Savannah Clinton

10-16-18
A4
Warped Tour 2013
When presented with the question of what defines me, I find my answer cannot be
expressed as one thing, nor do I think it should be. As a human being, there are countless
experiences, emotions, and beliefs that shape who I am as a person. This creates an interesting
dilemma; how does one answer such a question? My normal response is to name the thing that
most encompasses the others: the simple, yet authentic, concept of self-expression. Though I do
not believe that finding yourself or the strength to embrace your individuality occurs in a single
moment, I cannot help but think of an important milestone in my own journey to do so. That
milestone was Warped Tour 2013, where I realized that the only person whose opinion ought to
matter to me is my own, and that I could be proud in being myself.
On July 20, 2013, I went to my first concert, Warped Tour. I went in support of my
favorite band, the Black Veil Brides. It was my first experience with live music, and I had no
idea what to expect. I spent the days before the concert in a mixture of excitement and worry; I
had no idea what was expected of me. My father was planning on going with me, as I was not
allowed to go on my own or with my friends. He wasnt exactly excited about going, and had
expressed his dislike of the bands for weeks beforehand. He constantly tried to push his taste in
music on me, and prior to this concert I was too afraid to express my own opinion.
Upon arriving at the amphitheater, my senses were immediately assaulted with unfamiliar
things. As I stepped out into the sweltering heat, I was hit with the stench of gasoline and food
from nearby vendors. The noise of various bands, all playing at once, mixed with the shouts of
fans calling out to each other, all trying to be heard above the music. The bright summer sun
made me long for a pair of sunglasses, but so long as I could see the bands, it hardly mattered to
me. We began the long hike from the parking lot to the stages, but no amount of heat or walking
could dampen my elation.
With every step taking me closer to my idols, I felt my excitement surge. I found myself
wondering if spontaneous combustion were actually possible. The dense crowds gradually
formed an unruly line, and I eagerly joined their ranks. Looking around, I found the crowd to be
young, with people ranging from their teens to mid-twenties. I normally stick out in a crowd,
with my ever-present platforms and black lipstick. In this crowd however, I fit right in amongst
the mass of tattoos, neon hair, and piercings. There was an intense feeling of community within
the hordes of punk rock fans, and I immediately felt myself relax. No one here would pass
judgment on me.
Once we had finally entered the grounds, my adrenaline spiked again. Well over fifty
bands were scheduled to play throughout the day, and though I didnt recognize all of them, I
caught snatches of familiar songs as we started wondering around, looking at the booths and the
different stages. My father scowled, proclaiming the bands to be awful. Normally those

comments made me feel silly, as though liking those bands was ridiculous. But looking at the
immense crowds, composed of grinning, adoring fans, I didnt feel the least bit embarrassed to
enjoy the music.
During the first few hours, I explored the grounds, figuring out where the stages on my
map were located. I kept a close eye on the time; I would have been crushed to miss even a
second of Black Veil Brides stage time. The whole experience was overwhelming at first, and I
held onto that map as if it were a lifeline. The sound was intense, and I could feel the music
pounding up through the soles of my feet and throughout my body. I imagined that even my heart
beat was perfectly in time with the pounding drums and the wailing guitars.
My father and I arrived at the stage on which the Black Veil Brides would be playing,
and I checked, yet again, the lineup. The band onstage was the band directly before the one I had
come to see, and I felt my pulse start to race. We were toward the back of the crowd, and I was
consumed by the desire to get up near the stage so I could be in the front when my band came
onstage. My dad wasnt too keen on the idea; there were several mosh pits between us and the
stage. There was no way I was letting that stop me though.
My plan had been to go around the mosh pits which, of course, didnt work. I had
almost passed the last one when I felt someone grab my shoulders. I was shoved backward,
landing hard on the hot concreate. I was so caught in the moment I hardly noticed the pain.
Luckily, I hadnt landed in the middle of the crazed group, but just outside the circle; Id avoided
the worst of the crowd. Even so, the last place you want to be at Warped Tour is on the ground. I
was far from trampled though, as another fan grabbed me and got me to my feet. When I turned
around the pulsating crowd had already swept up my savior, and I didnt get a chance to thank
him.
Finally, I made it to the front of the crowd. The band that was currently onstage played
their last song and then the roadies prepared the stage for the Black Veil Brides. My father caught
up around that time, irritated that I had run off for the sake of a band he thought was worthless
anyway. As the equipment was changed out, I noticed more BVB shirts, increasing by the
minute. We make up one of the most loyal fan bases youll find at Warped Tour, and as I turned
to look behind me, the sight only confirmed my belief. I saw an ocean of people, many already
chanting Black Veil Brides over and over again, as loud as they could. I shyly joined the chant.
My dad shot me a look of ridicule; he clearly found my actions absurd. I stopped
chanting. Thats when the band came onstage. I could hardly believe my own eyes. It was insane,
absolutely unreal, that they were right in front of me. The first threads of music started, Andy
Biersacks gorgeous voice sending the fans into an impassioned frenzy. I was so close to the
stage, with the music I loved pouring through the crowd in almost deafening waves. Among the
sounds of music and the off-key singing of fans, the smell of sweat and perfume, and the moving
bodies of the crowd, I came to a startling realization.
It didnt matter what my father thought of the music or of my actions. The only thing that
mattered was the feeling I got being in the middle of the music, of connecting to the band and to
the lyrics. The only thing that mattered was the joy I felt being immersed in that environment of

vivacious energy and strange beauty. My voice joined that of the other fans, and I felt my fears
melt away as I went just as crazy as the restless mass around me. Nothing mattered but the
music, and my sudden freedom. I would never fear expressing myself again, nor would I put
anyone elses opinion above my own. Warped Tour 2013 helped me realize my strengths as a
person, and the value of my own individuality.