Skater daters

>> Dilated Peoples and Jurassic Five infiltrate the Warped Tour core

by SCOTT C

I'm having no luck connecting with Dilated Peoples. Evidence, one MC in the Dilated triangle and my personal guide to the inside world of the Warped Tour, has had to fulfill previously arranged obligations at the autograph booth. I've been on the line with Ev for about 10 minutes now while he simultaneously signs programs and shoulder blades for his adoring public.

Both Dilated Peoples and Jurassic Five have joined a pile of punk bands for the latest installment of the Warped Tour, and apparently, this is what happens after every show, according to DJ NuMark, one of the DJs from Jurassic, who is now on the phone.

"Yeah," he says quietly, "we basically set up and sign autographs at our merchandising tent after every show. People are pretty quick to come and give a good word and say 'what's up' at the booth."

With both Dilated and Jurassic following up on freshly released albums, the two L.A.-based crews are playing mostly to open, virgin ears. "I think that's why we're having so much fun," says NuMark, who has somehow managed to find a quiet place to talk to me. "It's just dope to see all these skater kids getting wild at our shows."

Meanwhile, Evidence has managed to tear himself away from the groupie table, and while walking cell in hand to the mysterious "quieter place," he encounters some final autograph hounds. "What's your name?" he says, obviously smiling. "Jackie? Alright... thanks for comin', Jackie, but I gotta do an interview right now on the phone."



Dilation nation

Mirror: Are you done or what?

Evidence: Sorry, man, but I'm just trying to finish up. What's your name... Dominic? Alright Dom, peace.

M: Supastar! And this is only your third date, am I right?

E: (laughs) Yeah, man, but it's hype! It's different, but we've had similar shows with Rage Against the Machine.

M: It's not the same as touring with 80 per cent punk bands, though...

E: No it's not, but there's a lot of people that we already know, like Long Beach Dub Allstars and Black Eyed Peas. They're all from L.A., so it's pretty cool.

M: NuMark told me the fans are coming out.

E: It's weird because we're used to doing, like, 21-and-over kind of gigs, so when an all-ages event like this happens, it opens it up to all those kids who really want to be at the show.

M: Dilated and Jurassic: rock stars...

E: If you think about it, we both have a rock energy. We get up there and rock out. The fact that our records sound the way they do is just our love for this music, but when we get onstage, we like to rock it. That's what they want to see--someone gettin' up there sweatin' and workin' hard.

M: New fans come in all shapes and sizes.

E: I have a strong policy. That policy is that I'll perform for anybody, anytime, anywhere, as long as it feels right. As long as I'm performing my music. I'll take my music as far as it'll go, I'm just not willing to compromise to get there. That's respect to the people who let us get this far.



Rock star life

M: I heard you sweet-talking some ladies while I was waiting. Being a rock star is a hard life, I guess.

E: C'mon, man! Biggest problem is that most of the girls on tour are underage so we have to I.D. people first. I'll accept 18 and over, or a really good fake I.D. (laughs)

M: Are you guys doing a tour of your own anytime soon?

E: We just came off our own tour which was Dilated Peoples and Reflection Eternal, and when we get off the Warped Tour we're doing two weeks with Lucy Pearl and D'Angelo, and then some Beastie Boys/Rage Against the Machine dates with Jurassic, followed by the Okay Player Tour. We're just trying to raise awareness about the album.

M: You're keeping good company, E.

E: I'm sayin'. We're just fortunate enough to be in the midst of some good quality acts. That's all we ever wanted to be. We weren't underground because our mixes weren't good or because our mics were too low, we were underground because we chose to be. Now we've chosen to take it above, but we're still doin' the same thing we always did.

Dilated Peoples and Jurassic Five join Green Day, NOFX and others at the Vans Warped Tour Parterre at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Friday, July 21, 1pm, $25-30