Tom Petty is back on the road with the Heartbreakers. Steve Winwood joins him at Nissan Pavilion next month.
(By Streeter Lecka -- Getty Images)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
JUNE 8 Burt BacharachMusic Center at Strathmore, $28-$72
Medleys almost always shortchange composers and audiences alike, but certainly Bacharach can be forgiven for compressing his extraordinary hit list in concert. After all, he and Hal David wrote more than a dozen Top 40 hits in the '60s, including "Walk on By," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" and "I Say a Little Prayer." Now 80, Bacharach still performs and reminisces on the road (anecdotes about such artists as Dionne Warwick and Elvis Costello pepper his shows), and although he tours with an ensemble that includes singers, he's still up for crooning at the piano when the spirit moves him.
JUNE 8 Tom Petty and Steve WinwoodNissan Pavilion, $35-$125
After recent travels with Mudcrutch, Petty is back touring with the Heartbreakers, and he won't be road-weary when he arrives at Nissan Pavilion during the first week of his band's summer tour. Without a new Heartbreakers CD to promote, Petty can explore a wider variety of hits and album cuts than usual, to say nothing of the colorful departures that often pop up during his concerts. Of course, having Winwood open the show is a plus, regardless of whether he and the Heartbreakers end up sharing the stage.
JULY 15 Al GreenWolf Trap, $25-$42
Given his profound influence on the neo-soul crowd, it's only fitting that John Legend and Corinne Bailey Rae turn up on Green's new CD, "Lay It Down." But let's face it: The Reverend doesn't need any help on stage, thank you. Still one of great marvels of the pop world, Green will perform songs from "Lay It Down" along with enough classic soul hits to send the crowd home singing. Amos Lee opens.
AUG. 5 Neil DiamondVerizon Center, $55-$120
Diamond may have producer Rick Rubin to thank for resuscitating his recording career ("Home After Dark," the latest Diamond-Rubin collaboration, opened at the top of the pop charts), but the veteran singer-songwriter has his fans to thank for making him a perennial box office winner. So it's always payback time when Diamond performs in concert. Moving through a remarkably long and utterly crowd-pleasing parade of Top 10 hits, he still orchestrates one resounding singalong chorus after another.
AUG. 14 Tribute to Joni MitchellMusic Center at Strathmore, $15
Like the Strathmore's previous tribute to Bob Dylan, this is a chance to check out an exceptional array of local talent, performing familiar and not-so-familiar tunes. The lineup includes John Jennings, Mary Ann Redmond, LEA, Grace Griffith, Jon Carroll, Luke Brindley, Naked Blue, Carey Creed, One Horse Town and Frederic Yonnet and others. (Mitchell is not scheduled to appear.)
-- Mike Joyce
