Bands pull all nighter for fans

Performers at the Vans Warped Tour this past Saturday at The Flats at Arrow Hall first rocked the huge crowd, then several of them headed to a Mississauga restaurant where they chowed down with fans in an informal post-concert debriefing.
More than 100 bands appeared on 10 stages at the local stop on the Warped Tour, which has been a summer fixture for punk, hardcore, emo and alternative rock fans since its debut in 1995.
The big bands for this year's event, which featured the obligatory mosh pits and crowd surfing, included Gym Class Heroes, Protest the Hero and Pennywise. Gym Class Heroes showed up despite the arrest of their lead singer on assault charges earlier this month.
The tour also featured Angels & Airwaves, Against Me!, The Academy Is and Japan's Oreskaband.
Among those who attended the post-punk meet-and-greet at Denny's Restaurant (40 Courtney Park Dr. E.) were Katy Perry (she of the big hit, I Kissed a Girl) Say Anything, Forever the Sickest Kids, From First to Last, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.
The post-performance party at the restaurant took place from 10 p.m.-midnight and was free to fans. It was part of Denny's "All Nighter" program designed to draw patrons late at night.
jstewart@mississauga.net