Though the answers to those questions are not yet known, a much-needed piece of wisdom comes from an unlikely source: the infamous Falling In Reverse frontman, Ronnie Radke. As he and his bandmates pump up to play their new singles, Losing My Life and Losing My Mind, Ronnie prefaces by saying, “You need to change to survive. The ones who don’t change are the ones that die out.” It’s midway through the day and his summation of the band’s new material feels timely and almost cosmic. Even though America isn’t ready to say farewell to Warped Tour, it’s the punk scene’s time to witness and embrace a historic change.
For her part, Shiragirl (the artist who stormed Warped with her band and her own stage 14 years ago, despite not being asked to play) firmly believes that the spirit of the tour won’t end, but transform. “I think there is gonna be a void,” she surmises, “but Kevin is sort of waiting to see what’s next [and] who’s going to pick up the slack.” Shiragirl feels that despite the curtain call, there is something new and creative to be done. (She plays with the idea of developing a new, feminist-oriented offshoot of the legendary summer fest.) But when it comes to any future festivals, Kevin will always be the one to consult. “I always say I want to be Kevin Lyman when I grow up,” she says, admitting she lives by the mantra “What Would Kevin Do?” “Not just doing a cool thing, but doing good in the world.”
While he has worked – and continues to work – day and night for his philanthropic ventures (e.g. FEND: Full Energy No Drugs opioid addiction initiative), one wonders if Kevin Lyman truly knows the degree to which he has affected this music culture and every individual that has been part of it. For every one of us that has been spin-kicked in the face, surfed the crowds, started new careers, and deepened old friendships as the sun burned us in those many parking lots across the nation, this is the hardest breakup of our lives.
As the sun comes down on Jones Beach, and Motionless In White croon out their last song, Eternally Yours, it feels as if they are saying the farewell that no-one else can muster. So to borrow their words, for now we bury our bones even though we’re not ready to. Maybe when the next sun rises, we’ll see a pleasant horizon from the shore.