As always, tons of acts are on the road this summer, vying for your concert dollar. Here's a look at the best of the bunch...
U2, 6/20, FedEx Field: Any U2 tour is going to be a spectacle, and this time they're dusting off The Joshua Tree. The meat of this show resides in the latter half of the "Joshua" stuff, with deep chestnuts like In God's Country and Trip Through Your Wires. It's a big ask, with tickets starting at $118, but if you've got the dosh, have at it.
Dead & Company, 6/22, Jiffy Lube Live: Personally, I've never seen The Grateful Dead, so this is intriguing. No matter what you think of Jon Mayer's guitar faces, he's a great fit for this show. They're playing two sets, and tickets start at $40.
Merriweather's 50th Anniversay Concert, 7/15, Merriweather Post Pavilion: This is a celebration of, you guessed it, MPP's 50th. This venue holds such historic reverence in out area, that a party in it's honor is sure to be one of those "moment" type shows. The newly face-lifted shed hosts Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Father John Misty, and Grace Potter hosts the whole shindig. $55 and up.
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 7/23, Royal Farms Arena: Another big tour stops off in the intimate, as far as arenas go, grand ol' lady that began life as the Baltimore Civic Center. Tom Petty shows dazzle with the sheer number of hit songs on display, but doesn't feel like a greatest hits show. Special guest Peter Wolf (J. Geils Band) add's weight to the proceedings. It appears this thing is sold out since I only see secondary market tickets, starting at $395. I recommend registering to win tickets on WBIG.com!
Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience, 7/25, Jiffy Lube Live: What's not to like on this, Foreigner's 40th anniversary tour. Hot band, killer songs in the headline spot, perhaps the best special guest out there in Cheap Trick, and Jason Bonham's stellar Zep review, featuring Damascus, MD's own, singer James Dylan. A steal at $22.
Roger Waters, 8/4 & 8/5, Verizon Center: Hey. It's Roger Waters. What more do you need to know? Tickets? A shockingly low $55 and up!