Concert On: No Doubt, Atmosphere, “Spinal Tap” and more

So even with the economy in shambles and Americans cutting back on such non-necessities as vacation’s and Jonas Brothers’ movie tickets, you’d be surprised to learn that this might be the biggest summer of concert touring we’ve seen in quiet a while. U2, Coldplay, Green Day, Blink 182, No Doubt, The Killers, and The Who all are launching headlining treks, while package tours like Warped Tour and the Mayhem Festival are back to fight for your hard earned cash. With so many big, meaty tours hitting stadiums, amphitheaters and other Live Nation venues (sigh), music lovers are going to have to make a lot of tough choices when it comes to which shows to see and skip. This weekend is no different so on the way to the breadline, check out these shows going on sale throughout the country.

NO DOUBT/ PARAMORE/ THE SOUNDS

By now I’m sure you’ve heard: No Doubt is back, and in a big way. The seminal 90′s band will hit the road for the first time in seven years, jumping right back into the deep end with a full slate of summer amphitheater shows. Supporting the band on all dates are the big-in-their-own-right Paramore, who seem to be doing their 100th tour in support of their 2007 album “Riot”. From what I recall Haley and co. should be busy recording their follow up record, but I guess when the only other female fronted band to get big airplay on modern rock radio in the past 10 years comes a- calling, you drop what you are doing and get ready to rock… steady (see what I did, I… umm, nevermind).

Following a No Doubt headlining gig at the Bamboozle Festival in New York on May 3rd, the tour offically begins on May 16th in Las Vegas with a date at the Tiger Jam benefit show at Mandalay Bay. The tour winds its way through the country for the next two and a half months before finishing with two dates (though, I’m guessing ,when all is said and done, three or four dates) at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, CA. The Sounds, Bedouin Soundclash and Janelle Monae will split opening duties on the tour. You can check out all the dates here. Tickets go on sale this weekend so check the website for your area. This tour will be massive so get your tickets early.

ATMOSPHERE/ POS

Hot off the rerelease of their beloved album “God Loves Ugly”, Atmosphere will hit the road for a string of dates that takes them across the great highways of both America and, our lovable neighbors to the North, Canada. The emo-tinged hip hoppers will begin their tour April 9th in Missoula, MT and then will test their gas mileage as their tour winds up and down the west coast of the US then across Canada to the East Coast before finally ending up on May 22nd in Omaha, Nebraska. That’s a lot of truck stop lemons. The tour stops at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, CA on April 18th so that Slug can work on his tan before hitting Canada. Attracted Gods open all dates with P.O.S. also opening on April 9th- April 24th. You can see all the dates here. Tickets are on sale now.

SPINAL TAP UNPLUGGED TOUR

In what is very good news for those of us who look forward to saluting the “Half Inflated Devil”, the three non- drumming (and thus alive) members of Spinal Tap- Christopher Guest, Michael McKeon and Harry Shearer- have announced the “Unwigged and Unplugged” tour which features the trio performing songs from from the group’s “Spinal Tap” and”A Mighty Wind” movies. As the name might suggest, the thirty date tour features the group sans wigs and costumes, and, taking a guess, double bass guitars, as the tour is fully acoustic. In fact, the band will not actually preform as Spinal Tap or The Folksmen, but instead as themselves, which is fine because frankly these three mofos are hilarious even without spandex, malfunctioning pods and folk git’ up. Tickets are on sale this weekend and you can get all the info here.

DEF LEPPARD/ CHEAP TRICK/ POISON

For those of you who are into the classic rock tunes and reality shows about a hard rocker looking for love amongst silicon-laden attention horrors, Def Leppardwill hit the road this summer with Cheap Trickand Poison in tow. The tour, which visits amphitheaters in cities that are just outside major cities, begins June 23rd in Camden, NJ and end on September 6th at the San Manuel Amphitheater in San Bernadino, CA, (where it is always advisable to bring a book for the wait in the parking lot after the show). You can find the dates and info here. Most tickets go on sale this weekend.

THE FRAY/ JACK’S MANNEQUIN

While the Baby Boomers may have their Billy Joel/ Elton John tour, Gen Y has the ivory tickling bands The Frayand Jacks Mannequin hooking up for a 35-date summer tour. The Fray, hot off the release of their self titled second album which debuted at #1 last month, have graduated to headlining amphitheaters for this tour which begins June 12th in Atlanta. The tour winds through the country before ending August 7th in Spokane, Washington. Orange County’s Jacks Mannequin opens all shows. Ticket’s go on sale later this month, but the band has a pre-sale starting this weekend. You can find all the dates and info here. Good luck getting The Fray’s new single “You Found Me” out of your head when you click on the site, it will likely inbed itself next to that damn David Cook song that just won’t leave…