Summer has arrived and it is time to start planning for a much needed escape from
the valley heat and smog. Instead of an unimaginative trip to Pismo, you might
consider planning your travel around a music festival or concert. Rather it be
by automobile or airplane, the choices this summer are numerous.
I
will be heading out on two separate occasions to see my all time favorite band
the Pixies. They are performing together again for the first time in over 10 years,
and I don’t want to miss out. Ventura, California will be my first groupie
stop on July 22nd. The annual Lollapalooza festival will be making a two day
appearance at the Ventura fairgrounds. Day one provides my dream line-up with Modest
Mouse, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Sonic Youth and the Pixies all sharing
the stage for only $50. A cheap room at the nearby Motel 6 makes this getaway
less than $100 per person.
My second Pixies show will be in
New Orleans at the famed Voodoo Festival on October 16th. Although the lineup hasn’t
been announced, rumor has it that some of the biggest rock and rap performers
will be taking the various stages during this two day festival which celebrates
music and voodoo all wrapped into one. I am skipping the second day of the
festival to live out my jock fantasies at Superdome watching the Saints and Vikings
battle it out on an ESPN Sunday night game. Other Pixies dates within our
region include a night in Sacramento, Las Vegas and Tempe. Check www.frankblack.net
for more information.
Rock fans will be treated nicely this
summer as well. July 31st brings the Ozzfest to the Hyundai Pavillion in
San Bernadino. Rob Halford has returned to Judas Priest and will be blowing up
the stage with Slipknot, Slayer, Black Sabbath and Superjoint Ritual filling out
the bill. If you want to see Van Halen reunited with Sammy Hagar after
five years, then head over to Las Vegas for performances August 6th and 7th at
the Mandalay Bay arena. They will be stopping in Los Angeles at Staples Center
on August 19th and 20th.
Looking for something a bit more over the
top? Elizabeth, New Jersey is hosting Hellfest on July 23-25 with over 135
bands performing. Some of the bigger names already booked include the Ataris
and Fear Factory. Laser tag, skateboarding ramps and tattoo booths will be available
as well.
Seattle, Washington will host Bumbershoot from
September 3 - 6, featuring the Pixies, Nas and Nickelback among others. Alternative
fans should make their way to West Palm Beach, Florida on July 24th for the
first night of Curiosa which stars the Cure along with Interpol, Mogwai, Muse
and the Rapture. The Curiosa tour will wind around the country until reaching
a final night in Los Angeles on August 27th.
Bakersfield’s own Korn
will be co-headlining the Project Revolution tour with Linkin Park and Snoop
Dog. This package will start in Cincinnati on July 23rd and will finish up in the
L.A. area on September 5th. Indie rockers should make plans for Brooklyn,
New York on July 17th to see the Siren Music Festival at the famed Coney Island.
Death Cab for Cutie will be one of the many highlights.
Hardcore
punks beware (or stay away) because the Vans Warp Tour entices the preteens
this year in Ventura on July 7th with a weak lineup including New Found Glory
and Good Charlotte. Save your hard earned cash and spend it more wisely on the
24th Annual Sunset Junction in ultra cool Silverlake, California. August 21st and
22nd are two days where the taggers put down the paint, the gangsters drop their
weapons, the punks drop their fists and the goth kids drop their attitudes
for a musical street fair like no other.
The American Idols Live tour will head out July 14th for almost three months
of the same crap we were force fed on Fox. Don’t expect to see me at The Chicks
With Attitude tour featuring Liz Phair, Katy Rose and the Cardigans
which takes off on August 4th. I can get my fill of chicks with attitudes any
night of the week at the Mint.
So many choices and so little time
or money? I would have to pick Day One of the Lollapalooza tour as giving your
the most bang for your buck. With Ventura being less than 2 hours from Bakersfield
and offering cheap lodging, this show will go down as the best of the summer
offerings. You can even spend the next day letting it all soak in while you
chill on the warm sand.
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