Music: A twist on Warped

In this tough economic climate, even teenagers have learned to scale back. The Vans Warped Tour is one of them.

At age 15, this year's Warped -- returning Sunday to the parking lot outside Canterbury Park in Shakopee -- is a leaner version of the sensory-overloading, ADD-abiding mega-outings of recent years. There's only one main stage instead of two, which means fewer bands (and semitrucks). But at least there's the same array of music for the peanuts-priced tickets. In fact, there might be even more diversity this year.

Sure, there are plenty of the cute emo bands that have taken over in recent years, including Senses Fail, A Day to Remember and locals Sing It Loud. There's also a couple of the usual veteran punk bands, Bad Religion and the Bouncing Souls. But there are many interesting acts breaking the Warped mold this year, including:

P.O.S.: The Twin Cities indie-rapper, who grew up a skater-punk just like Warped's core audience, has been on several previous tours, but this year finds him riding the momentum of his third album, "Never Better," to become one of the star attractions. If he revs up the crowd outside Canterbury the way he did at the Soundset festival on the same site in May, he could run away with the show.

Shooter Jennings: The only act to come through Minnesota for both the Warped Tour and the Moondance Country Jam this summer, the son of late country legend Waylon Jennings has a rowdy, snarling rock sound that should suit Sunday's crowd just fine. But really, when you throw a festival with so many horses around, at least a little country music seems fitting.

Meg & Dia: It's hard to say how this Utah-reared sister act's polished emo-pop will fare with Warped fans, but like Katy Perry last year, the duo is cute enough to at least keep a bunch of boys interested.

Underoath: What's a screaming metalcore band doing on Warped, and a vaguely Christian one at that? The Florida sextet started out more emo-ish, but now it wouldn't be out of place on Ozzfest. Well, except for the Christian thing.

3oh!3: A novelty act in the making, this Colorado duo makes pseudo-sexy electronic pop-rock music like a cuter two-man Har Mar Superstar, but their humor could be a welcome respite from all the angry and/or dejected singers that permeate Warped.

Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658