P&P Recap: Warped Tour 2025 in Long Beach, CA

From its founding in 1995 to 2019, Warped Tour remained a staple of punk rock culture, and the iconic touring festival made its highly-anticipated return this year to mark its 30th anniversary. For the first time in five years, emo kids are flocking to Washington, D.C., Long Beach, CA, or Orlando, FL for a weekend full of live music, community, and the most immaculate vibes. Playlists & Polaroids had the privilege of attending the Long Beach stop, and truthfully, we're still reminiscing on the most chaotic yet inspiring weekend.

While Gen X Warped veterans described their experience as a high school reunion - screaming every word to songs by the All American Rejects, Bowling For Soup, Sublime, A Day To Remember, and more - it didn't stop at a celebration of nostalgia. Fans in their twenties, who grew up consuming Warped Tour content online, finally got to fulfill their dreams of attending the festival. Not to mention the number of young children enjoying modern acts like Bryce Vine, Iann Dior, and Landon Barker! Each city boasts a stacked lineup of legends and newcomers alike - we saw many awe-inspiring sets that connected with multiple generations of fans, and we even got to chat with a few artists. Without further ado, here's some of our Warped weekend highlights.

Graphic credits: Karly Ramnani & Vans Warped Tour

Mod Sun

All pictures in the gallery above were taken by Karly Ramnani.

One of the strongest voices in punk and hip-hop, Mod Sun's intense passion and bold character rendered his set an undeniable highlight of the weekend. Performing fan favorites such as "Internet Killed The Rockstar" and "Karma," he attracted a wide age range of festivalgoers. Mod Sun is the rare performer whose infectious energy resonates with fans at the barricade just as much as those in the back of the crowd. After completing his own set, he made a surprise appearance during Bryce Vine's Sunday slot!

Kami Kehoe

Kami's Warped performance occured less than 24 hours after she dropped her latest EP, KANDY, along with a music video for its two final tracks, "DOPAMINE" and "COME DOWN." KANDY captures several emotional perspectives of a thrilling, toxic relationship and its demise, with the project's visuals further illustrating the sudden fall from a high. Despite the cathartic nature of this EP and Kami's live performances, the transition between these two tracks never fail to fill the room with a surreal energy, leaving every fan with chills. Not to mention, we feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed one of the most talented drummers of our generation - and even luckier that we got to chat with her backstage.

After capturing the hearts of several new fans at Warped, Kami followed up this feat with a sold out show at the Moroccan Lounge, where she also celebrated her recent signing to Atlantic Records. Playlists & Polaroids just couldn't get enough of her, so we made sure to catch that one too. See the rising star in action in our gallery below!

All pictures in the gallery above were taken by Karly Ramnani.

Indigo Forever

All pictures in the gallery above were taken by Karly Ramnani.

At first glance, punk and house lie on opposite ends of the genre spectrum, but Indigo Forever's sound combines the two musical styles in a way that just works. The adventurous duo blends Tea's punk background with Max's EDM expertise to create something bigger than its individual members. We kicked off 2024 by interviewing Indigo Forever for an artist spotlight feature; at that time, they had recently played their first ever small-scale live show. Fast forward to now, they kicked off day two of Warped weekend on the Pike stage, and we couldn't be prouder. We also got the chance to catch up with them backstage - watch our interview with them below!

Royal And The Serpent

All pictures in the gallery above were taken by Karly Ramnani.

Overall, Royal And The Serpent embraces duality, and her versatility shined through in her performance as well. Longtime fans might associate her with an energetic, angry approach, but that's not all there is to Royal. Her newer releases - such as "euphoria," inspired by the hit TV show of the same name, and "death do us part" - show a softer side of her artistry, along with a haunting cover of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" by Lead Belly. And yes, Royal And The Serpent can be abbreviated to R.A.T.S., but she swears that wasn't her intention when picking her stage name. Check out our interview with her for more fun facts and confessions from the icon herself!

We The Kings

All pictures in the gallery above were taken by Karly Ramnani.

For the last two decades, We The Kings have cemented their status as punk rock legends, and their standout main stage performance marked yet another career highlight for the band. In addition to the cult classic "Check Yes Juliet," they performed a euphoric rendition of "Skyway Avenue," slowed things down with "Sad Song," and covered the timeless "Mr. Brightside."

Warped Tour carried equal doses of sentimentality and optimism for the future, fostering one of the most welcoming live music environments we've ever encountered. It provided an all too fleeting escape from reality - allowing every fan to feel a sense of belonging and unity through a shared love of the same scene. The festival's comeback shows that the spirit of punk rock evolves with time, but never truly dies. We wish we could turn back time to relive Warped weekend, but a playlist inspired by this year's lineup is certainly the next best thing!