Welcome to Warp(ed) Zone! Which tunnel will you choose? The pop-punk one? The metal/hardcore one? EDM? Alternative?

How about all of them?

For the 20th consecutive year, the Vans Warped Tour is back. This year, Kevin Lyman’s traveling punk rock summer camp came to Klipsch Music Center in Noblesville, IN July 3. What’s in store? Just a day full of music and fun for all.

I’ve been coming to Warped every year since 2008 (2 as a spectator, 5 for press). In those years, I’ve been beat up and sunburned, lost one shoe and my wallet in a circle pit, had some of the best and worst experiences of my life, and have walked away a bruised, battered, and dehydrated mess.

Despite all that, it’s still one of the few summer concerts I always look forward to. Yes, some things have been unpleasant, but I’ve also met and interviewed bands I’ve looked up to since middle school, met and made some new friends, and as is the case for every Warped, saw all of my favorite bands in one day, and to any music lover out there, what’s better than that?

So I’ll be pulling double duty this year interviewing and reviewing bands throughout the day, while someone else shoots it. Since covering the entire festival is nearly-impossible without cloning myself or acquiring a time-turner, this review will serve as my personal journal as I take you through the “land of Warped believe” (someone else’s words, not mine). On that note, let’s hop down that tunnel and see which world it transports me to this time:

11am: The gates at Klipsch Music Center have opened, and I’m sitting here on an exit ramp just outside of it waiting for traffic to start moving so I can start my day. By the looks of some of cars around me, they’re feeling about the same way, so a little restless and excited.

Traffic eventually starts moving, and as I get closer to the venue, it’s a mixed bag of styles and personalities. A proverbial sea of mohawks and multi-colored hair, black-clad metalheads, scene-y hardcore kids, the occasional frat boy, and those who just look happy to be here.

It’s a little bit chilly this morning. Definitely cooler than the 90+ degrees and humidity that us Hoosiers have been used to in July, but hey, I’m not complaining. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold, it’s a little cloudy, and for lack of a better term, it’s the ideal weather for a day where sunburns and dehydration aren’t uncommon.

11:30am: I finally get in and pick up my credentials. As I’m doing this, Attilla has already kicked things off on the inflatable Monster Stage. It may be early, but kids look raring to go. Hey, what better way to start the day than a little metal? They mosh, jump, and scream back at the band. They look nothing like a group of kids who just woke up.

Actually, all around, everyone looks fresh as a daisy. They’re full of energy and enthusiasm, and nothing looks like it could bring them down. Of course, it’s a long day, and many are out in the sun and going to see as many bands as they can across the 9 stages scattered across the grounds. We’ll check in with them later on to see how they feel.

While I would love to join them, I need to make it to press to take care of a few things.

12:00: Ah, press. This is where the magic (interviews) will take place. I have 5 of them already set up for today, but put my name in for a few more because why not? In the end, I have 8. Looks like my afternoon is booked solid.

With about an hour to go until my first one, let’s go explore.

12:30: As eventful as the press area can be every Warped Tour, that’s nothing compared to what’s going on outside. Stages are scattered all across the venue, with anxious kids trying to make their way to each of them. Along the way, there are merchandise tents as far as the eye can see. Many of them belong to the bands, giving attendees the chance to buy a new t-shirt (much like I did), some are operated by some of the sponsors of the tour, and one operates as its own stage (The Acoustic Basement). As for the stages, there’s something for everybody. The Monster Stage is primarily metal and hardcore acts; Beatport has many EDM artists, Kia Soul and Electric Soul are the “main stages” where some of the bigger acts will be playing; and the rest feature a good mix of rock n’ roll, alternative, or indie bands. There’s something for everyone, and it’s one of many reasons why I love it.

This first hour isn’t really spent seeing anyone in particular. It’s more to just get a feel for what’s going on. I’ve got a lot of interviews to do this afternoon, so it’s back to press I go.

1:30-5:30: As it would work out, almost every interview was done back-to-back. As soon as one was finished, there were a few moments of waiting before the next one began. For as much that goes on during the afternoon, this is a very organized process they have in place. Long story short, Warped press is a well-oiled machine.

I’ve done the ones I’ve scheduled, and even picked up one impromptu conversation. Like I keep saying, I love this gig.

4:30: What? I have a few minutes? Not enough time to go see a band, but enough where I can go pick up a CD and maybe something to eat since it just hit me that amongst all of this excitement, I haven’t eaten today. Anyway, onward!

4:45: Not a very long break, but I did finally get lunch, and now I have a Vanna CD to listen to on the way home. Now, let’s get through the rest of those interviews…

5:30: Whew! Done, but for some reason, I still want one more interview. There are still two bands coming in, and I’ve taken one thanks to a suggestion from the fine people at Stage Right Secrets. Sadly, I’m sacrificing two bands that I wanted to see (Motionless In White, Every Time I Die), but it’s worth it if it means having a good conversation (it was).

6:30: At last, I’m done! I can’t believe I’ve gone all day without seeing any bands. Time to remedy this. Press is closing up, so I bid farewell to everyone and make my way towards the Kia Soul Stage, where The Ghost Inside is about to go on.

At this point, it’s a very different environment compared to the upbeat, energetic kids I saw flooding the gates at the beginning. Some look like they’re getting tired. For lack of a better description, they look like they’ve been outside in the sun seeing their favorite bands and having the best day possible. At the very least, it’s a beautiful day outside. For the record, low-humidity and 70-degree temperatures are a rarity here in Indiana. Still though, shout-out to the kids. As the bands I talked to would say, they’re troopers.

Despite it being pretty late in the day, it’s still pretty crowded. Trying to navigate towards the Kia Soul Stage is proving more difficult than I thought. I get there just as Mayday Parade is finishing up on the adjacent Electric Soul Stage, just as they’re playing my favorite song by them (“Black Cat”).

7:05: Mayday Parade wraps up, and The Ghost Inside is up next. There’s a small minority of fans who take exception to this, namely any fans of the Chicago Blackhawks (frontman Jonathan Vigil was wearing a Kings jersey and offered his condolences, before saying he wasn’t really sorry).

But that might be the only downside. As far as their performance is concerned, it was a condensed version of the set they played in Indy last fall as support for The Devil Wears Prada. The biggest difference? The crowd is able to get a lot crazier now that we’re outside in the open. The band runs through a quick 30-minute set while a dance pit opens up and those around sing along or crowd surf. I will note that hearing everyone shout back the words before the breakdown commences is, well it’s pretty cliché, but it’s still awesome. The set ends on a little more personal note with Vigil talking to the crowd for a few moments about overcoming some of his demons, and then it’s right into “Engine 45” to send us all out on our way.

7:40: From there, some people clear out from the Kia Soul Stage, while others avert their eyes over to the Electric Soul Stage, where We The Kings is getting started. Yes, they’re about the complete opposite of what we just saw, but that’s part of the charm of the Warped Tour.

I’ll be honest: for as many times as I’ve come to the Warped Tour, I’ve never seen a full We The Kings set. Today, that changes. I’ve heard a lot about these guys through various friends and family members, so let’s see what they’re talking about.

About 3 songs in, I can see why people like them so much.

It can be a challenge performing at the end of the day. Yet somehow, by looking at everyone here to see them, you would think it’s the beginning of the day. Now only do they sound great, but they’re as engaging as anyone. They have a very energetic stage presence, and they get almost everyone around to participate by singing and dancing around. Even some of those gathering around the adjacent stage for Yellowcard. The sun may be setting on Noblesville and some of these kinds might be on the verge of collapse, but if this is the last band some of them will see today, then We The Kings had made sure that they’re going home with fond memories maybe sounding a little hoarse after all that singing.

8:15: The Electric Soul Stage is done for the day, and for those who stuck around, we’re greeted by the familiar opening theme to Game of Thrones as the guys in Yellowcard file in to close out the entire day. Speaking of going hoarse, that’s exactly what they want. Throughout the performance, they stressed that if you walk away from here with a voice, then you’ve f@#ked up the Warped Tour experience. Needless to say, their set has quite a few sing-along moments.

What’s most surprising? It has to be how much energy everyone really has. They crowd surf at a very impressive pace, and some people around me really have the pipes to compete with frontman Ryan Key. It’s starting to cool off outside, and before the crowd can do the same, the band is closing it out with one rousing rendition of “Ocean Avenue.” With that, some of us are all nice and hoarse, and unfortunately, the 2014 edition of the Warped Tour has come to a close.

9:00: What was once a magical land buzzing with activity now resembles a wasteland. Stages and tents are being torn down and packed away, the amount of trash on the ground is enough to make any environmentalist cringe, and now instead of heading to the next stage, everyone is heading towards the exits. Meanwhile, one band sees this as an opportunity for exposure, so they set up their own makeshift stage just outside the gates to perform to passer-bys. Along the way back to the parking lot, some vendors are selling the official Warped Tour CD and one even has posters, while animal rights activists hand out pamphlets.

Going back to my car, it’s a long and somewhat depressing trip back. It’s been another great day and I hate to see it end, but alas, life moves on, and I have a review and 9 interviews to try and edit.

July 23, 2014: It’s bittersweet, sure, but at the same time, it’s been fun, and I have no reason to be sad. After all, I met and talked to some great bands, re-connected with old friends and colleagues, made some new friends, and of course, saw some of my favorite artists in one place. In the end, who can hate that?

Besides, only 364 more days until next year’s Warped Tour…