Both versions feature Hailey Williams of Paramore.  SICK TRACK!

Having just created a buzz with their new release Smile Kid, the crew opened up with “She Takes Me High” and kept the high energy going through their set.

Here’s the set list:

01. She Takes Me High

02. Skyway Avenue

03. Stay Young

04. Promise The Stars

05. Summer Love

06. All Again for You

07. Well Be a Dream

08. Mr. Brightside

09. Story of Your Life

10. Secret Valentine

ENCORE

11. Heaven Can Wait

12. Check Yes Juliet

Back by bandmates Hunter Thomsen, Drew Thomsen, and Danny Duncan, Clark showed why We the Kings is a group on the rise.  They are as catchy as anyone…and love playing to the big crowds!

Tom Delong and the guys really went above and beyond on the production.  Absolutely superb.  Here’s the single “Hallucinations” above…grab the full album via the band’s myspace.

Photos by Keith Mokris / keithmokris.com

Mayday Parade is comprised of vocalist Derek Sanders, bassist Jeremy Lenzo, lead guitarist Alex Garcia, rhythm guitarist Brooks Betts, and drummer Jake Bundrick.

Without a doubt, these guys know how to make the crowds move around with ferocity.  The entire group made use of the stages as they flew from one end to another!

These guys played a really moving set the whole way through.  If I had to pick a favorite, which I had many, I would certainly choose “Black Cat.”  This song got the crowd jumping all over the pit.

While each and every member of Mayday Parade brought IT to the show, Derek Sanders was particularly energizing as he worked the crowd at the front of the stage.  Rocking the platforms at the front, he got as close as he could to the fans…

Photos by Keith Mokris / keithmokris.com

In front of a packed house bustling with teenage energy, ARTTM made the most of the opportunity.  Playing an upbeat set-list that had everybody dancing in place was phenomenal.  Led by vocalist and guitarist Nick Santino, the Braintree, MA, group enjoyed the stage.

With Santino came guitarist Justin Richards, bassist Eric Halvorsen, and drummer Andrew Cook.  The four members played a quick but stellar set that highlighted their range.  Here’s the setlist.

01. Intro / Dakota

02. Give a Damn

03. Baby Blue Eyes

04. Annabelle

05. Like We Used To

06. Sometimes / Mr. Right

As this crew continues to mold their sound, keep em on the radar.  Look for sets from Mayday Parade and headliners We the Kings later in the week!

“Humdrum Town” is a nice little jam that rolls from beginning to end.

I am down for this.  Still has their rough-around-the-edges heavy sound and definitely drives.  We will see how the whole album turns out!

Photos by Keith Mokris / keithmokris.com

As soon as TFT hit the stage, everyone knew they were in for a blazing time.  Hands were in the air.  Girls were screaming their lungs out.  And the lights starting moving like crazy!

Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Maika Maile was at the heart of the action dominating the middle of the stage.  To his left and right were bassist Jay Enriquez and lead guitarist Christian Climer.  The three guitarists made sure they hit the front of the stage and worked the crowd like dynamite…

Throughout their whole set, There for Tomorrow was high energy.  Playing songs off their self-titled album, the epic-sounding vocals resonated over the yells of the crowd at a venue that became more packed by the minute.  TFT had the crowd just where they wanted them…spinning and jumping to every breakdown and refrain.

Throughout their set, the lighting continually picked up ferocity.  While the three guitarists crowded the front of the stage, drummer Christopher Kamrada didn’t let up one bit on the kicks, snares, and cymbols!

Not letting up one bit throughout their entire set, There For Tomorrow was the reason the Take Action Tour kicked off so well in Cleveland.  So many bands roll through, but few pull out all the stops and pack in the lights like TFT…

Best Overall Performance
Best Hard Rock Performance
Best Rap / Hip Hop Performance
Best Middle of the Week Show
Best New Cleveland Artist
Best of Warped Tour

Alright…let’s get right to it.

Best Overall Performance

Photos by Keith Mokris / keithmokris.com

Playing at the Tower City Amphitheatre, The Fray not only wowed a huge crowd, but packed in enough lights to signal outer space.  The atmosphere at the show was so exciting, we’ve never seen anything like it.

Best Hard Rock Performance

The Devil Wears Prada are definitely known for their intensity and ferocious stage-presence.  They stormed the stage during their set at the House of Blues and I think my eardrums are still ringing from the mayhem.  Props to TDWP!

Best Rap / Hip Hop Performance

Alright…this one is just gonna have to be a tie between The Cool Kids and Kid Cudi.  TCK and Kid Cudi were absolutely awesome both in Columbus and Cleveland.  We got to cover both twice and I just can’t pick a winner.  TIE!

Best Middle of the Week Show

The Aibourne Toxic Event are a great band that we can keep expecting good thing outs of.  Their show on a Tuesday was just plain excellent.  Their set list was jam-packed and performed flawlessly!

Best New Cleveland Artist

This is a Shakedown released their album Love Kills this year and haven’t looked back.  Mixing strong rock with pumping electronic sounds, this group always leaves you wanting more.  It was be exciting to see where this Cleveland-based group ends up.

Best of Warped Tour

Covering so many acts at Warped Tour, I think this award gets spread out between Paramore, P.O.S., and Madina Lake.  Warped Tour presented so many acts in such a short amount of time, we’ll always be leaving something out here…but in the end, these artists cranked it up louder than anyone!

As you can see in a few photos, we got to cover a lot of great bands this year and we’re looking forward to doing it all over again!  Stay tuned and rock on into 2010!