Published On: Wed, Aug 8th, 2012

More than Meets the Ear

By: Gina Onori

On Saturday, July 28 over 70 artists played under the scorching sun at the Vans Warped Tour in The Cruzan Amphitheater of West Palm Beach, FL. A few of the bands included in the lineup were: Lostprophets, Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday, New Found Glory, All Time low, Senses Fail, Mayday Parade, We The Kings, Of Mice and Men, The Green, G-Eazy, Mod Sun, Kosha Dillz, and many more.  These bands are all tied together in their love of music and the experience of being a full time musician. The trials and tribulations of life on the road, all of the ups and the downs help to foster a greater love for music and its lifestyle.

For Lostprophets and many other bands that played this was not their first time at Warped Tour. The excitement of fans and life on the road keeps them coming back.

“My home is on the road,” said lead singer Austin Carlile from Of Mice and Men after his powerful performance in which he created three walls of death. “When I go ‘home’ that is my vacation, and that to me feels weird. If I’m on vacation too long I feel like I am not being productive. My bus is my home. Some people jump into this and aren’t ready, while other people like me absorb it… live it… and love it.”

However, for certain inexperienced bands, bus life is a new and unfamiliar encounter.

“Warped tour is really exciting,” said drummer Danny Stalkman from Phonecalls From Home. “I always went to Warped Tour as a kid and thought it would be really cool to play at someday. It is so amazing that I have the chance to now.”

Despite their varying level of experience, one thing they all have in common is their infatuation, dedication, and attachment towards music.

“Someone asked me the other day if I would rather be deaf or blind,” said Carlile from Of Mice and Men. “I would definitely rather be blind. Music to me is indescribable. It is raw emotion. Musicians use music to create something artistic and moving, it is emotional and beautiful; it is art and I could not live without it.”

It is vital that these artists have a means of self-expression in which they can convey themselves creatively. Clearly music must be what they eat, sleep, and breathe if they wish to acquire any level of success.

“Everything I do and look forward to is based on music,” said John Baker from The Groundbreaking Ceremony. “For us it permeates everything we do. There is not a moment in my day that I do not think about what I can do to further the band. I am always thinking about what new record I really like and what I want to listen to and write. Telling me to stop music would be the same scenario as telling someone not to breathe, it is impossible. Music is a lifestyle.”

The music industry is not only an obsessive compulsive mindset, but it is also about dedication to achieve success in any circumstances.

“Not only do you have to work hard,” said rapper Kosha Dillz, “but you need another six or seven people to work hard with you for that one pay day that are all serious about the music industry.”

As for rapper G-eazy, life on the road is exhilarating yet up keeping. He explains how he has been on tour for 6 weeks now, and must wake up early to contribute his music every day.

“These people have not seen you for six weeks straight,” said G-eazy. “No matter what is going on in your world that day you still have to go out there and give it your all. It is easy to take things for granted, you start to adjust. But if I am having a bad day I remind myself, yo… there’s a small crowd out there today but that means there’s that many people that gave a [explicit] about me.”

The music industry is more than meets the ear. With it come abundant creation, exertion, and adversity. For numerous musicians this is something they are prepared for and relish, for others it is not.

“At the end of the day I feel a tremendous amount of productivity and accomplishment,” said keyboardist Dave from Echo Movement. “I couldn’t be happier to do it, so feel free to brutalize me with music.”

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