Since 1994, the Warped Tour has been a hallowed haven for young music lovers to get sunburned and listen to music. In 2008, the Vans Warped Tour has remained just as simplistic, concert goers pour in from all parts of the area (at the closest tour stop), and they gather skin-to-skin at the stages of their favorite musical acts.

CollegeOTR was able to get a sneak peak into the dogmatic Warped Tour culture, rubbing elbows with the likes of pinup darling Katy Perry, MTV Buzzin’ stars Shwayze, to London transplants Tat. The blazing sun cast a sultry beam of heat on the Nassau Coliseum asphalt, as we cooled off beneath the shade of a benevolent tree to conduct an interview with 3Oh!3.

3Oh!3 is the brainchild of two former physics students at the University of Colorado. Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte decided to forgo vectors and centripetal forces to explore the organized entropy of infusing rock, hip-hop, rap and electronica into the erotic sounds on the album Want. “We just press computer buttons on a timeline and those control sounds. We put those in a timeline and just sing over it,” says Motte making his artistry seem as trivial as the Crayola drawing of a kindergartener. Fortunately, 3Oh!3’s music has proved more valuable than the waxy scribbling of a child, with an album release during the tour, and a MySpace following that has drawn tour attendees to their stage performances: “The reaction of kids coming out has just been constantly building, which is amazing,” says bright-eyed Foreman.

As we wrapped up the interview Motte and Foreman quipped about Pinky & the Brain-like world domination. After some sonorous male laughter, both agreed on an outing with a Disney star: “I was gonna’ try to date Miley Cyrus,” joked Nathaniel. “I don’t care, I want to be friends with the Jonas Brothers,” said Sean with an almost ear to ear grin. In a way, I almost believe them.

Next, we snagged some gab time with William Beckett, the charming, unpretentious frontman of The Academy Is. As William opened up about his inspiration on the road and his personal experiences, his words slowly escaped his lips like he had transcribed his life as a distant spectator rather than living it as a sought after lead singer. “Everyone feels a sense of longing and a sense of displacement, whether you’re actually displaced from somewhere or not,” says Beckett as he reflects on conveying “normal life experiences” in a new way. The new album, Fast Times At Barrington High, will have the distinct, relatable feel of the last album with the honey laden voice of Beckett. “It’s the voice I was given,” says Beckett with an unsure shrug.

On tour, William finds an abundance of uniqueness in the mundane, “I love seeing all these states and all their parking lots.” Our interview was flowing as pleasantly as a rowboat on a lazy southern river, until it was rudely interrupted by a fellow female journalist’s uninvited thong and plumber crack, “It’s like a train wreck. You don’t want to see it, but it just happens,” said Beckett, and we all unapologetically laughed at her expense. Some jokes never go out of style.

Mike McColgan from the Street Dogs came by to tell us about Warped through his New England eyes: “So far, the Warped Tour’s been amazing. We started in June 21st, in Pomona, California, and we haven’t looked back…playing hot, sweaty venues and just going for it.”

In defense of Boston’s fiery sports culture: “Sports are interwoven deep into the fabric of the community. As far as beefing or fighting, I don’t get that. I think it’s ridiculous, grow up,” says Mike with a stern, commanding voice that carries through to the Street Dogs album, State of Grace.

To give you a sample of McColgan’s flair we’ve created a playlist:

1. It’s Tricky – Run-D.M.C.
2. Quick Chek Girl – The Bouncing Souls
3. One Love – Bob Marley
4. Back To Oregon – Broadway Calls
5. Stop – Against Me!
6. Fight The Power – Public Enemy

Hailing from the dirty, dirty south, representing Hot-lanta, Georgia, Family Force 5 (the annotated version), let us chat them up about the Family Force 5000 and wizardry.

“We have a lot of fun,” says the elegantly coiffed NaDaddy. “Our stuff’s a big dance party, we just want everyone to join in,” says Chap Stique, making Family Force 5 the remedy to some of the emo darkness that overshadows the tour. You can ultimately get a feel of FF5 from these words: “It’s soundtrack of the apocalypse…greasy, sweaty dance rock,” chimes the warm, blond Chap Stique.

August 19th look out for Dance Or Die with all the trimmings, a fattening, lard soaked dose of booty shakes and 808s.

Tour Results, Part I

Tour Swagger: Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship

Best Crowd: Say Anything

Nastiest Lyrics: Dirt Nasty

Tune In tomorrow, for the rest of our Warped Tour goodies.