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 love concerts but don’t have any planned this summer. I’m kind of tiring of them a bit. I have slowly began to resent the gouging that goes on both with ticket prices(with fees) and concessions. It’s pretty blatant and distasteful and has gone too far.
Somebody who really surprised me was John Mayer. I tripped into free tickets at the Palace 10-12 years ago and was ready to laugh at “Your Body is a Wonderland” and similar fare. What I got instead was one of the best damn guitarist I’ve ever seen.
Going to see Blues Traveler at Red Rocks tomorrow night.
Just a lunacy-level of talent on the stage for a Blues Traveler show.
That should be fabulous! Red Rocks is an all-time great venue, seen probably 15 shows there, and I don't even live in Colorado.
Based on a single Red Rocks experience, its reputation is deserved. Great place to see a show.
I've lived in Arvada, CO for four and a half years now. I've been to Red Rocks a handful of times but this will be the first concert I've seen there.
Red rocks is probably the greatest venue to ever see a show at. A pain to get in and out of but once in there no experience is like it. Back in the 80’s the opened the gates at 10:00 am and it was all GA seating. We would get there at 10 and bring in all kinds of alcohol and it was a huge party all day
I saw The Avett Brothers there last summer. It’s an unbelievable venue. Have a great time!
Going to see Blues Traveler w/ Big Head Todd and the Monsters at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle in July. Would love to see a BHTM show at Red Rocks some day.
There’s a BHTM at Red Rocks concert video out there somewhere that was incredible. I’d love to see them perform live. One of my Mount Rushmore bands with Rush, The Smiths/Morrissey, and an ever-changing 4th President.
One surprising live act for me was Midnight Oil. Peter Garrett is such a unique stage presence. Has to be seen live to really appreciate him.
I’ll be at the BHTM/blues traveler show in Vail on Thursday night. Should be a great show and the timing worked out for me.
I have seen them there a couple of times. Enjoy and I wish that I was there.
Love Red Rocks.
A few weeks ago condert goers at redrocks got pelted by gian hail. A lot of bumps and brueses. A few broken bones! There's no shelter there, you have to make it back to your car.
There was an hour weather delay with rain, hail (pebble sized, enough to sting a bit but not big enough to injure anyone I don't think) and lightning after the opening group. After maybe 5-7 Blues Traveler songs the rain came back and got heavy enough that everyone left and the show ended.
Personally, I couldn't have cared less about the weather. Being in the mountains and seeing live music and the scenery, even with bad weather, was amazing!
If I'm not mistaken, their keyboardist is a Michigan alumni.
Saw Eric Church at Pine Knob on June 23. Awesome show. He wore a Bob Seger tee shirt & sang a medley of 8 Seger songs. He told the story about how in 2006 he was removed as the opening act for Rascal Flatts. Uncle Bob called him up & had him open.
Church added a 3-piece horn section & 3 back-up singers. Great format.
Going to see Morgan Wallen in the World's Largest Toilet Bowl in August.
I saw Morgan last Thursday night at Ford Field. It was a really good time, but I also realized based on who was there that apparently his target audience is 1) half my age and 2) female.
Is Morgan Walen as auto-tuned in his live shows as his studio music? TPain isn’t even as auto tuned, and an auto tuned country singer sounds like ass.
I suggest replacing "but" with "and" in your sentence, and then considering following this act along their tour. You can thank me at the end of the summer
Several (including some this fall).
I've been to three already this summer: the Peter Frampton and Buddy Guy concerts at Meijer Garden a couple weeks ago, and then my daughter and her hubby brought me to a country music concert (Myron Elkins/Charlie Crockett) this past Friday night at The Intersection in Grand Rapids. And I also saw Brit Floyd at DeVos Performance Hall back in May of this year.
Next on my July calendar are Carl Palmer (Emerson Lake & Palmer drummer) in Fort Wayne, and then another Meijer Gardens concert, "Trombone Shorty". Then in August it's Dark Star Orchestra (they're a Grateful Dead tribute band) there at Meijer Garden.
Planning to see Peter Gabriel this September, already have tickets for Ringo Starr Oct 3rd at DeVos Hall, and planning to again go see Buddy Guy this November, this time in Kalamazoo for the penultimate concert of his long career. Buddy Guy just recently turned 87 and he's on what he calls his "Damn Right Farewell" tour that ends in late November.
Other than those, I have a few other shows under consideration, including Rob Zombie/Alice Cooper at Pine Knob later this summer. I had considered going there for Grand Funk but two reasons I decided no: 1) Mark Farner won't be there because he's still feuding with his former bandmates 2) Kid Rock is on the same bill and I wouldn't spend a nickel on seeing him.
I might have to add Buddy Guy to my list.
Keeping an eye on Peter Gabriel. I would've loved to have seen Genesis around the Trick of the Tail era.
Would also like to see Duran Duran...but it's on the second night of Rosh Hashanah. My rabbi would not approve of me attending that concert...nor the Michigan game scheduled for that day.
Saw Peter Gabriel and Sting a few years ago in Seattle. One of the better shows I’ve seen. Both were on stage the entire time. Eddie Vedder came out sang with them.
Going to see John McLaughlin w Shakti in late August and maybe Peter Gabriel in September.
I had no idea John McLaughlin was still touring. That's a long-forgotten name.
I'll have to look into that. I've always wanted to see Mahavishnu.
He toured a few years ago with Jimmy Herring and played almost ALL of the Mahavishnu Orchestra material from Birds of Fire and Visions of the Emerald Beyond and he was still awesome and had an amazing band (Etienne M’bappe on bass was particularly amazing). Shakti was after/between MO incarnations in the mid 70s and was a fusion of jazz+Indian music. I’m sure it’ll be exceptional but it won’t be MO as far as I know. He’s talked about ending his touring career so worth seeing if you’ve the interest,
Going to see Macklemore in October, but I am excited to see Aerosmith on their farewell tour in November. Can't believe they are still going.
I love going to concerts and my teen daughters enjoy them as well. Two fun shows that we already attended were Avatar and The Struts. Both have great stage presence and put on a great show, even though I didn't know much about The Struts ahead of time.
Ones that I am considering (with or without the kids) are: Ghost, Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch and Rob Zombie/Alice Cooper.
Took both of my kids to see Disturbed for their first concerts. Both times they weren’t good. Super disappointing. Avenged Sevenfold was fun.
Saw Weezer/Modest Mouse a few weeks back. Going to see Los Tigres del Norte next month.
Then, probably nothing until Tool in November. First time seeing them since two days after 9/11 in Grand Rapids.
Radiohead is the only act still on my bucket list.
I'm not sure Radiohead is touring anymore, but you can get an echo of Radiohead at a Smile concert. The Smile is swinging through Cleveland on the 11th fyi.
The Smile are awesome live. The album comes off a little soft and subdued, but they really lean into the guitars at times during their show and create some trance like psychedelic moments.
The Boss still performs with the energy of a man half his age.
Saw Erykah Badu and Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) a week ago; similar to Bruce, they put on electrifying performances at ages 56 and 50.
Like last year, the big summer concert for us is the Napa Valley Blue Note Jazz Festival. Hosted by Dave Chapelle and Robert Glasper, with headliners Nas, Chance the Rapper and Mary J. Blige. Too many to list, but the lineup includes Terrace Martin, De La Soul, George Clinton & P-Funk, Digable Planets, Big Freedia, Ari Lenox, MeShell Ndgeocello and a host of others.
Thinking of going to see The Offspring and Sum 41 mashup in August
Saw Taylor Swift at Soldier Field. I have to admit, it was a fantastic show. Other than that, going to see Pink at LCA in August then Cake in Fort Wayne in September. Hoping to go to Metallica this year as well.
Saw Santana last week. Puts on a good show of just jamming out. I've never been a big concert person. It sounds a lot better on my headphones lol. Not that I don't usually enjoy them but the cost is only worth a few bands for me, some kind of performance I won't get just listening at home. The Mars Volta at Bonnaroo in 2003 was crazy. Fairly small stage and crowd and everyone had ingested something. Tool puts on a good show.
Saw Pat Benatar a couple months ago in Fort Lauderdale, excellent. Foreigner and Loverboy this weekend in Tampa. Aerosmith in October.
I saw Loverboy when the Hooters opened up for them in the mid-'80's. Was there more for the Hooters than Loverboy.
Similar situation when Outfield opened up for Starship. Starship opened AND closed with "We Built This City." Ugh. Just horrible.
I'm hoping to see the Hooters this fall in Philly. I saw them a few years back and it was very enjoyable.
Loverboy and the Hooters was my wife’s first concert.
Just got tickets to Everclear w/ The Ataris in Sept.
The Ataris were my fav band in high school, I saw them 5 times. Haven’t been to a concert since high school tho and wow that was 20 years ago. I’m sure it will be a MUCH different experience as an adult.
Last night did you have a dream that we went to Disneyland?
Went on all the rides?
Didn't have to wait on line
Did you listen to my heartbeat as you held me in you arms.
I used to be a Use Ataris fan as well
I told my wife I need to learn that song on guitar again in case they still call someone up on stage to play that song with the band
Seeing Ghost at Pine Knob with my wife. Huge fans, very excited to finally see them live. Maybe there'll be a hunter's moon.
Their live show is so entertaining, and musically, their chops are fantastic.
Go see Billy Strings if you get a chance. The entire band is so talented.
Saw Billy in Saginaw over the winter and at Pine Knob on June16. Unbelievably good. Suggest checking out Gov’t Mule on Aug 2 at Pine Knob. Will be performing Darkside of the Mule.
Riot Fest in September
Dinosaur Jr rolling through town later this month. Figured may as well check them out; was quite surprised to see them visiting "us".
Agree about Lollapalooza. It is what it is, a bit hard to argue with how they want to make money but these last few years the headliners just are not for me (admittedly we stopped for a day last year on the way back from Outer Banks and saw Dua Lipa as a headliner...some big pop acts I'll always be interested in, just not 3-4 days worth). Riot Fest seems the way to go this year! The Cure back on 2013/2014 at Lolla became an all time favorite show so seeing them again has been sought after. Add to that DeathCab, QotSA, Parliament/George Clinton, AFI, The Breeders...should be a fun couple nights.
I'm excited for Riot Fest, too. I bought my pass for The Cure, and fortunately stumbled into a ticket to see them at Pine Knob a few weeks ago. They sounded great.