Any Summer Concerts in Your Plans?
Even as an aging GenXer, I still look forward to the summer concert season.
Spend quite a few evenings at Pine Knob in the summers of '84 and '85...the last two summers before I headed off to Ann Arbor.
Not much planned yet. My former college roommate and I have been going to various music festivals over the past ten or so years, so I've been able to see quite a few of my favorite acts. To give you an idea of my musical tastes, some of the more current artists that I like Tame Impala, Radiohead, Muse, Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Phoenix, LCD Soundsystem, etc. I'm also really in to a lot of the current generation of female musicians; really like Haim, Wet Leg, Girl in Red, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, boygenius, etc. I still love my favorite classic hits/rock from the '60's, '70's and '80's.
I will admit that I've become a bit snobby about seating/proximity to the stage. Sitting a mile from the stage at a stadium or arena show isn't really appealing to me.
On the calendar so far...
*Jenny Lewis at The Majestic - GA (next week)
*Beck/Phoenix/Sir Chloe/Weyes Blood at Pine Knob - Row I (right after the first Michigan football game!)
*Bruce Springsteen in Syracuse - the Pit! (early September)
The Strokes are probably the current group that I haven't seen but most want to see.
A pleasant surprise for me was Black Sabbath at Lollapalooza in 2012. Had no idea what to expect...given how Ozzy comes across in his media appearances. Holy shit, though, it was like he was a different person once he got behind the microphone. Limp Bizkit was also a nice surprise at Lolla in 2021; they really brought it and put on a very tight show. Metallica was also incredible at Lolla in 2015...along with Sir Paul the same year!
The Cars were - and still are - the biggest live show disappointment for me. Probably in my top 5-10 bands ever...but, man, were they ever flat live. Saw them in the mid-80's...and also at Lolla in 2011...without Ben Orr passed away. Played the songs as they were on the albums. No real stage show or banter. Not much energy.
Lolla has become more and more geared to 18-30 year olds...so now looking to attend ACL Festival instead.
Who are you seeing this summer? What have been some of your favorite live shows? Who's still on your list of acts you'd like to see? Anyone you've seen who surprised you...either positively or negatively?
I'll be at Dinosaur Jr as well. I figure there may not be may more chances to see J Mascis while he can still shred
We would love to go to Aftershock 2023 in Sacramento on Oct. 6 but have a newborn who will only be 3 months old then. I don't think either of us will want to leave her with anyone and travel that far away for a concert (we live in AA area). I will keep dreaming though. We plan on hitting a couple next summer though. Which ones are still to be determined.
I live in Sacramento, and Aftershock is an excellent and well-organized festival. It is one of two big annual music festivals in the city, the other being Sol Blume. Congratulations on your new little one. Pandemic lessons notwithstanding, I’d wait until next year for Aftershock.
Like you, I'm less enthusiastic about the Loll lineups these days. But, check out the Riot Fest lineup this year - Foo Fighters, the Cure, Queens of the Stoneage, Kim Gordon, the Breeders, Parliament Funkadelic, Ani DiFranco, Postal Service, Death Cab, Flogging Molly.
That's a great line-up! Have seen the Cure at both Lolla and ACL. Robert Smith was a sweaty mess by the end of the set.
I've had many discussions/debates re: Foo Fighters. Are they a really good rock band or do they seem like a really good rock band because there just aren't many great mainstream rock bands out there right now? I tend to fall in the latter camp.
And what level of the ladder camp have you climbed to, would you say?
But seriously folks, Foo Fighters have always been solid and still put on a good show. I would put a handful of contemporary acts (ex: the Killers, Queens of the Stone Age) above them, though.
Argh. I fixed it...but this comment will serve as verification that you caught me in an egregious error.
The Foos, in my opinion, are consistently average, and it's the consistency that sets them apart.
I agree with your conclusion about Foo Fighters musically, but I'm still kind of a fan of them as a band. I saw them open for RHCP years ago and Dave Grohl gave that show everything he had. He seems like a very humble and likeable guy.
Saw Bruce Springsteen and Paramore this spring/summer already. Both were fantastic.
On the docket are:
- Jenny Lewis (Cleveland, July)
- Bruce Springsteen (Giants Stadium, September)
- Local Natives (Cleveland, September)
- Front Bottoms (Cleveland, September
As far as best shows I've seen, it's probably a similar list to a lot of people out there but one that doesn't get enough love for their live show: Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Saw them at Lollapalooza 2009 (stepping in for Beastie Boys after MCA got sick) and they absolutely burned it down.
I really want to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs!
Where do you live in the 216? We have family in the Beachwood and Solon areas.
Very close by! We’re in University Heights right next to Beachwood and about 20 minutes up the road from Solon.
I saw The Front Bottoms last September in Grand Rapids. They put on an amazing show.
I love Jenny Lewis but is it too much to ask for Rilo Kiley to go on one more tour?
Can’t even explain how much I miss Rilo Kiley. Given that the band members seems to still get along okay, I have to imagine we’ll get some reunion shows (maybe even a tour?) someday.
OP you’re just a handful of years younger than me. I’ve seen them all from Van Halen to the Stones to Black Flag to the Dead Kennedys.
Some notables:
I saw both Cheap Trick and Iggy Pop at the Necto (or whatever it was called at the time) in A2.
Ramones in New Haven.
A few years ago I saw Die Antwoord open for Iggy in Portland.
Rock the Bells in San Francisco.
The hands down best was Andrew WK fronting Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg in a bar in DC. His frenetic energy matched well with the music. Andrew WK with his band is another don’t miss event.
I love the fact that Andrew WK's dad is Michigan Law's own Professor Krier, who taught my Contracts class and literally wrote the book on Property.
Krier was quite the entertaining Property professor.
Going to a Post Malone concert next weekend in Cincinnati. It will be my third concert of his and I’m excited to go with my sister who splurged and got us tickets. Light concert schedule for me outside of that, last summer went to 3. Posty and REO Speedwagon are my fav concerts I’ve been to in the last few years. Even in ripe age those guys rock out still!
REO kicks ass. Saw them back in 2005 in small river city Iowa. To me they sounded great. Not many (ever) songs can out-rip Ridin the Storm Out.
Saw REO back in 81 and again in 82 they rocked.RIP Gary Richrath a great,great guitar player and very underrated.
I saw REO twice in their mid-80's heyday - they were awesome! Kevin Cronin tells a great story with a lot of energy for each song. I'd go see them again... The second time I saw them they had Survivor opening, with their one-hit Eye of the Tiger.
Pearl Jam at Ruoff (Deer Creek) mid September
wait what?
No concert plans this summer, but I saw Springsteen for the first time a few months back.
I have musicians that I like more, and I won’t claim to know all of his work, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a more fun concert.
Didn’t seem like there was a single person sitting down for the entire 3.5 - 4 hours, and I’ve never seen a more engaged crowd that seemed to know every single song and sing along with it. Was the complete opposite from when I saw Van Morrison back in October. That guy is a great musician but is not even remotely what I’d call an entertainer or a crowd pleaser.
Hoping I can make my way to Oceans Calling at the end of September, but I’m already traveling for Labor Day weekend and have a work conference in Orlando the following week, so convincing the wife to watch the two little ones for yet another long weekend so quickly may not happen.
Blues great Buddy Guy was a few weeks ago
Metallica is in November
I'm thinking about going to a Lindsay Stirling concert in a few weeks, which would be a new experience for me - a totally different crowd than that of concerts I've previously attended. I like the music. I went on a classical bender a few years back and learned that I really like violin concertos, and she writes some really entertaining music.
Also considering Lady A. For my money, they're the second best country duo behind Brooks & Dunn (who were fucking FANTASTIC in concert, BTW).
And I'm really bummed I missed out on Tom Petty and haven't found my way to a U2 show yet.
The past few concerts I’ve been to have gone like this:
1. “Hey, ___ band/artist is in town!” (excitement)
2. “Effing ticket fees. These seat prices are outrageous.” (first sign of apprehension)
3. Date of show approaches, start to get annoyed by the things I won’t be able to do because I have these dumb tickets.
4. Get ready day of show, hurried and wishing I could just stay home (Anxiety)
5. Effing people everywhere. Parking sucks, stand in line for doors (hate starts to build)
6. Get a drink, show starts; “this is pretty cool”
7. 3ish songs in: everyone here stinks, I’m uncomfortable, it’s too loud to hear the music, my feet hurt, who’s smoking weed? (Instant headache)
8. I wanna go home. NOW.
9. Thoughts on the ride home- NEVER AGAIN.
10. Rinse, repeat.
I’m seeing NOFX’s two-day show in Tacoma WA in a few weeks. It’s their farewell tour, which is a major bummer.
No plans this summer. My years of concertgoing gave me a scary bout of tinnutis. The one thing the pandemic gave me was relief from that.
Just before lockdown I saw Ween and was blown away with how good they were. Enjoy your concerts everyone!
I have tickets to see Ween in September. I've seen them several times and few things are as enjoyable as a Ween show. I'm very excited for this one.
I have already been to a couple …
Blink 182
I Prevail
going to go see …
Motionless in White
Chevelle
might go see …
Pantera
Attila
Smashing Pumpkins (saw them in 1994 and 2018)
Offspring
Rob Zombie
I saw Blink182 in 97 for like $10. I really wanted to go check them out this time around but I couldn't justify spending that kind of money. Maybe next time
Brother covered me.
he owed me for VIP tix I got us to see Tool at Pine Knob.
Bro, I had no idea Pantera was touring again. That’s awesome. I saw them in ‘98? with Black Sabbeth. I’m interested in how they sound with new drums and guitar.
It may have been hokey, but I wish Pantera had altered their name before going on tour to some like “Pantera Lives.” It’s just not Pantera without the Abbott brothers.
Noel Gallagher later this week, Ghost next month, Smashing Pumpkins in September, Maneskin in October.
We have tickets to Seattle zoo tunes summer series. So I’m looking forward to a couple shows this summer. Specifically excited to see the Dead South, Patti Smith, mountain goats, and father John Misty.
My kids planned a family trip to Atlanta in May to attend the Shaky Knees festival. I am old so I could barely stand at the end of day 3 but it was an amazing experience with so much great music.
Headliners were The Killers, Muse, and Lumineers which were great but the depth and breadth of acts was incredible.
Just saw Taylor Swift at Ford Field and will see Pink at Comerica Park in August. I am more excited about the Pink concert so I hope the weather is decent.
I’m in Chicago - and saw Santana a couple of nights ago. We were extremely fortunate to avoid very heavy rain.. had a great spread of food.. and enjoyed the show.
As for other shows, my wife and I are looking at the schedule for Ravinia (Chicago area folks know the venue) - for other shows this season.
Enjoy…
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd in August. Also seeing Aerosmith the day before Thanksgiving.
los lobos on the streets of Ann Arbor in a few weeks, Shakti in the fall as someone mentioned, and way in the future The Philadelphia Orchestra /wsg me singing, next spring.
Is Los Lobos playing for Art Fair?
As a huge Swiftie, the Eras Tour was easily the best concert I've ever been to. Spent a small fortune for floor seats, but was worth it.
I have tickets for Dethklok in September with Baby Metal, and am contemplating going to QotSA in August. I haven't listened to their new CD yet, but just haven't enjoyed their last few albums as much.
I didn't care for Villains at all, but after a handful of listens I'm really liking the new one. Definitely worth a shot.
I thought Villains had the songs, but the production was shite. I never thought I’d ever describe a snare sound as “lifeless,” but the shoe fits. Plus, the extended intros and outros made the record drag.
Got into the dead in a big way this winter driving around California. Am debating filling the void a friends cancelled wedding left in my schedule with the stupid amount of money it would take to see Dead and Co next weekend or the weekend after
We've gone to a number of concerts over the past year or so and it's largely been blessed with really good performances. Saw Silversun Pickups and they practically melted my face off with Panic Switch, which was a song I really wanted to hear live. Also saw Vance Joy live, which was surprisingly fun and good energy. Chvrches live was also a lot of fun, and the type of concert my wife and I realized would have been fun for our kids. We also saw Milky Chance the day they released their new album along with Talk and Young the Giant, which was probably the best live performance I've seen all year. Going to take the kids to see Jimmy Eat World and Manchester Orchestra in August, which should basically be the end of the tours for a while unless something really fun pops up.
7/15 seeing The Struts at Pier 17. It'sa rooftop venue down in the South Street Seaport area of NYC.
Going to see U2 in early Oct at the Sphere in Vegas. Celebrating our 10th anniversary that weekend!