For some, summer means no school, endless hours of basking in the sun, and milking your parents for money before you go back to "adult duties" in the fall. For me, though, it means paying absurdly high prices on Ticketmaster to see some of pop music's biggest acts perform extravagant sets in not-ideal-for-live-music venues, like NBA arenas. To help you decide what to check out this summer, here are few of my picks.
Kanye West's Glow In The Dark Tour:
Along with Rihanna and hipster-hoppers Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D., Kanye attempts to deliver an arena show bigger than his ego. The show will feature live orchestration, stage and lighting design by Daft Punk's people, holograms by director Hype Williams and the wizardry of Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
Tour runs from April to June (May 5 in Tampa, May 6 in Miami).
Radiohead:
Hot off the release of the critically-acclaimed "In Rainbows," the elusive rockers take part in their first U.S. tour since 2004.
Tour runs in May and August (May 5 in West Palm Beach, May 6 in Tampa).
The Police:
If you "Can't Stand Losing" Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, then make sure to catch them on this run. They've said it's their last tour ever.
Tour runs from May to August (May 16 in Orlando, May 17 in West Palm Beach).
Erykah Badu and The Roots:
Despite a 10-plus-year working relationship and fame for their amazing live shows, the soulstress and the legendary Philly hip-hop outfit have never toured together. Until now.
(May 20 in Boca Raton).
Stone Temple Pilots:
With Scott Weiland's getting the boot from Velvet Revolver, Stone Temple Pilots is back together for their first tour since 2002, when they originally broke up.
Tour runs from May to August (August 19 in Orlando, August 20 in Hollywood, August 22 in Tampa).
Pearl Jam:
Having not toured the U.S. since 2006, Eddie Vedder and company will play only 12 shows, all on the east coast.
(June 11 in West Palm Beach, June 12 in Tampa).
