14th annual tour rolls on, by David Taintor. It was 10 a.m. at Canterbury Park, Shakopee. As I tried to rub the sleep from my eyes, I walked to the entrance gate of the concert venue. The Daily Chorus, a Music web site I write for, sent me to this concert in order to interview bands and do some reporting.

So, with my press pass in hand, I entered the venue. Not quite in the mosh pit with the other kids in attendance, I was still convinced to experience my first warped tour as a fan as well as a reporter.

  Teens wore Mohawks, multi-colored dyed hair, silver studded belts and other iconic counter-culture symbols last Sunday. (GO TO MENU BAR AND CLICK MULTIMEDIA FOR VIDEO SLIDESHOW). Canterbury Park hosted the 14th annual Vans Warped Tour concert festival. The hours are long at the Warped Tour and the heat is sometimes unbearable, but for many music fans it is a means to meet and listen to their favorite bands live. Although tickets were $35, Warped Tour is comprised of six stages and around 50 bands, making it worth the ticket price.

 “It’s a really good deal, even if you don’t like all the bands playing,” said Maggie Raser of Chaska. “You’re bound to enjoy a few. For the money that you pay, you get to see a lot of different bands. There’s also a lot of free stuff and it’s just a crazy, all-day event.” Her favorite band that played that day is Chicago based, The Academy Is.

The concert, started by Vans Shoe Company, is rooted in underground punk music but has now evolved to an eclectic lineup of bands. Every type of music is now represented, from the heavy metal sounds of Norma Jean to the smooth hip-hop styling of Gym Class Heroes. Some bands play the entire tour, while others join the tour at varying points, so depending on where you live in the country, it could be a different show.

The tour starts June 20 and runs through Aug. 15, covering nearly every state in the country. Some diehard fans take road trips to attend more than one date. Crowds, mostly teens wearing their favorite band’s shirt, lined up early. What separates the Warped Tour from many club-based tours is that the performers are much more approachable. Nearly every act schedules a time to sign autographs and many play an extra acoustic set for a few lucky fans.

The Warped Tour has moved beyond being just a concert festival and now features vendors and organizations that promote social awareness. The non-profit charity To Write Love On Her Arms was a popular booth on Sunday. It’s a company that manufactures and sells T-shirts to raise awareness for suicide prevention. It teamed with Warped Tour bands to promote their organization.

Other causes that were represented in shaded booths were animal rights activists, anti-smoking campaigns and safe sex awareness – a far cry from the party crazy stereotype many rock concerts receive.

Concertgoers revel in the Warped Tour’s social diversity. It is a place for many to feel a sense of belonging. With thousands in attendance, they share a common bond – the love for music. So, how do most Warped Tour fans find out about their favorite bands? Eden Prairie resident Chelsea Greiling said the Internet and Myspace.com. “I’ll just browse the new music and see who is similar to the bands I already like,” Greiling said.

David Taintor is a Chanhassen resident and a journalism student at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.