So far, Forever the Sickest Kids couldn't really ask for a better 2008. The Dallas power-poppers spent most of May on their first headlining trek – with The Maine, Danger Radio and The Cab in tow – and now they're greasing their wheels for this summer's Warped Tour.

FTSK won't just be at Warped on the first day of the trek, June 20 in Pomona, California – they're one of the lucky acts that'll be on the whole shebang. It's great timing, because the gang just put out its debut album, Underdog Alma Mater, in late April through Universal Motown; had a cut on the Punk Goes Crunk comp that dropped the same month; and has been soaring on the success of the single "Whoa Oh (Me Vs. Everyone)," which found its way onto radio top 10s  – and even "The Hills."

Buzznet caught up with guitarist Marc Stewart to chat about his harrowing experience on last year's Warped Tour, what Forever the Sickest Kids have planned for their set – and why a monkey at every show is a must.

Buzznet: Share some highlights, good or bad, of past Warped Tours you've played or attended.

Marc Stewart: On last year's Cleveland Warped Tour [stop], a huge storm came through. It blew over everything: all the tents, all the merch and the small stages. We were in our tents with a few fans holding our tent down through all the wind, hail and rain. At the end of it ... our tent was still standing.

Buzznet: What's the best part about playing Warped?

Stewart: Meeting all the kids. There are so many new fans there.

Buzznet: What will you be doing to kill time on the tour bus?

Stewart: When you close the curtain on your bunk, it's like a cave. It's the best feeling ever: You can go to bed at 3 p.m. and it will be pitch black. I also plan on toning up the ol' body and getting some sun.

Buzznet: What's the best way to cure the heat while touring with Warped?

Stewart: Don't even try, your efforts will only make you work more and get hotter.

Buzznet: How has Warped evolved over the years in your opinion?

Stewart: It's become so widespread in genres. It has something for almost all people.

Buzznet: List a few items on your rider that we might not expect.

Stewart: A monkey at every show, Capri Sun and cars for each of us.

Buzznet: Do you have anything unusual planned for your set, whether it be cover songs, tracks you normally don't play?

Stewart: We just added a few new songs from the album, but nothing unusual ... or is it?

Buzznet: Are you planning any props, backdrops, screens or anything else in terms of stage setup?

Stewart: We have new scrims [lighting devices] to go in front of our cabs [cabinets]. They are massive. I didn't expect them to be that big, so hopefully we will use them. It takes the work of eight men to put them up.

Buzznet: Which bands are you most looking forward to seeing perform? Who do you think will blow up after Warped?

Stewart: I look forward to seeing Paramore, Motion City Soundtrack and Say Anything. I think We the Kings and The Maine will blow up after the tour.

Buzznet: Any tips for people going for the first time?

Stewart: Make a list. Don't got and try to see everyone and not figure out what time they play. My first time I went, [I] was there most of the day but didn't see anyone haha.

Check out our ongoing Warped Tour coverage:

"Charlotte Sometimes Wonders if She'll Blow Up This Summer: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: A Guide to Pit Etiquette"
"1997 Keyboardist Longs for the Slip-N-Slide: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: The VIP Guide"
"Protest the Hero Singer Says 'We Don't Roll Like Carrot Top': Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Set Your Goals Are Packing Extra Boxers: Warped Tour Warm-Up"
"Warped Tour '08: Top 10 Must-Haves"
"Two More Killer Bands Added to Warped Tour Main Stage"

Also, feast your eyes on these pics of Katy Perry, Beat Union and more at the Warped Tour kickoff show on April 11 in West Hollywood, California – click on the image below.



Get psyched for summer with Buzznet's Warped Tour 2008 gallery.

[Click on picture to view the rest.]

See which females will be rocking out on Warped this summer:


[Click on picture to view the rest.]

And see which acts are hopping on the trek for the first time:


[Click on picture to view the rest.]

Find out which Warped artists are out of their twenties:


[Click on picture to view the rest.]

Warped Tour dates:

6.20: Pomona, CA @ Pomona Fairgrounds
6.21: San Francisco, CA @ Pier 30/32
6.22: Ventura, CA @ Seaside Park
6.25: Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion
6.26: Las Cruces, NM @ N.M.S.U. Practice Field
6.28: Salt Lake City, UT @ TBA
6.29: Denver, CO @ Invesco Field
7.1: St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.2: Kansas City, KS @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.3: Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center
7.5: San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.6: Houston, TX @ Sam Houston Race Park
7.9: Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater
7.10 : Orlando, FL @ Central Florida Fairgrounds
7.11: Tampa, FL @ Vinoy Park
7.12: Miami, FL @ Bicentennial Park
7.13: Jacksonville, FL @ St. Johns County Fairgrounds
7.14: Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.15: Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
7.16: Washington DC @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
7.17: Cleveland, OH @ Time Warner Cable Amphitheater at Tower City
7.18: Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park
7.19: Toronto, ON @ Downsview Park Allen Road
7.20: Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean Drapeau
7.23: Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
7.24: Buffalo, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
7.25: Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
7.26: Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
7.27: Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
7.28: Englishtown, NJ @ Raceway Park
7.29: Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette Pavilion
7.30: Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
7.31: Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center
8.1: Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheatre
8.2: Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
8.3: Minneapolis, MN @ Canterbury Park
8.5: Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
8.6: Calgary, AB @ Race City Speedway
8.8: Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre
8.9: Seattle, WA @ George Amphitheatre
8.10: Portland, OR @ Columbia Meadows
8.13: Fresno, CA @ Save Mart Center
8.14: San Diego, CA @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
8.15: San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
8.16: Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre Lot
8.17: Los Angeles, CA @ Home Depot Center

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