Movies

Summer School tours the country channeling the pop-punk spirit of the Warped Tour

BBG News

Summer School tours the country channeling the pop-punk spirit of the Warped Tour

As a devoted fan who grew up attending the Warped Tour, I can say that Summer School has managed to capture the spirit of those magical days of discovery, camaraderie, and the thrill of live music. The trio behind this venture – Kevin Lyman, Eric Tobin, and Mike Kaminsky – have skillfully crafted a platform for emerging artists to thrive, much like a nurturing greenhouse for talent.

1995 marked a significant shift in tour culture when Kevin Lyman, a former Goldenvoice executive, blended Southern California punk rock, skateboarding, and X Games culture to birth the Warped Tour. This festival, which continued until 2019, became one of the longest-lasting summer tours, earning a place in history. It was a platform that catapulted bands such as Sublime, No Doubt, Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, Something Corporate, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and numerous others into mainstream success. Each day, the festival’s lineup varied, necessitating early arrival for fans to catch their preferred artist.

Even though Lyman has taken a step back from that particular scene in recent times, as he’s now an associate professor at USC’s Thornton School of Music, he believes the moment is ripe to reintroduce a fresh take on what was once highly successful – with a unique twist. Lyman, Eric Tobin from Hopeless Records, and Mike Kaminsky from KMGMT (both of whom are also associated with USC) aim to keep the essence of Warped Tour alive.

Tobin and Kaminsky have been connected with the Warped Tour in multiple roles throughout the years, grasping the festival’s core values. They also collaborated in managing artists signed under Hopeless Records and KMGMT over time. When they initially came up with the concept of Summer School, their aim was to offer a unique experience distinct from the commercially-driven festivals that are prevalent today.

Tobin mentioned that the discussion he had with Mike revolved around recreating something similar to Warped, since it’s no longer available. He suggested we might want to revisit this concept afresh.

Kaminsky stated, “We weren’t idly thinking, ‘The world doesn’t need another music festival tour,'” instead we questioned, “Where are these up-and-coming bands finding their opportunities?” As we all reached a ceiling in our careers, post COVID-19, there was an abundance of rising bands gaining popularity through streaming. However, there seemed to be no suitable platforms for them to embark on tours.”

Lyman, with connections in the promotions and sponsorship field, noticed a need for this specific tour type. Recognizing that no one had introduced a similar festival concept since Warped Tour ended, he and his team saw an opportunity to make their idea successful. However, Lyman initially advised Tobin and Kaminsky against starting a festival as he felt the timing wasn’t favorable. That all changed last September.

Lyman explains, “They didn’t aim to swap Warped Tour, but rather cultivate rising talents instead.” He continues, “There haven’t been many developers in the scene for some time now. We needed to rekindle interest in live events among younger fans since many years passed without them attending concerts. So, we decided to give it a try. The name ‘Summer School’ fits perfectly for this event. Simplicity is key.”

Under Lyman’s guidance as a mentor, and Kaminsky and Tobin serving as curators, the team developed a tour centered around a roster of independent artists on their own labels. This was accomplished by collaborating with other independent promoters. The Summer School organizers maintained an economical ticket price by utilizing sponsorship funds to cover most expenses. In many regions, the ticket costs just $35, making it a steal compared to mainstream festivals that start at several hundred dollars.

Although the vibe of Warped Tour remains strong, Summer School, unlike the outdoor parking lots and festival grounds that Warped Tour frequented, happens inside.

Tobin explains, “Given the room sizes, we aimed to keep things manageable since it’s sweltering outside. Many artists and enthusiasts have shared the sentiment that for our inaugural year, we should host this event in a location where we can control the ambiance and make it seem crowded.” Kaminsky concurs with his viewpoint.

Many performers on the lineup haven’t graced stages with seating capacities for thousands yet. Summer School provides them an opportunity to find their footing, so to speak, in a welcoming crowd. The key to our success lies in audience engagement. Not only have merchandise sales been consistently climbing, but artists have also observed that they gain new followers after each performance.

As a passionate cinema-goer, I’d rephrase it like this: “This tour has brought us more new faces in the audience than we’ve ever seen before,” Devin Papadol from Honey Revenge shares. “The energy and excitement from these crowds have been electrifying! But what makes it even better is that we get to share the stage with our friends every night. Summer School is truly revitalizing the scene, filling a gap that’s long been missing. We feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of this unique live music experience.”

Bonnie Fraser from Stand Atlantic expresses that the Summer School tour marked a rejuvenating beginning for their touring season. With a lengthy break behind them, she notes that this festival helped reignite their passion for music and reminded them of why they initially started making it. For Fraser, the event brings back memories of a time when festivals were more purposeful in their lineups, rather than merely business-oriented. She takes pride in Stand Atlantic being part of something meaningful and carefully curated, as opposed to just another generic tour package.

Similar to Warped, the lineup changes from day to day, a fact that not only the performing bands but also the founders note is appreciated by the audience, as evidenced by the consistently packed venues throughout the day.

According to Kaminsky, the essence lies in the atmosphere and the collective spirit, which is what made Warped Tour a summer staple for 25 years. This ethos has also extended to the bands themselves. On their online platforms, you’ll find them posting pictures and videos of gatherings and backstage glimpses into their activities.

Regardless of larger entities potentially influencing it, Summer School maintains a DIY attitude, preferring to stay compact and content with its current scale. Its primary concern is nurturing artists, with an aspirational goal that these artists will one day return to the same venues as headliners due to their own success.

“Kaminsky states that if all goes well, we could propel bands forward to participate in larger music events and earn significantly higher sums. However, that’s not the arena we aim to contend with.” (Paraphrased)

Tobin explains that this community values cultural influence over popularity. He describes it as a place where a slightly left-of-center individual can find their identity. Attending events and connecting with the crowd at concerts provides an opportunity to be part of an ongoing legacy and help create a new generation within it. The larger the community, the more beneficial it is for everyone involved.

The Summer School concludes on August 17 at the City National Grove in Anaheim, and preparations for the upcoming second year are underway. Although they won’t be receiving a salary for this year’s tour, Kaminsky and Tobin are eagerly looking forward to watching it expand.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel deeply gratified, not just for myself, but for the directors, producers, and talent involved in our projects. The most fulfilling aspect of this journey is collaborating with genuinely outstanding individuals whom we hold in high esteem and who reciprocate that respect. In today’s world, finding such genuine relationships can sometimes be a challenge.

Read More

2024-08-14 13:31

Previous post Will Atwater get the promotion he deserves in Chicago PD Season 12?
Next post Formula 1: The completely unfair issue Kimi Antonelli could fall victim to