Alaska bands get national exposure from ‘Warped’ tour stop

ANCHORAGE — As any resident of Alaska — lifelong or not — knows, the road to get out of the state is long, and full of many turns, misdirections, and, often, roads under construction.

For Alaska artists looking to make a big break, the same factors can be true.

“It’s really hard, with exposure and money in mind, to get out of here. We’re so far from everything. Alaska can be so obsolete,” said Alex Hickel, bass player for Anchorage band PJ Franco and the Burnouts, when asked about the difficulties of being a band in Alaska.

Removed from the contiguous states, we are known for lacking amenities other areas have, such as major sports teams or retailers, or that particular fast-food restaurant. And an available audience and showcase for art can be added to that list.

“The scene is really restricted, with less opportunity than other states,” said Kyle Schnese, drummer for Anchorage-based band The Harlequin State. “It’s really do-it-yourself, we don’t have venues that offer regular opportunity to play.”

The opportunity for any artist to showcase their work on any scale is paramount in their story. A showcase for talent can bring attention from management, labels, or touring opportunities, which all add up to being a successful, known band. When the opportunity for a small, Alaskan band to showcase their talent alongside major label artists comes along, it is not one to be passed up. This is where the Warped Tour comes in.

Often described as “a "punk rock summer camp" on wheels,” the Vans Warped Tour is a single day music festival of 70 bands traveling to make stops around the country to put on a show. When the Road to Warped Tour: Alaska hit Anchorage Wednesday, local artists really felt the opportunity open up for them.

“It’s a really great, once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity to play the bigger shows of our lives. It’s a fantastic chance to be in front of two thousand-plus people, as well as national acts,” Schnese said.

With a roster of 29 artists, only seven of them from out of state, Warped Alaska was all about showing the energy of the Alaska scene to the national acts. With the final ticket count looming around 3300, the crowd was an excited representation of the hunger for music and shows in the state.

“[I’m so] thankful for everyone coming out, for showing up for the Vans Warped Tour in Alaska because it really shows them and the Lower 48 that this means something to you,” guitarist Joshua Springer of the Harlequin State told the crowd during the band’s set. “It shows them that the place I grew up in, and the place I play music, means something. And that’s amazing.”

The Warped Alaska show was a kick-off date for the tour, which officially starts in Houston, Texas, Friday with a roster of more than 70 artists. The tour is well-known for being the first major opportunity for new bands to get national exposure. Some of today’s popular artists of all genres such as Paramore, Underoath, 3OH!3 and All Time Low, have attributed their early career success to the their time on the tour.

“Warped has been huge in our success,” vocalist Nathaniel Motte of 3OH!3 said backstage at Warped Alaska. “It provides such a great forum.”

“It’s a great gathered fan base,” his bandmate, Sean Foreman, added. “It’s such a great place to go out and get to fans who get to see all these artists for one reasonable ticket, versus other festivals who only stay in one city or are so expensive.”

Warped Tour partnership director Keri Lee made the same point about the tour’s ability to reach fans.

“Warped is really about discovery and looking forward. The local scene is so important to that, and it’s really an honor to be out in Alaska to see local acoustic and rock acts in addition to some of our veteran bands that have come out with us so many years like All Time Low and Yellowcard.”

The festival’s set up on Wednesday behind the Northway Mall offered a main stage for national bands to play 40-minute sets. Local bands followed with 20-minute sets on a smaller stage right beside.

“This is a big show, with big bands,” Hickel said after her band’s set. “It gives local bands the audience they need. It should open a lot of doors, with a lot of kids seeing these local acts and then continuing to follow them and going to more shows in town.”

While local bands marveled at the exposure and opportunity to see and meet the national bands, many of the national artists were wowed just to be in Alaska.

“When we heard Warped was doing a show in Alaska we really reached out to get here. It sounded like a great opportunity to get here for the first time,” said Alex Gaskarth, vocalist-guitarist of All Time Low.

“We’re 50 for 50 on our states now!” Ryan Key, vocalist of Yellowcard, said onstage. “It’s such an honor to get to be here and play a show for all of you...It’s so beautiful here and we’re sorry it’s taken so long.”

When asked if they had explored the area while here, many bands were happy to say they had. Members of All Time Low visited the Alaska Wildlife Reserve, and Foreman and Motte of 3OH!3 said they were extending their staying to visit Seward and the Kenai Peninsula.

“We should be down there for three or so days, to see the wildlife and more of the area,” Foreman said. “I really wanted to see Denali while here, but we decided to pick a direction [from Anchorage]: North or South. Next time we’ll go North. We’ll definitely be back.”