It’s summer time! Officially. Finally. And that means it’s time to see some outdoor shows, some bands from your youth, and maybe even see one of the worst concept tours I can possibly imagine.
Thursday, June 21
Van Hunt with Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist at The Independent
You never know what you’re going to hear from the next Van Hunt song you listen to. This didn’t go so well with EMI/Blue Note, who dropped him before his album Popular ever came out. Get surprised tonight by one of the best rock, funk, soul … kitchen-sink acts you’ll ever see.
Above & Beyond at The Warfield
At Electric Daisy Carnival a couple of weeks ago, I was told that one of the reason trance sucks is because people dance so obnoxiously to it. I say, let us dance! Remember, the D in EDM stands for “dance.”
Friday, June 22
“American Idiot: The Musical” at The Orpheum Theater
Did you miss this when it was in Berkeley back in the day? Too bad, because now it costs twice as much and plays in a theater twice as big. Having seen it myself, I don’t know if it’s worth all the trouble, but if you’re a Green Day fan, I know you’ll at least be curious to see how it all plays out.
Above & Beyond at The Warfield (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, June 23
Vans Warped Tour at AT&T Park Lot A
A couple of years back, I wrote a piece explaining why people should keep going to the Warped Tour. Most of those reasons still stand. It’s still a place to see a ton of bands in a day without anyone getting to overstay their welcome. You can easily sample 15-20 bands in a handful of hours you spend outside near the water in San Francisco. You could be closed minded and say “Oh that’s for kids,” but you could be open minded and get surprised. I’m ready to be surprised, especially by these three musically divergent bands:
New Edition with Tony Toni Tone at Oracle Arena
This will be so much fun.
Sunday, June 24
Salt-n-Pepa at the Alameda County Fair
Spinderella won’t be ready to work it out, but I guarantee a good time will be had by all. Seriously, click the above link and check out this year’s music lineup. It’s got something for everyone.
Alice’s Summerthing with Adam Lambert, Scars on 45 and more!
It’s free. It’s outside.
Lisa Marie Presley at Slim’s
Monday, June 25
2:54 with Widowspeak at The Independent
Here’s a band where people keep saying about them, “they sound like the xx.” No. No, they don’t. Or maybe they do. Personally, I think they’re more like a quiet version of Warpaint. Oh, I hate this game. Just go to the show.
Henry Miller Library Benefit Concert featuring Philip Glass & Joanna Newsom with Tim Fain at The Warfield
Since driving to Big Sur takes several hours, thankfully there’s a benefit show up here to support the library. And Philip Glass? Really? He plays concerts? If you enjoy musical phrases being repeated over and over and over again with occasional modulation, this is the show for you.
Friends with Splash! and Young Digerati at Bottom of the Hill
In the show listings, they’re called “Weird Rock.” Dig it.
Tuesday, June 26
The Queen Extravaganza at The Regency Ballroom
This is possibly the worst tour concept in history. It’s a trainwreck waiting to happen. Apparently, there was a reality show where Roger Taylor, former drummer of Queen and current professional money grubber, selected musicians to tour as a Queen cover band. Unsurprisingly, it’s taken four singers to replace Freddie Mercury, yet none of them actually sound all that great at it. The videos of the band playing Queen songs make them look they’d be as good as a lounge act in Reno throwing a cover song into their midnight set. If you thought Queen & Paul Rodgers was bad (and that was only mostly bad), this will be downright awful. I beg you not to spend your money on this.
The B-52s with Squeeze at The Mountain Winery
Look! You could see real bands instead! Go do that. Squeeze is so criminally underrated.
Wednesday, June 27
Tanlines at Brick & Mortar Music Hall (SOLD OUT)
Crap. This is sold out? I was going to tell you how you should definitely see this band, but I guess the word is out. A podcast I listen to called this band “John Hughes Rock” because they play the kind of music you would have heard in his movies. (In other words, bands that kinda sound like OMD at times.) Whatever it’s called, their album is really good. And in a clear sign I like them, I heard one of their “deep cuts” at Old Navy and Shazamed it, only to find it was a song I already have on my iPod. Oops.
The Mountain Goats (solo) at Swedish American Hall (SOLD OUT)
His shows always sell out. Sorry about that if you’re slow. Swedish American Hall is probably the best place in the city to see music.
