Chain Fest felt like the Warped Tour reunion we’ve all been waiting for.
Chain Reaction, an infamous punk venue, and Live Nation bring us Chain Fest. The festival took place at the FivePoint Amphitheatre on October 23rd in Irvine, California.
This event was postponed twice due to COVID-19 and while some bands had to drop off the line up, what we saw was something you wouldn’t see unless you were at a summer rock festival in the 2000’s.
The lineup: The Summer Set, Envy On The Coast, Cartel, Anberlin, Mayday Parade, Circa Survive, Taking Back Sunday, and Jimmy Eat World.
The thing that stood out instantly was just how happy everyone was to see their favorite bands. It was evident who was here to see which band as so many were wearing the merch of those performing. They came ready to represent! The fans were not the only ones happy to be in attendance. Singer to Anberlin, Stephen Christian, spoke on how they are no longer a touring band, and how much it meant to be there. “Even if we weren’t performing, this is still a festival I would be attending,” he said. As the performances went on, the energy amplified within the crowd. We had an incredible sunset with cotton candy skies while Mayday Parade serenaded us with all their hits off of their sophomore album A Lesson In Romantics. Circa Survive had us instantly captivated with their moody lighting and Anthony Green’s heartfelt melodies. You can feel his soul radiate through the crowd.
The amphitheater was filled with gratitude and excitement to be there experiencing the energy of live music and festivals once again. We hope to back at Chain Fest next year with another nostalgic line up.
Words by Bryana Contreras
Photos by Nazrin Massaro
