Montreal Trip - 2006

by Tom, writing in the summer of 2007

Last summer, I went up to Montreal, QC with my dad, to fill two goals:

  1. Go somewhere on our "Tom & Daddy Trip"
  2. Go to the Warped Tour!
On the way, we stopped at some college with a Fox mascot, and FDR's home, as well as the Saratoga Springs area. I got to drive from the USA into Canada.

In Montreal, we also went to the BioDome, Fouf's (a punk bar), and "old Montreal." One night, Dad and I split up: he went to a bar, and I went to "La Ronda" amusement park.

On the way home, we stopped in Albany.

Now, for the Warped Tour. Dad and I talked about it, and decided that he would drop me off at the Metro station, and I would go to the Warped Tour myself first. After arriving, I found the line (literally 8 feet wide and wrapped around, probably a half mile long) and got in it. Shortly after, I realized that I had forgotten my camera. After several calls to Dad's cell phone (which was "off" of course and the professor doesn't know how to read voice messages), I finally got through, and he rushed from the hotel to the metro, then to the entrance queue to give me my camera. The guards were about to make me enter the area and be unable to get my camera, but at the last second he showed up. I finally went in, and enjoyed some good music.

The bands I saw included:

I also met Greeley Estates and the Pink Spiders (and got signed CDs from both).

There were many more bands present, and a few I now wish I had been able to see more of: Armor For Sleep, Bullet for My Valentine, Cartel, Eight Fingers Down, .Moneen., Protest the Hero, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Senses Fail, The Sunstreak, Thursday, ... However, I was not able to see much (if anything) of those bands, because there were 7 stages, with bands performing continuously and in parallel.







Here's a short video taken with my camera: Video.

After returning home, I found this picture on the web of the Montreal Warped Tour. Can you find me in the image? Click the image to see where I am.

Dad's Version

As Tom said, I had to hustle to get him his camera. I just made it in time for the exchange. Walked out of the subway and there were thousands of teenagers all over the place, but I looked up and in a "clear" area between two mobs of kids stood Tom with a security guard. Handed off the camera and he moved on. I had lunch in Chinatown and took a long walk.

By the time I returned to the island it was late afternoon. I had to ask three times for directions to "the music". People kept assuming I wanted the amusement park or a bar .. finally I approach the outer Warped Tour barrier, and started through. I was stopped immediately by a cop - he assumed I was lost and couldn't believe I was actually going into the Warped Tour. At the inner barrier I was stopped again and had the following conversation:

"you don't wanna go in there."
"yes I do"
"no, you really don't"
"what, don't I look cool enough"
"believe me, you don't wanna go in there"
"what if I have a ticket"
"you don't have a ticket"
"yes I do"
"no way"
"way" as I show my ticket
"you have a ticket!"
"told you"
"enjoy yourself .. do you have earplugs and a dust mask?"

It IS very dusty and noisy but the truth is I sorta enjoy it for a few hours. Wouldn't want to spend 13 hours there like Tom did, and I was ready to go when we snuck out 30 minutes before closing, but it was fun. I strolled around, drank beer, listened to music, and watched the show both on and off stage. Stayed in touch with Tom through our cell phones and rendezvoused a few times. Was given the assignment to listen to the end of the Pink Spiders set and then get a CD autographed. I was in line with about 400 people for the autographs -- I think I was the only person older than 18 in the line and most were 15 or younger. When it was my turn I said the autograph was for my son .. and by the way "I didn't hate your music". The Spider got a kick out of that.

The kids were well behaved and had a blast. It was nice to see. Nuff said.