Off the Record

On a rainy Tuesday morning this past summer, an army of buses rolled into Massachusetts. Stowed inside were bands - nearly 70 guitar-toting alternative and punk acts stepped from their respective machines onto Boston's rain-soaked pavement. Before long, crowds had gathered and mosh pits had formed before the half-dozen or so makeshift stages. This ritual happens annually as a part of the traveling circus that is Vans Warped Tour.

Warped Tour, the brainchild of Kevin Lyman, is a longstanding tradition among fans of alternative music, where Mohawks and body piercings - far from being an anomaly - are commonplace. Warped premiered in 1994, but didn't make its first Vans-sponsored, countrywide trek until the following year. In its first incarnation, Warped was a showcase for ska and punk bands and an exhibition for extreme sports; 15 years later, Warped has transformed into a stylistic free-for-all. In addition to the cornerstone punk acts, Warped now encompasses everything from metalcore to hip-hop. The traveling festival has come under fire from some critics for an apparent deviation from its roots and for musical commercialization - these days, Warped can almost be seen as music-based bazaar, as merchant tents are set up throughout the stadium.

Over 800 fans surfaced at the Comcast Center this year for the Boston leg of the festival, among the biggest turnouts of any city in the tour - Boston is known for its punk and metal scenes. The bands in attendance included everything from Streetlight Manifesto and Big D and the Kids Table to Chiodos and Aiden. Tents offering band merchandise and concessions were set up in between each stage.

During punk act Anti-Flag's set, the rain turned from a drizzle to more of a storm; when it hit the mosh pit that had formed in front of the stage, it rose up immediately as steam.

Warped Tour has earned the moniker "the tour that won't die;" 15 years after its inception, Warped is the longest-running touring festival. Warped has endured its highs and lows over the past decade and a half - from its initial intentions as a punk and ska expo, to its current incarnation as an alternative music festival, Warped is a staple of the summer concert series. Warped may be adapting with the times, but its roots remain fixed, with rebel fists raised firmly in the air and detuned guitars raised firmly in the airwaves.