5 summer shows worth breaking the piggie bank for

With all of the excitement over the onslaught of summer music festivals, everyone seems to have forgotten that there are things like concerts, where you go see one (or two) artists play at a venue, and you don’t walk a mile back to your tent afterwards. There are some random shows playing this summer (Marcy Playground? The All Saints? New Kids on the Block?), so I have taken the liberty of wading through the masses and finding the ones worth forgoing electricity for a few days and dealing with the royal pain that is Ticketmaster. ( Listed in order of date, not awesomeness)

1. Coldplay

Lakewood Amphitheatre, May 17

Cost: $35 (lawn)- about $100 (pit)

Warning: $20 building facility charge (Ouch.)

Coldplay knows how to put on a show. If you can score a pit ticket on the cheap, you are guaranteed some mind-blowing. “Clocks” alone will make up for the loss of funds.

2. Les Claypool/Matisyahu

The Tabernacle, June 2

Cost: $32-25

This is a great deal, a great venue, and if you’re into the festie style music but not the steep price tag that accompanies them, this is a great way to satisfy the craving.

3. No Doubt

Lakewood Amphitheatre, June 5

Cost: $10 (lawn)- $80 (reserved/pit)

No Doubt hasn’t toured in five years, so they will be rocking more than steady. The energy will make this a perfect summer show, and you will get to hear the new material before anyone else. But with the pit tickets coming out at about $100 when you factor in that bitch of a convenience charge, the lawn looks like the way to go…

4. 311 with Ziggy Marley and the Expendibles

Lakewood Amphitheatre, July 4

Cost: $38.50

What a great way to spend the 4^th of July, rocking out to vets 311 (playing new material from their upcoming album as well as old favorites like “All Mixed Up”), a member of the Marley crew, and Pepper-esque band the Expendibles.

5. Blazed and Confused Tour with Snoop Dogg and Slightly Stoopid

Lakewood Amphitheatre, July 30

Cost: $39.50-$49.50

I promise this will be the last time I mention this one, unless I end up going, in which case I will review whatever I can recall from it.

(P.S. Mother’s Day present: Elton John and Billy Joel)

-Julie McCollum

Listening to: "Bring Me Along" by Pepper

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