Getting Warped

Forever immortalized by Sean Penn, who played a stoner surfer wearing checkered Vans tennis shoes in the movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” the successful shoe company not only has outlets in many malls but is sponsoring the 6-year-old, wildly successful Warped Tour.

The 2000 version will make its first-ever local stop Wednesday afternoon at the carnival area of the Ventura County Fairgrounds. With more than 30 bands--most of them of the punk-rock persuasion--playing on four stages, it’s clearly a cultural bonanza for those who like their music loud and fast.

The main stage will feature young rock stars such as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, NOFX, Green Day, the Long Beach Dub All Stars and Weezer--each a draw in its own right. The other bands are too numerous to mention, but the Lunachicks, the Donnas, T.S.O.L. and local rockers No Motiv and Army of Freshmen shouldn’t be missed. With ticket prices at $25, this is clearly a deal. To put it in perspective, one could attend six Warped Tour shows or one Rolling Stones concert.

The Warped Tour is a celebration of youth--those who think they know everything, think they’re invincible and don’t trust anyone over 30. Not only are there all those bands, lots of extreme sports athletes will also be on hand, including world-class BMX riders, snowboarders and skateboarders. And let’s not forget David Smith Jr., a firm believer in his own big-bang theory. Nicknamed “The Bullet,” Smith is a human cannonball who will be blasted across the main stage.

But the Warped Tour isn’t solely a celebration of machismo rock. The Ladies Lounge, a huge tent complete with its own big-screen television, will offer an alternative to rampaging testosterone by allowing visitors to interact with the distaff members of the tour, including musicians and athletes who will sign autographs and just hang out. Several exhibits will provide information on such topics as breast cancer and Planned Parenthood.

However, the main focus of the most extensive Vans Warped Tour yet is, of course, all those bands. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones out of Boston (Bosstones--get it?) will be appearing on their fourth Warped Tour, this time as one of the headliners. Once upon a time, they all wore plaid and were a ska band, but they’ve added a serious edge to their sound.

The octet may have to add another “Mighty” to the moniker if they keep it up: Their last album, “Let’s Face It,” went platinum plus. The new one is “Pay Attention.”

Bass player Joe Gittleman discussed the latest news about his favorite band.

So how’s the Bosstones biz?

Doing good. We just got back from Europe. We were touring with NOFX on the Deconstruction Tour, which is sort of like the Warped Tour. We’ve been going to Europe for about 10 years now; we just came back from Sweden, where we were doing some festivals.

Why isn’t one “Mighty” enough?

One just didn’t cut it. Actually, we heard there was a ‘60s a cappella band called the Bosstones, so we were just trying to protect ourselves legally.

How does the new album fit in with what came before?

I’m not sure yet. It just came out, but they premiered our video, “So Sad to Say,” before the [Red Sox] game on opening day at Fenway Park.

So did the Red Sox win?

I think they did, but I’m not sure. I left after the video. It was freezing that day.

A million bands in one day--how do these big festivals work?

They work pretty well, actually. They have a couple of main stages for bands like us, NOFX and Green Day. They have it figured out so when one band is finished another one starts. There are also a few smaller stages for all the other bands. We played this tour in ‘96, ‘97, ‘98, and last year we were recording, but now we’re back.

Once upon a time, the Bosstones were all dressed in plaid. What happened? Did you all buy new clothes?

That was a long time ago--we’re going on 14 years of this now. I mean, the Beatles only had those mop-top haircuts for a year.

What do you think Bosstones music sounds like?

I dunno, what do you think? I think the word “skacore,” which we helped to popularize, comes pretty close.

How do you account for the continuing popularity of ska?

Good bands. Good music. Good beat. Good message. What got me into it at first was the message of peace and brotherhood by bands like the Specials and the English Beat.

How does a band survive on that endless road trip?

Keep hydrated and wear sun block on the Warped Tour. Really, I don’t think going on the road is half the problem some people make it out to be. A lot of musicians gripe about going on the road, but to tell the truth, I have trouble grasping that. Some years, we’ve done 250 or more shows--that’s serious. I mean, what are my options? I barely graduated high school. I feel very fortunate to be able to make a living doing this.

How did you get to be the bass player?

I was a roadie for a couple of Boston bands, the Del Fuegos and Treat Her Right, and I used to tune their guitars and stuff. I just always wanted to be involved someday. I guess I could’ve been a guitar player or a drummer, but I just happened to pick up a bass, usually not everyone’s first choice.

Who goes to a Bosstones’ show?

Anyone who has the bucks to get into the Warped Tour. Actually, we have a big cross-section of people. There are those that’ve been into us for 12 years or so, and we’re always getting new people. There are still a few people out there who don’t realize how long we’ve been doing this--it’s not like we just popped out of the woodwork or something. I look at a Bosstones’ show as a family thing, kind of like a father-and-son sack race.

DETAILS

Vans Warped Tour 2000 with Green Day, NOFX, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Anti-Flag, Army of Freshmen, B-Side Players, Bueno, Cheap Leis, Chuck D & Confrontation Camp, the Cover-Ups, the Deviates, the Dickies, the Donnas, Flogging Molly, FON, Full Metal Racket, Good Riddance, Hot Water Music, Jurassic 5, Lefty, the Line, Long Beach Dub All Stars, Lunachicks, Millencolin, MxPx, My Superhero, No Motiv, One Man Army, Papa Roach, Relish, Snapcase, Neville Staple & the Hitmen, the Stingrays, Suicide Machines, the Toledo Show, T.S.O.L., Ugly Duckling and Weezer at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Wednesday noon; $25; 648-3376.

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One of the major cash crops in Camarillo these days seems to be the shopping mall. One, at the corner of Arneill Road and Pickwick Drive, is also the night-life capital of the area. The mall has the typical Chinese restaurant and pet hospital, but it also is the home of Dimensions, the only live-music venue in town. It will be celebrating its one-year anniversary tonight, with Platinum Groove providing the dance music.

Camarillo locals should have no trouble finding Dimensions, since the place has had a long and mostly hard-luck history. Once Gold Street, then the Stage, then Players, perhaps the fourth time is the charm. The sound system is state of the art, and the interior has been redone in a space setting. Captain Kirk would feel at home.

When asked what he had learned during his first year, owner Brian Dolivek replied, “It’s a lot of fun running a nightclub, but it’s also a lot of responsibility and a lot of stress. We’re the only dance club in Camarillo, so it’s all good and it’s all worth it.”

DETAILS

Platinum Groove at Dimensions, 2258 Pickwick Drive, Camarillo, Friday, 8 p.m. Cost: $5. Call: 384-9049.

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Jimmy Adams, a longtime fixture on the local music scene, is moving to Kentucky. Before he heads east, the friendly Texan will host his third CD release party Sunday at the Livery Theatre in Ventura for his latest, “20/20 Vision.”

Once again, Adams will get a little help from his friends, who invariably are some of the best local players. The cast this time may include Dan Wilson, Randy Kizer, Bill Flores, Randy Cobb and/or Phil Salazar.

Opening will be the Buenaventura Bluegrass All-Stars, featuring Bud Bierhaus, Roy and Daphne Jones, and Mark Insley. For $10, you get Adams’ latest CD. This will be his last local appearance and his fans’ last chance to hear him do “Big Old Red Guitar” until he returns Aug. 25 for a show at the Ban-Dar.

DETAILS

Jimmy Adams & Friends and the Buenaventura Bluegrass Boys at the Livery Theatre, 34 N. Palm St., Ventura, Sunday, 6 p.m.; $10; 643-5701.

Bill Locey can be reached by e-mail at blocey@pacbell.net.