Warped Tour has been going on for 15 years and we are now approaching its sweet 16. Creator Kevin Lyman has been running this ever so successful operation every year, making for the best punk summer camp ever. He brings together artists from all sorts of genres and travels across the country, reaching thousands of fans. He is also the man behind things like Taste of Chaos , Mayhem, and is now putting on a nation-wide tour. People from all over and across generations cant wait till summer to see all their favorite bands all in one place. That one place is Warped Tour.

Kevin Lyman held this year’s press conference and kick-off party at the Key Club in Hollywood, CA. A lot of artists attended and tickets were sold for a few fans. The excitement was contagious as everyone gathered around the young, brilliant musicians of past and present generations. Kevin’s main goal was to create a fun event for everyone that is “diverse” and doesn’t rip holes in wallets. Warped Tour for him is all about the bands, but this year he wants to be more focused on the non-profit organizations, saying that “this year, they are making a Passport Program, where people can go to each and every booth and get them stamped and actually learn something,” Kevin lives and breathes this thing and it’s pretty much his baby. Each year he strives to make it bigger and better, constantly changing it.

Many of the bands performing Warped Tour 2010 showed up and showed out. The line-up went from Death Punch to Pierce the Veil to Andrew W.K. The most surprising band by far was The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. When they walked up on stage, few people seemed to know who they were and the energy of the audience was quite low. But they also didn’t know that this band could blow the roof off the place and make punk fans want to sing about cornbread and the South. This country-band had more talent than most of realized. As Reverend Peyton came out, he asked if we wanted to hear him play the guitar backwards, and of course everyone wanted to see something astonishing to capture our attention. Sure enough, he switched hands and went crazy. The crowd immediately went wild. Meanwhile, another band member did some intense washboard beating, scraping the washboard to the music and stomping her feet until nearly everyone has a smile on their faces.

That’s what Warped Tour is all about and what Kevin wanted to do: expose people to all sorts of music even if it’s not what you’re used to, and unite everyone once a year for the one of the biggest music festivals to date. This will definitely be one sweet sixteen.