Attack Attack! was the first band I shot at this year’s Warped Tour at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas. It was very early on in the day, the doors had been open for maybe an hour, and the sun was directly overhead, leaving absolutely no refuge from the heat. Nonetheless, these guys had no problem bringing in a crowd that fully packed the area around the main stage. They quickly got every one fired up and kicked the day off with an energetic high note. They’ll be playing the Teggart Main Stage for the rest of the tour, so get there early, and go check them out, maybe you’ll even get blasted by some water guns or get to see Austin Carlile “re-join” the band for a song or two (keep reading, you’ll see what I’m talking about). Check the rest on my Flickr.

3OH!3 is another one of the groups that had no problem packing the main stage. They’re not my style, but hey, they’re doing their thing, and the crowd clearly loved it. They’re only scheduled on the tour for the next two days, so catch them if you can. Keep reading for a few more photos or check out the full set on my Flickr.

Asking Alexandria is an English hardcore band that’s been rapidly rising in popularity since their debut album was released in 2009. With the recent release of their second album this past April, the guys of Asking Alexandria have been continuing and expanding upon their success. Their sound combines elements of hardcore punk and metal, not necessarily in a new way (let’s not kid ourselves, we know it’s been done time and time again), but certainly in a manner that’s catchy, melodic, and surprisingly smooth. I can definitely see the appeal, and it was pretty clear to me that a lot of people came out to Warped that day to see these guys. They’ll be playing the main stage for the entire tour, so you’ll have plenty of chances to check them out. There are more photos after the jump, and the full set is on my Flickr per usual.

I’m not going to lie, I really liked Hellogoodbye back when I was younger (and still do). I saw them play several years ago (circa 2006) in Hampton, New Hampshire with Boys Like Girls and The Hush Sound, which was a badass show to say the least. Although there have been some line-up changes and the setting was definitely a lot different this time around, their performance was just as on point. For a band that’s had their fair share of the spotlight, they have such a laid back attitude and don’t take themselves seriously at all, which, combined with their sound, makes for a really fun show. They’re not playing any more Warped Tour dates, but they do have four shows lined up within the next two months, so you might get a chance to see them play. Keep reading for more shots or just head over to my Flickr for the full set.

The Devil Wears Prada was by far my favorite band to shoot at this year’s Warped Tour. The entire group just brings an insurmountable level of intensity to their performance that is absolutely contagious. I seriously had a blast just trying to capture it all. First off, Mike Hranica is nuts. He was sprinting, not running, sprinting across the stage, screaming, rolling on the ground, climbing onto the drumset, spitting, and drooling like a madman. Hranica literally did not stand still for a second during their entire set; I honestly don’t know how he had the energy to do what he was doing at all, much less during the hottest part of a Las Vegas summer day. Not only that, he somehow managed to be vocally on point, without letting up, throughout their performance. I’m not all that into most modern-day hardcore variations, but I really enjoyed their set and went away pretty pumped up. In short, whether it’s your thing or not, they put on a badass show, and I would really recommend seeing them play if you get the chance. Continue reading for a few more photos or just head over to my Flickr for the full set.

Here are some crowd shots from the Vans Warped Tour in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Plaza Hotel on June 30, 2011. You can find all the photos over on my Flickr.

Everything I’ve ever heard about Velo Cult was absolutely true. For those who don’t know, Velo Cult is a bike shop located near Balboa Park in San Diego, California. This shop is seriously badass, and I can easily see why many call it the best bike in shop the country and even the world. The atmosphere of the shop if very relaxed and friendly, and the guys working there are incredibly nice. After Keith and I told them where we were from, they recalled that a guy from Nashville had been in the shop earlier that day. It happened to be our friend Richard, who’s been traveling literally all over the world with just his bike and a backpack for the past several years. We gave him a call, and while waiting for him to arrive, we were offered a cold beer, which was definitely welcomed on a particularly hot day for San Diego, and sat around chatting about traveling, riding in different cities, bike trails, and touring routes. Continue reading for more photos and the rest of my review. The full photo set can be found on my Flickr.