Today’s Van’s Warped Tour 2008 Minneapolis stop was my fourth Warped Tour, and probably my most favorite — despite the fact there weren’t any major old school bands appearing this year, the entire festival is an advertisement, I didn’t bring the good SLR camera, and the basic premise that I still can’t stand idiot teenagers.

Canterbury Park’s parking lot was much more spacious, parking was free (!), and it didn’t hurt the weather was cool and cloudy all day but never rained.

Just like every year, there were lots of crappppy bands. I mean, absolute crap. How can kids dole out their parents’ money for this stuff so easily? Oh, well maybe because it’s their parents’ money. Fewer tattoos and piercings this year. Fewer beer stands (only one!). Oh, and fewer people over 25 than ever before.

Here are the highlights from today….

Danger Is My Middle Name

Amateur Wrestling

This was horrible. HORRIBLE. However, they were so bad, you can tell there’s a lot of choreography and athleticism involved in faking wrestling. Also, this was horrible.

Evermore Escape

Throw The Fight

These guys are from Minneapolis and put on a hell of a show. The group has another new lead singer (their third) and spent July opening for Drowning Pool, touring on heir debut LP, In Pursuit of Tomorrow, which hit stores just last month. This new singer — James Clark — is a UK guy with an attitude, and that’s a good thing.

MC Chris

OMG it’s MC Pee Pants! This guy is a hell of a performer. Just when the crowd would get all amped and start clapping/jumping along, he would make everyone stop and reset. Classic.

Throw The Fight’s acoustic set in the MySpace Tent

Skater punks who should get real jobs and stop disappointing their parents

Fear Nuttin Band

When I got the Jamaican/metal hybrid band’s LP, Yardcore, months ago I didn’t really give it a chance. That was a missed opportunity. These guys have so much energy! Plus the bassist (Brian Daigle) is a white dude with a five string bass and an Iron Maiden shirt. At one point, the two Jamaican front guys (Roosta and Prowla are their names) climbed onto the 10 foot tall speakers to rock our roots to the core. Well, the yardcore, at least.

Against Me! signing autographs (missed their set b/c they played too damn early)

Classic Crime

The AKA’s

The Bronx

This is most certainly a band to watch. I’ll keep an ear out for their forthcoming studio album THE BRONX (III)

Between the Trees

This Orlando band was acoustic, kind of sad and the first band I heard singing anything about cutting. I had been waiting all day.

Aggrolites

The L.A. reggae-ska band led a rousing cover of The Beatles’ “Don’t Let Me Down” that drew me over and the organ, sweet light-up drum kit and energy kept me interested.

Bring Me the Horizon

For your basic cookie monster deathcore band under 17, this UK band really had their act together. According to Wikipedia, while on tour in the UK, allegations were made against vocalist Oliver Sykes that he urinated upon and then assaulted a female fan after a gig at Nottingham Rock City when she allegedly refused his sexual advances. Sykes was subsequently charged with urinating on the fan, but not with physical assault. While we didn’t see any urinating, I was most impressed how the band separated the crowd into two halves, had them spread far apart and then charge into each other as fast as possible. It was moshtastic.

Reel Big Fish

All their songs sound like their big breakout single, “Sell Out!” But hey, as probably the most established, widely-known band on the tour, they definitely have their own sound (and following). And it takes balls to haul around a trombone as your instrument of choice on the Warped Tour.

More photos here. Warped runs through August 17.