Pick Three: Spring Concert Blowout

Here's a smattering of the major spring-summer shows coming to Tampa Bay. It's gonna be a busy summer for me, but how many of these gigs goose your interest? Just for kicks, pick three shows you'd see if your wallet held up. If you wanna go rogue and select something not listed (Steve Miller, Tim McGraw, Santana, Super Secret Best Friends), go right ahead...

APRIL
4/6 Huey Lewis and the News, Derby Lane
4/19 Avril Lavigne, Ford Amphitheatre
4/21 Bruce Springsteen, St. Pete Times Forum
4/27 Bon Jovi, St. Pete Times Forum
4/29 Sheryl Crow, Ruth Eckerd Hall

MAY
5/3 Eric Clapton, Ford Amphitheatre
5/5 Kanye West and Rihanna, Ford Amphitheatre
5/6 Radiohead, Ford Amphitheatre
5/17 WMNF's Tropical Heatwave in Ybor City
5/18 Ace Frehley, Jannus Landing
5/24 Alicia Keys, St. Pete Times Forum

JUNE
6/18 Cyndi Lauper and the B-52's, Ruth Eckerd Hall

JULY
7/9 Gomez and Dave Matthews Band, Ford Amphitheatre
7/11 Vans Warped Tour, Vinoy Park
7/16 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, St. Pete Times Forum
7/30 Mark Knopfler, Ruth Eckerd Hall

Comments

[Marissa]

Hands down I'd spend my entire allowance on Cyndi Lauper and the B-52's! They announced the extravaganza date in Chicago sometime in June. It's an all out Uber shin-dig.

Beyond that, I'd go with uhm ... I'd just find another date to see Cyndi and friends.

[Sean Daly]

Really? Nothing else? Wow, first the non-booze couch and now this. It's like I don't even know you anymore.

[Marissa]

I just can't see myself standing amongst the hip-hopsters at the Kanye/Rihanna gig. I turn it up loud in the car, but I'd be so out of place! If I could use an invisibility cloak while there, I'd choose that one.

And I hardly booze it up. I just appear drunk most of the time.

[bigmac]

Radiohead tops the list as my #1. I'll definitely be there. If I had more cash in my pocket, Vans Warped Tour would be my #2. None of the other shows appeal to me. Hope to see some more shows coming down the line in August.

[Sherrie]

My three picks, in chronological order:

Huey Lewis and the News @ Derby Lane- I'm always up to see Huey and the boys, I've really enjoyed each of the three or four times I've seen them in concert. But the venue- not so nice. The only time I was at Derby Lane, a grimey old man accidentally spewed tobacco juice on me. Eww...I may never be able to set foot in Derby Lane again. Ergo, no HLN for me this time.
Bruce Springsteen @ SPTimes Forum- how could you pass this one up? Though I'd need some sort of blood promise from Bruce that he would do Rosalita AND at least two songs off Nebraska before I ponied up the cash.
Mark Knopfler @ Ruth Eckerd Hall- just the first few guitar notes of "Brothers In Arms" would be worth the price of the ticket.
In (cold, hard cash)reality, I have NO concert tickets so far for this summer. Maddness.

[jane]

I LOVE Derby Lane (and have some great underage tales to tell about it...) but I prefer my track concert-free. So no Huey for me.

Cyndi Lauper/B-52s. No question (and there's an excellent, excellent chance I'll hit that one.)

Gomez & DMB. Never have seen DMB, but I'd be more jazzed to see Gomez (love "Girlshapedlovedrug") than the headliner, actually.

TP & the HB. Saw them at the Amphitheater (with the Black Crowes) a couple of years ago. My Gainesville boys are still totally worth the price of admission.

[Sean Daly]

By the way, the cover of our Weekend magazine was my Top 10 summer-concert picks + five to stay away from. Hoo boy, is my phone ringing. Let's just say the Clapton fans are not pleased.

[jane]

Dude -- I just took a quick glance at your Weekender article. You just called it like you saw it with Clapton. But I bet those are some lively calls you're getting...

Nice to know we agree about Derby Lane, though.

[sparky]

I'd take Bruce and Clapton and let the rest go.

[Baynerd]

My picks: None of the above and two not listed:
Dream Theater - June 1 at Ruth Eckerd
Rush - April 15 - Amway (Orlando's not that far)

[Ron]

Never miss a chance to see Mark Knopfler. After that, I guess I'll stick with the guitar greats and say Clapton, although I really don't like the Ford Amphitheater much. Finally, I'd love to see Springsteen do another solo acoustic show like he did 3-4 years ago at the Ice Palace.

[NickWithAnAxe]

Dave Matthews is still touring?? How that man wrote one song, then a bunch more that sounded EXACTLY LIKE THE FIRST ONE, and somehow turned it into a career is beyond me. God bless America.

[bigmac]

I am new to the area and have never been to the Ford Ampitheater. Could someone clue me in? I have tix for the crappy lawn area because it's all I could afford. I'd like to know what to expect.

I see Dave Matthews is making his annual appearance. Must be nice to be so rich off of drunken popped collar frat boys who can't tell all his songs sound the same.

[Spears]

I've seen Clapton. Awfully boring show. His fans can go stick it. Just buy his CDs and you'll be fine.

My picks: Bon Jovi, B-52s, Tom Petty. Though when the Super Secret Best Friends do their show honoring the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, I'll be standing in line for front-row tickets.

[jane]

bigmac, I've only been to the Amp once and sat in regular seats, so I don't have a clue as to how things are on the lawn. Sorry can't be of more help...

[Sean Daly]

I'm a snotty member of the press, so I don't do lawns. However, they have that sound barrier up there now, so hopefully they're cranking the speaks louder than before.

(When Coldplay was here, before the barrier, some fans complained that they couldn't hear anything.)

[DG]

I sat on the lawn for Coldplay. The problem wasn't so much not being able to hear as it was not being able to see. None of the video screens were turned on.

And adding to the list of summer concerts, I just received word from Pearl Jam's official website that they're playing the Forum on June 12. Kings of Leon are opening.

[bigmac]

Thanks guys for the info on the Ford. I don't mind if I can't see anything, I just want to jam with Radiohead. Do people actually SIT on the lawn? Do you bring a blanket or something? Just wondering. I think the worst venue ever has to be HOB at Disney. It seems like no matter where you are the view is obstructed by a column.

[DG]

It depends on how packed the Amp is on whether you can sit or not. Usually, people bring blankets or rent lawn chairs at the venue. But Coldplay was sold out, so everyone pretty much stood all night.

I'm sure that will be the case with Radiohead as well.

[bigmac]

That's fine with me. I'm usually huddled in a corner or standing by the bar anyway. Love the music, hate the crowd.

[jane]

When I saw TP & the HB at the Amp, people brought blankets but ended up standing during the show -- even though the weather was weird, with lots of wind thanks to a tropical storm that was bouncing around just north (or was it south...) of us that night.

And I hear you about HOB -- saw Sir Tom Jones there last year and while we had GREAT seats (I could see the sweat beads on his masculine brow), we were the exception rather than the rule. However, I did have trouble seeing thanks to all the Women of a More Certain Age Than Me hot flashing in the aisle as they tried to bum rush the stage to throw their lingerie during the show.

[Sean Daly]

Hey gang, just posted something on that Pearl Jam date. No ticket info yet. But it sounds like DG is a good connection.

Kings of Leon are monsters live. That's a helluva opening act.

[DG]

With the House of Blues, that also depends on how crowded it is. I've seen Norah Jones, Rilo Kiley, and Heart there within good sight of the artists.

But when I saw John Mayer (with his Trio), it was so packed, I was forced to simply hear the show from the balcony, only being able to see the stage on monitors hanging from the ceiling.

[DG]

Tickets for Alicia Keys go on sale to her fanclub members on Friday at 9:00 a.m.

So I'd imagine tix would go on sale to the general public this weekend or shortly thereafter.

[bigmac]

I hate the HOB, but one of the best shows I ever saw was George Clinton and the Parliament at the HOB. I had the good sense to get there waaaay ahead of time and was first in line. Got a great seat and it was the best show ever. Now that was a crowd. Dreadlocked hippies dancing with ghetto grannies and everyone waving their flashlight in time to the music.

[DG]

Any major dude will tell you about:

Steely Dan at Ruth Eckerd Hall: June 9
(tickets on sale March 28 at 10 a.m.)

[Santana]

Mark Knopfler is one of the best singers for me, and without doubt, for a lot of other people. I fall in love with this singer's music this is a long time and his style affects me so deeply. I attended many of his concerts and it's there where I realized that I’m not the only who loves this awesome singer, and I notices that his music has great effects on people. This popularity causes trouble for his lovers, including me; because in each concert it becomes so hard to find a ticket then the ticket brokers find the opportunity to sky rock prices. A friend of mine recommended me website where to compare ticket prices before booking. And I think it may be useful for you. Here it is:
http://www.ticketwood.com/concerts/Mark-Knopfler-Tickets/index.php