Summer’s concerts offer variety

By John Benson

This year’s concert season brings back familiar artists.

This summer we’re going to party like it’s 1999 (sorry, no Prince) with a slew of veteran bands hoping to turn back the clock and turn up the volume. Whereas 2007 was the year of unexpected reunions (The Police, Van Halen, etc.), the 2008 concert season doesn’t feature too many surprises but plenty of familiar names. From tweeners screaming their heads off (The Jonas Brothers) to metal lovers banging their heads (M ∂tley Cr ºe, Iron Maiden, etc.), the summer concert season has something for everyone.

CANFIELD FAIR

Grandstand, Route 46, Canfield (canfieldfair.com for tickets)

Josh Turnerand Jo Dee Messina, 8 p.m., Aug. 31, $25 and $29. Country stars team up for Grandstand concert.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, 8 p.m., Sept. 1, $25 and $29. Southern rock legends have a new album on the way.

CHEVROLET CENTRE

229 E. Front St., Youngstown (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Carrie Underwood with Jason Michael Carroll, 7:30 p.m., June 11 (sold out). “American Idol” country superstar doesn’t take kindly to cheating boyfriends.

Rick Ross, 7:30 p.m., June 22, $35 to $65. Miami-based rapper tours his “Trilla” album.

BLOSSOM

1145 W Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

James Taylor, 8 p.m., June 3, $20 to $69.50. Five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor is prepping the release of his upcoming fall covers album, which features material from Chuck Berry, Junior Walker and more.

Iron Maiden, 7 p.m., June 12, $20 to $69.50. British heavy metal act Iron Maiden is taking its skeleton mascot Eddie out of mothballs again for a summer tour.

Brooks & Dunn with Rodney Atkins, 7 p.m., June 15, $27.50 to $55. After partying all last summer on Kenny Chesney’s stadium bill, rockin’ country duo Brooks & Dunn returns to its roots with latest album “Cowboy Town” and upcoming amphitheater tour.

Jack Johnson with Mason Jennings and Money Mark, 7 p.m., June 17, $30 to $45. Laid-back and cool, Hawaiian-born musician, filmmaker and surfer Jack Johnson tours his latest album “Sleep Through the Static,” which recently debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.

Garrison Keillor, 5:45 p.m., June 21, $26 to $60. NPR’s Garrison Keillor brings his radio show-turned-stage show “A Prairie Home Companion” back to Northeast Ohio.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with Steve Winwood, 7:30 p.m., June 22, $29.50 to $95. After three decades and one Super Bowl of pumping out classic rock hits, Petty and company have earned their stripes as America’s favorite feel-good, sing-along band.

Tim McGraw with Jason Aldean and Halfway to Hazard, 7:30 p.m., July 2, $25 to $55. After touring the past few years with wife Faith Hill, country superstar Tim McGraw is hitting the road with the boys for his ’08 “Live Your Voice Tour.”

3 Doors Down with Staind and Hinder, 6:30 p.m., July 11, $19 to $69. It’s a night of bombastic arena rock when 3 Doors Down comes to Northeast Ohio with rock radio favorites Staind and Hinder as openers.

John Mayer with Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen, 7 p.m., July 17, $30 to $55. Pop-rock musician-turned-respected bluesman John Mayer is back on the road this summer. A new live DVD “Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angeles” is expected later this year.

Dave Matthews Band, 7 p.m., July 30, $40 to $70. Seriously, who needs a new album to tour 20,000-seat amphitheaters every summer? Not the Dave Matthews Band, which supposedly is working on its next studio album.

Radiohead with Grizzly Bear, 7:30 p.m., Aug. 4, $30 to $50. After putting another nail into the music industry coffin last year by offering its latest album “In Rainbows” as initially an Internet-only release, the coolest indie rock/alternative act is touring again.

Rod Stewart with Bryan Adams, 8 p.m., Aug. 9, $35 to $250. Having fully explored (or exploited) the Great American Songbook over the past few years, Rod Stewart is officially returning to his roots with a summer tour that will rock more than it swings, baby.

Poison with Dokken and Sebastian Bach, 7 p.m., Aug. 14, $15 to $59.50. Want to feel old? It’s been more than 20 years since Poison released “Talk Dirty to Me.” Want to feel embarrassed? Twenty years later we still care.

Projekt Revolution 2008 featuring Linkin Park with Chris Cornell, The Bravery, Ashes Divide, Atreyu, Hawthorne Heights and 10 Years, 2 p.m., Aug. 19, $24.75 to $70.75. Linkin Park has once again booked its own version of Lollapalooza with an eclectic bill of rock, punk and metal acts.

Cr ºe Fest 2008 featuring M ∂tley Cr ºe, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M. and Trapt, 5 p.m., Aug. 20, $29.50 to $95. Considering everyone else has their own tour, M ∂tley Cr ºe gets a piece of the action with this loud rock fest.

Jonas Brothers, 7 p.m., Aug. 22, $25 to $65. Parents beware, “The Burning Up Tour” could become Hannah Montana crazy by the time summer rolls around and the pop rock Jonas Brothers come to Northeast Ohio.

Journey with Heart and Cheap Trick, 6 p.m., Sept. 6, $25 to $125. The “Wheel in the Sky” that is replacement singers for original Journey frontman Steve Perry keeps turning with Arnel Pineda named the new frontman. This bill is a classic rock lover’s dream come true.

BYHAM THEATER

101 Sixth St., Pittsburgh; call (412) 456-6666 or visit www.pgharts.org.

The Black Crowes with Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, 8 p.m. Aug. 5, $42.50 and $49.50. Back on the hunt, Brothers Robinson take “Warpaint” out on the road with some Allman Brothers Band-like impressive blues guitar jams.

CLEVELAND BROWNS STADIUM

Alfred Lerner Way, Cleveland (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Kenny Chesney with Keith Urban, Sammy Hagar, LeAnn Rimes and Gary Allan, 3:30 p.m., Saturday, $69.50 to $99.50. It’s official. Country music superstar Kenny “When the Sun Goes Down” Chesney has created his own must-attend Jimmy Buffett-like summertime party.

HOUSE OF BLUES

308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Filter, 7 p.m. Saturday, $22. Bay Village native Richard Patrick returns home with Filter. The “Hey Man, Nice Shot” band is touring its new album “Anthems for the Damned,” which is described as sounding like a Radiohead-meets-Nine Inch Nails affair.

Rilo Kiley, 7 p.m., Monday, $22.50. Singer Jenny Lewis returned to Rilo Kiley for the Los Angeles-based indie rock act’s latest effort “Under the Blacklight.”

The Breeders, 7 p.m., June 3, $18.50. Dayton native Kim Deal has restarted the ’90s cannonball video band with a new album, “Mountain Battles,” and tour.

Dave Attell, 7:30 p.m., June 7, $27.50. New York City native comedian Dave Attell (Comedy Central’s “Insomniac”) keeps it real with his latest rock club tour.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 7 p.m., June 8, $20. A decade after being featured prominently in feature film “Swingers,” Big Bad Voodoo Daddy remains busy with its latest show “Celebrating 100 Years of Cab Calloway.”

Peter Murphy, 8 p.m., June 21, $25. Old-school goth music fans will find it hard to pass up an evening of former Bauhaus singer and current solo artist Peter Murphy, who scored a minor hit in the late ’80s with “Cut You Up.”

Less Than Jake and Goldfinger with Suburban Legends and Big D and the Kids Table, 6 p.m., July 8, $23. Ska the night away with this mini-Vans Warped Tour-esque bill, which combines ’90s punk with a new millennium vibe.

The Black Crowes, 7 p.m., July 29 and 30, $42.50. Back on the hunt, Brothers Robinson take “Warpaint” out on the road with Allman Brothers Band-like impressive blues guitar jams.

KT Tunstall, 7 p.m., Aug. 12, $22.50. Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall continues to attract a growing fan base with her most recent effort “Drastic Fantastic.”

LAKEWOOD CIVIC AUDITORIUM

14100 Franklin Ave., Lakewood (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Lyle Lovett, 8 p.m., July 9, $42.50 to $52.50. The Texas native, in support of his 2007 effort “It’s Not Big It’s Large,” has booked a special “Evening With Lyle Lovett” tour. The 50-year-old musician performed the title track from last year’s comedy feature film “Walk Hard.”

PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER

3719 Terrace St., Pittsburgh (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Foo Fighters with Supergrass, 7: 30 p.m., July 26, $27 to $47. No longer a pretender, the Foo Fighters have entered Tom Petty territory with one hit rock song after another.

PLAIN DEALER PAVILION

2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Death Cab for Cutie with opening act Rogue Wave, 8 p.m. June 13, $32.50. Pop-rock act Death Cab for Cutie explores an esoteric indie rock aesthetic on its seventh studio effort “Narrow Stairs.”

First Light, 8 p.m., June 21, $19.50 to $27.50. Who wants to know where reggae comes from? Legendary Cleveland band First Light is reuniting for a show to celebrate the summer solstice.

Return to Forever featuring Chick Corea, 8 p.m., June 24, $27.50 to $55. Chick Corea fans rejoice in the reunion of the influential jazz-rock fusion act Return to Forever.

Chicago, 8 p.m., July 8, $25 to $65. It’s another summer of brass when classic rock outfit Chicago tours its vast catalog to die-hard fans.

Widespread Panic, 7 p.m., July 18, $33.50. You better believe there is no disco in this panic as the Georgia-based band breathes new life into the jam-band scene.

Earth Wind & Fire, 8 p.m., July 26, $42.50 to $69.50. With more booty-shaking songs than should be allowed, ’70s band Earth Wind & Fire returns for another walk down memory lane.

PLAYHOUSE SQUARE

1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland (All Tickets.com locations or www.tickets.com)

Chris Botti with Nyee Moses, 7 p.m., June 17, $10 to $40. With the release of his latest effort “Italia,” crossover jazz saxophonist Chris Botti explores his Italian roots.

POST-GAZETTE PAVILION

Route 18 at Route 22, Pittsburgh (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Dave Matthews Band with State Radio, 7 p.m., May 30 31, $34 to $64. New album be damned, the Dave Matthews Band needs no other reason than warm weather and zealous fans to tour the states to presumably sold-out crowds.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with Steve Winwood, 7:30 p.m., June 10, $29.50 to $95. After three decades of pumping out classic rock hits, Petty and company have earned their stripes as America’s favorite feel-good, sing-along band.

The Clarks, Donnie Iris & the Cruisers and The Gathering, 4 p.m., June 21, $20 to $39. It’s a celebration of Steel City rock when these Pittsburgh acts get together for a summertime soiree.

Rush, 7:30 p.m., July 2, $26.50 to $84. Today’s Tom Sawyer probably doesn’t know who Rush is, but you better believe classic rock fans will flock to hear “YYZ” for the 100th time.

Tim McGraw with Jason Aldean and Halfway to Hazard, 7 p.m., July 6, $29 to $59. After hitting the road the last few years with wife Faith Hill, McGraw gets to spend the summer playing with the boys on the ’08 “Live Your Voice Tour.”

Steve Miller with Joe Cocker, 7:30 p.m., July 12, $15 to $60.50. Is Steve Miller’s “Greatest Hits” still a rite of passage for all teenagers? If not, it should be.

Projekt Revolution Tour featuring Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, The Bravery and Ashes Divide, 2 p.m., July 18, $24.75 to $70.75. Linkin Park’s own Lollapalooza-like music festival is a summer favorite among rock fans looking for diversity.

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, 8 p.m., July 22, sold out. If you consider yourself a parrot head and this is the first time you’re reading about this show, your Margaritaville membership has officially been revoked.

The Police with Elvis Costello and The Imposters, 7:30 p.m., July 28, $40 to $200. Sting and company are mopping up every last bit of interest in the Police reunion with another stateside leg.

Vans Warped Tour featuring Every Time I Die, Relient K, The Academy Is ..., Gym Class Heroes and more, noon, July 29, $24 ADV/$29 DOS. Once again, the best ticket value around is the Vans Warped Tour, where dozens of bands provide the emo kids with a summertime soundtrack.

The Mayhem Festival featuring Slipknot and Disturbed with Dragonforce, Mastodon and more, 2 p.m., Aug. 2, $25 to $49.50. You better believe you’ll get plenty of mayhem, chaos and heavy sounds at this destructive show.

Toby Keith with Montgomery Gentry, Carters Chord, Mica Roberts and Trailer Choir, 7:30 p.m., Aug. 3, $29 to $69.75. Country music giant Keith hits the road again with friends for another summertime jaunt.

Poison with Dokken and Sebastian Bach, 7 p.m., Aug. 10, $10 to $39.50. Want to feel old? It’s been more than 20 years since Poison released “Talk Dirty to Me.” Want to feel embarrassed? Twenty years later we still care.

Judas Priest with Heaven and Hell, Motorhead and Testament, 6 p.m., Aug. 16, $20 to $100. With no Ozzfest tour in 2008 (at time of press), this classic rock-bent, heavy metal bill will suffice.

Brad Paisley with Jewel, Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough, Aug. 17 (ON SALE SOON). Nashville good guy Paisley attempts to cross over with ’90s folk-pop singer Jewel as opener.

Maroon 5 and Counting Crows, 7 p.m., Aug. 21, $25 to $125. The good news for Counting Crows fans is the band has released its best album in more than a decade. The bad news is the group is touring with Maroon 5 this summer.

Jonas Brothers with Demi Lavato, 7 p.m., Aug. 26, $25 to $65. Called “The Burning Up Tour,” the latest Disney Channel-linked tour is hoping to create Hannah Montana-like interest this summer.

Rascal Flatts with Taylor Swift, Aug. 29 (ON SALE SOON). Once again, the “Here’s to You” band offers summertime fun to its fans.

Cr ºe Fest 2008 featuring M ∂tley Cr ºe, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M. and Trapt, 5 p.m., Aug. 31, $29.50 to $95. Considering everyone else has their own tours, M ∂tley Cr ºe gets a piece of the action with this loud rock fest.

3 Doors Down with Staind and Hinder, Sept. 7 (ON SALE SOON). It’s a night of bombastic arena rock when 3 Doors Down tours with rock radio favorites Staind and Hinder as openers.

Brooks & Dunn and ZZ Top, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 12, $24.50 to $65.60. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”-meets-“Tube Snake Boogie” for this unique country/blues rock pairing.

Martina McBride with Jack Ingram and Jason Michael Carroll, 7:30 p.m., Sept. 26, $20 to $50. Still laughing after 15 years atop the country music charts, Martina McBride remains Nashville’s reigning queen.

QUICKEN LOANS ARENA

1 Center Court, Cleveland (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Coldplay, 7:30 p.m., July 6, $49.50 to $89.50. Chris Martin and company return with new CD “Viva La Vida” (due out June 17) and tour. You know you’re a die-hard fan if you recently downloaded lead single “Violet Hill” for free.

The Foo Fighters with Supergrass, 7:30 p.m., July 25, $27 to $47. The Dave Grohl-led act has finally added a Northeast Ohio date to its touring itinerary in support of latest album “Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace.”

Neil Diamond, 8 p.m., Aug. 3, $55 to $120. It’ll be a hot August night indeed when Neil “Sweet Caroline” Diamond returns to Cleveland in support of his new Rick Rubin-produced album, “Home Before Dark.”

Nine Inch Nails with opener Does It Offend You, Yeah?, 7 p.m., Aug. 22, $36.50 to $56.50. Next year marks 20 years since Trent Reznor unleashed his chaotic industrial din on the world with Nine Inch Nails’ debut effort “Pretty Hate Machine.” The former Clevelander is now touring his most recent effort “Ghosts I-IV.”

TIME WARNER CABLE AMPHITHEATRE AT TOWER CITY

351 Canal Road, Cleveland (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

Jonny Lang (Rib Cook Off), 6 p.m., Friday, $7 to $35. At the ripe age of 27, this veteran bluesman is still touring his 2006 album “Turn Around.”

Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx (Rib Cook Off), 9 p.m., Saturday, $7 to $25. Mr. Roboto visionary brings his version of Styx to the Rock Hall city.

Seether with Flyleaf (Rib Cook Off), 7 p.m., Sunday, $7. No-dating rule in effect for Seether’s Shaun Morgan and Flyleaf’s Lacey Mosley.

KC & the Sunshine Band (Rib Cook Off), 6 p.m., Monday, $7 to $30. Boogie shoes required for this dance party.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, 7:30 p.m., July 15, $25 to $89.50. Led Zeppelin fans wait patiently for Robert Plant to finish this tour with Alison Krauss in support of their new Americana album, “Raising Sand,” before a rumored fall reunion outing with old band mates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

Vans Warped Tour featuring Against Me!, Angels and Airwaves, The Academy Is ..., Cobra Starship, Gym Class Heroes and more, noon, July 17, $37.25. Once again, the best ticket value around is the Vans Warped Tour, where dozens of bands provide the emo kids with a summertime soundtrack.

Wish You Were Here, 8:30 p.m., July 26, $19.50 to $27.50. After successfully re-creating Pink Floyd’s 1977 Cleveland Municipal Stadium show a few years ago, popular cover band Wish You Were Here is tackling the Roger Waters/David Gilmour group’s monumental “The Wall” tour. The show will feature a giant wall, extra musicians and an eight-piece children’s choir.

Merle Haggard, 8 p.m., Aug. 6, $20 to $49.50. Country music fans turned off by today’s Nash Vegas pop country sound will rejoice with an evening of traditional music from this legend.

O.A.R. with Ozomatli, 7 p.m., Aug. 16, $30. Roots and reggae-inspired O.A.R., made up of Ohio State University graduates, returns to its favorite Cleveland venue alongside the Cuyahoga River.

Michael Stanley & The Resonators (Taste of Cleveland), 9 p.m., Aug. 29, $7 to $25. Cleveland’s favorite son Michael Stanley strikes up the band one more time.

Squeeze with Blue King Brown (Taste of Cleveland), 9 p.m., Aug. 30, $7 to $30. Tempted out of obscurity, new wave act Squeeze reunites again.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters (Taste of Cleveland), 4:30 p.m., Aug. 31, $7 to $25. ’90s underground act Big Head Todd and the Monsters keeps on jamming in the new millennium.

Los Lonely Boys (Taste of Cleveland), 9 p.m., Aug. 31, $7 to $25. Lonely no more, the platinum-selling rock act is supporting its newest album “Forgiven.”

Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes (Taste of Cleveland), 6 p.m., Sept. 1, $7 to $25. Still having a party after all of these decades, this New Jersey native remains a Cleveland favorite.

WOLSTEIN CENTER AT CSU

2000 Prospect Ave., Cleveland (all Ticketmaster locations or www.ticketmaster.com)

The Cure, 7 p.m., June 18, $47.50 to $57.50. Rumor has it Robert Smith plans on releasing a double disc album this fall. In the meantime, goth fans rejoice with a spring tour.