Monmouth Alumnus Play
Entertainment

Monmouth Alumnus to Play Vans Warped Tour

Brick-based pop rockers The Ones You Forgot shook the New Jersey music scene last week when they announced they will be playing the Vans Warped Tour this summer in Atlantic City on June 29 and 30.

The two-day festival will include performances from iconic bands from Warped Tour history such as Blink-182, The Offspring, A Day to Remember, Bad Religion, and many more.

The Ones You Forgot, fronted by University alumnus Jenna Bruno, will be performing songs from their summer 2018 release Too Afraid to Say.

“It’s really so exciting to be playing this year. A huge thanks goes to Kevin Lyman- Warped’s founder, for those who don’t know,” said Bruno, who graduated from the University in 2018. “This could not have happened without him giving us a chance, as well as all of our friends, family and fans who have supported us from day one.”

The band’s upcoming performance at the Warped Tour brings back a flood of memories to the band’s lead singer.

“2010 was my first year as a 13-year-old,” reminisced Bruno. “It’s a bit of a blur, but I remember seeing bands like Hey Monday, Mayday Parade, Bring Me the Horizon, Artist Vs Poet and I distinctly remember crowd surfing for the first time to The All-American Rejects and We The Kings.”

That year, Bruno would be introduced to a plethora of bands that would soon become her favorites by the following the summer.

However, her introduction to music occurred long before entering the realm of music that gets played in Hot Topic nationwide.

“I started singing in chorus and a few local recreational clubs that my mom signed me up for in my elementary school days,” said Bruno, who at the time was only singing for fun.

“I eventually lost touch with it for a while because I developed severe stage fright, however my addiction with going to shows and discovering new music in my teenage years inspired me to fight through and start my own band.”

Five years after starting said band along with guitarists Matthew Thompson and Ferdinand Benauro, Bruno and the rest of The Ones You Forgot have seen an impressive amount of growth.

Two EPs and one single into their career, they’ve had a music video debut on Alternative Press, embarked on three tours and opened for the likes of Never Shout Never, Hit the Lights, Boys Like Girls, Four Year Strong, and many other pop punk giants.

The band has even begun to see social media accounts dedicated to them by fans as well as covers of their songs on YouTube.

“Dream big!” said Bruno, addressing fans and aspiring musicians alike. “There are so many things out there for you in the world of music. Second- practice, practice, practice! It’s the only way to get better at your craft.”

“Lastly, have fun! It’s so important that you enjoy what you create. It isn’t always easy to smile on the tough days but it makes all the difference in your musical journey,” she concluded.

IMAGE TAKEN from The Ones You Forgot Facebook