Warped Tour 2016 – Pomona

Last Sunday the Warped Tour made it’s 2016 return to the IE, and it was a blast as always. As usual, the location was the Fairplex in Pomona, but this year there was grass, actual grass! If you haven’t been to see Warped Tour before, it’s a full day of music with tons of bands. Most of the bands range from metal, or related sub-genres of metal, to alternative.

This year there were 8 stages in Pomona, and a total of 86 bands – yeah, 86 different bands between 11 am and 8:30 pm. It’s insane, and my hats off to my buddy – and concert photography legend – Jack Lue who shot almost every band. You’re a beast jack.

This tour tends to attract a much younger crowd, at least compared to me, but the music is generally awesome. This year there a number of bands I have shot before, either at previous Warped shows, or at shows like Mayhem Festival. One great surprise this year was Coldrain (vocalist Masato is pictured below), a Japanese Metalcore band I had heard good things about.

Some of the other Warped bands I made sure to catch this year were Sum 41, New Found Glory, Sleeping with Sirens, Motionless in White, Assuming We Survive, and a few new surprises, like Night Argent, Against The Current and The Interrupters. Really enjoyed those three.

As usual, Warped was a blast this year. If you haven’t been, check it out next time around. It usually has a few stops in So Cal, including San Diego and Ventura.