School of Rock Roseville Rocks the Warped Tour!
ROSEVILLE – Summer ‘25 was a big one for School of Rock Roseville’s House Band, Hazmat. The kids were given the opportunity of a lifetime when they were chosen to perform at Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach, CA. Only nine schools across the country were chosen for this incredible honor.
“The atmosphere at Warped Tour is unlike any environment I’ve been in,” said Hazmat guitarist Quinn Feeley. “It was infectiously positive, full of support, and overwhelming in the best way possible. [It’s] a feeling I will be chasing forever.”
The Journey Begins
Hazmat’s road to Warped Tour began long before the weekend arrived. Months in advance, the band and their director, Nay Nalupta, began crafting a setlist that would cater to the Warped Tour audience.
“Choosing the right songs is integral to having a great performance,” said Hazmat guitarist August Hundal-Simpson. “Part of that process is thinking about what crowd you’re playing to.”
The setlist included songs from Warped Tour bands like Falling in Reverse, Of Mice and Men, The World Alive, Chiodos, Memphis May Fire, and Saosin. The students rehearsed at least five hours each week, getting in as much practice as they possibly could to prepare for the big weekend.
Jamming With a Legend
Before they left, they got a surprise visit from Of Mice and Men drummer Valentino Arteaga. The legendary drummer jammed with them, and answered a lot of their questions about performing live, touring, and other aspects of the music industry.
The support they felt was immeasurable. Hazmat really looks up to Arteaga and his band, so hearing his stories helped the group understand what an honor it was to play at a musically significant event like Vans Warped Tour.
At the Festival
Hazmat performed four 30-minute sets over two days on the “Loyal to the Craft” stage. Loyal to the Craft is a company started by SJC Drums co-founder, Mike Ciprari.
“Watching the School of Rock Roseville House Band come into the Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach and absolutely crush it was incredible,” said Ciprari. “They drew huge crowds multiple times throughout the day and handled themselves with the kind of professionalism, energy, and creativity that makes the future of music so exciting.”
Hazmat even got to perform a song in front of the band that wrote it! Phoenix metal band The Word Alive showed up for one of Hazmat’s sets and enthusiastically cheered them on as they covered “The Hounds of Anubis.”
After the set, The Word Alive band members spoke with the young musicians and offered advice and encouragement. Drummer Devin Attard even jammed along with Hazmat on an impromptu cover of Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go.”
The Future is Bright
Cipriani noted Hazmat’s professionalism, and attributed it to the work that’s being done at School of Rock Roseville, and all SoR’s around the country. He made a point to notice the little things: seamless transition between songs, energy and excitement on stage.
“School of Rock teaches it all,” Cipriani said. “And seeing it in action proves the future of music is bright.”
