Recap: Warped Rewind at Sea
Back in October, Sixthman set sail on a cruise that impacted the lives of many concert- goer’s who stepped foot on the Norwegian Pearl when it embarked from New Orleans. When we set sail that day, we had no idea that a 4 day cruise would change our lives or would have so much of an impact. The phrase, “We came as strangers and left as a family” defines that trip.
As I sit here reflecting after Warped Tour announced its final run, it became evident that Warped Rewind should play a bigger role in the music industry now – especially since the regular Warped Tour has come to an end. Warped tour has been a safe space for so many people growing up, it’s where we feel connected to the people around us who love music and understand how important our scene is.
When you’re at shows, you have a few things in common with the strangers standing around you. You love that band. You know the lyrics. You may even have some band tattoos because they had such an impact on your life. You’re ready to scream the lyrics. You may have even met some of your best friends at shows because of the band. Whatever the reason, those few hours in the crowd are some of the best where you get to escape your own reality even if it’s just a little while.
That’s how we got to feel for 4 days. Warped Rewind had a killer lineup of Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, Less Than Jake, The Startling Line, Story Of The Year, Mayday Parade, Bowling for Soup, The Emo Band, Felicity, Riviera, just to name a few. All day every day was a concert for 4 days, and what could be better than high-fiving Kevin Lyman walking around the ship and him asking you if you’re having a good time? Or running into Pierre from Simple Plan when you’re walking around in a onesie on Pajama Day and even having drinks at the bar with Bowling for Soup in Bar City?
Night one is what really got us pumped for the next 4 days. We were welcomed with Good Charlotte, Kevin Lyman, and Simple Plan on the pool deck with free PBR going around as we set sail with a toast. It’s a different experience to be screaming, “The Anthem” at the top of your lungs on a pool deck as you’re floating out to sea. That’s what made this cruise so unique. You were literally on a ship with your favorite bands for days, and you would casually run into them on board ready with high fives to give.
Aside from the regular concert set’s that the bands had lined up, we were also treated to Storyteller sets which were acoustic versions of their songs with the background story to go with it. It made for a much more intimate set, and you really felt connected to the band and to the people around you.
We were also treated to The Emo Band and Emo Nite every night and got to do some killer karaoke or rock out to some of our other favorite punk pop songs.
Some other things we got to experience on board were a Tattoo artist, Face and body painting, Bacon & Bingo with Hawthorne Heights, Vans pool relay, Belly flop competition with Simple Plan, Comedy shows, Vans Waffle Parties, Dirty Bingo with Reel Big Fish, Flip Cup Tournament with Less Than Jake, and even a Q&A with Kevin Lyman and 30H!3.
This cruise was an experience that we’ll never forget. We’ve been home for a few months now, and I’m finally able to put this experience into words, and this doesn’t really even do the trip its justice.
With Warped Tour ending, we’re all hoping that Warped Rewind at Sea decides to set sail again hopefully in 2019. Whenever it decides to set sail again- we’re waiting, pumped, and ready.
All I can end this with is a huge shout out to Sixthman, Sixthman Lauraine, all of the bands and crew, and especially Kevin Lyman for making this all happen. Thank you so much for changing our lives with a trip that we’ll never forget and for giving us a second family.
Official Recap Video:
