thousands of fans got posed for pix with bands. Various non-profit groups have promoted their messages from booths. Fans and musicians have endured sunburn, mosh pit injuries, overflowing porto-toilets, and ringing ears. And 2018 is the final year of this glorious mess, according to tour founder Kevin Lyman. 

Warped Tour has long highlighted punk rock and associated genres like metal-core, emo, skate punk, ska punk, but also hip hop, folk and experimental music. A few bands that hit it big from playing on Warped Tour are Sum 41, Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance. Many others have cultivated a devoted niche following, and in 2017 some older hardcore punk bands joined as well. 

I have attended six Warped Tours in New York; three at Randalls Island in New York City, and three at Jones Beach in Nassau County, a nearby suburb. At first I attended by myself, but for the past three years along with my teenagers-- and was able to partake of Reverse DayCare, a tented area for parents seeking "relief" from the heat and noise. (This year I scored a free parent ticket.) But I have also attended because I enjoy this kind of music, and relish the chance to check out several bands I don't know but might enjoy, as well as old and new favorites.

At the Jones Beach tour date of Saturday, July 28 I walked around to all seven stages and listened to more than a dozen bands and solo acts. I checked out at least 15 non-profit groups representing veganism, anti-violence, women's rights, environmentalism, arts education, and more. I rested a few times in Reverse DayCare. I ate tasty, greasy grilled cheese and picked up free CD samplers from four music labels. I also had a grueling time finding our car at the end of the night.

Among the bands I really enjoyed watching were the humorous ska-band Reel Big Fish, who delighted the crowd with their cover of "Take On Me" with brass accompaniment. I marveled at the hyper and cheeky rapping of Yungblud. The all-female quartet DollSkin was excellent, and their guitarist is fleet fingered. Rapper Kosha Dillz brought a touching and funky look at youth and Jewish sensibility. Rapper MC Bravado, a school teacher by trade, spat out great rapid thoughts. Motionless In White brought a larger-than-life feel to metal-core. Palaye Royale mixed up glam and hard rock, their lead singer swinging from the rafters at times. (He hurt his arm!) Other bands I checked out included Dayseeker, Twiztid, Chelsea Grin, Sharptooth. 

At night as we exited the venue I felt wistfully nostalgic for this loud, fun scene. 'Bye.