This Friday, Warped Tour 2008 kicks off in Pomona, California. The traveling punk festival has been a success since 1994, and each year more than 100 bands participate, from veterans to newbies looking for exposure and a record deal.

Warped Tour is always, by and a large, a sausage fest (AKA the bands are male) but there are always a handful of women who are the must-sees. Past females who have fronted the stage include Juliette Lewis with her band The Licks and Joan Jett.

If you're a fan of punk, hardcore, and what the kids call "emo," I suggest you get to the date in your town early to find out when these ladies will be performing.

Be Your Own Pet

Frontwoman Jemina Pearl admits that the audience at Warped will be a little different from the band's usual crowd. The art-punk band was discovered by Thurston Moore and has been a favorite of music snobs who scoff at the tweens and teens music Warped generally presents. All the better for you to take advantage of moving to the front of the stage during Be Your Own Pet's set: fans of Yeah Yeah Yeahs will love Jemina's thrashing, dancing, and style.

Horrorpops

An upright bass at Warped Tour? You bet! Horrorpops are like something out of the movie Crybaby with their psychobilly rock. Patricia Day puts on a stage show that will put an end to the male monotony of the other stages on tour. … continue reading