Vans Warped Tour

Jocks used to beat the crap out of skaters. Now they're one in the same, and nowhere is the unholy union of jock bravado and anti-establishment angst more apparent (not to mention highly marketable) than at the Vans Warped Tour. Now more than 10 years old, the annual extreme sport and music fest has managed to effortlessly outlast the combined efforts of Lilith Fair, Smokin' Grooves and Lollapalooza and continues to outsell other niche mega-tours like Ozzfest. Maybe it's the ripe demographic and maybe it's the impressive array of side stages, half-pipe and ramp exhibitions and activity tents. But for every Helmet, NOFX, Less Than Jake or Bouncing Souls there's a half-dozen other bands you've never heard of before and most likely will never hear from again.