Summer may be flying by, but there’s still another major bash before school starts up again. Kicking off Friday and stretching though Sunday, music fans from across the globe will descend upon Chicago for the annual Lollapalooza, which features opening night festivities from current pop queen Lady Gaga and her cavalcade of costumes. Also catch earlier sets from Devo, The Strokes, The Black Keys and Hot Chip. (more…)

Very few acts can boast a career spanning three decades, let alone escalating popularity with each year that passes. But Bon Jovi is one of the extremely small handful that continues to rack up chart topping hits to this very day, possessing a multi-generational reach in the process. With the recent release of studio CD number 11 The Circle (Island/Def Jam), Jon Bon Jovi and the boys are loading up their tour buses once again for an astounding 135 shows spanning 30 countries, adding to a gig list that’s already topped the 2,600 mark. Though the North American leg just wrapped up with a two night stand at Chicago’s Soldier Field, the band hits international terrain to continue a career spanning set list split between plenty of hits (“You Give Love a Bad Name,” “It’s My Life”), a few new tunes (“We Weren’t Born To Follow”), plus rotating deep cuts and covers. See the full schedule at www.bonjovi.com.

-Andy Argyrakis

Thrice proves once again that the band remains one of the most passionate and spirited acts on the scene today, as the post hardcore quartet delivered a solid 80 minutes of rock to Arizona fans at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe last Thursday. The band demonstrated a brilliant artistic array of the unapologetic and ethically poetic songs that give the band its unique identity. Fans offered their response by unapologetically singing along and celebrating each effort with fervent admiration. (more…)

Even though Kings of Leon’s been in business since 1999, it wasn’t until the last few years that the rock n’ roll act became a household name. The quartet of brothers and a cousin from Nashville started off on the local club and bar scene, soon after graduating to major festivals (like Chicago’s mammoth Lollapalooza) and eventually catching the ear of U2, who the guys opened for on a 2005 arena outing. From then until now, the group’s steadily ascended the pop and rock charts thanks to singles like “Sex on Fire,” “Use Somebody” and “Notion,” all of which helped the band’s breakthrough CD Only By the Night sell over a million albums in America alone. This summer finds the 2010 double Grammy Award winning group hitting major amphitheatres all across the globe, which as Caleb Followill (vocals) and Jared Followill (bass) said during a pre-tour teleconference, will preview new tunes alongside fan favorites, all wrapped around bluesy guitar blasts, garage rock rumblings and an increasingly palpable pop sensibility. (more…)

What began in 2005 as an extremely underground affair for self-proclaimed music snobs has steadily expanded its wings to usher in a wider indie rock audience. Several cases in point permeate this year’s line-up, starting with Friday’s headlining set from Modest Mouse, who are touring in support of its current odds and sods collection No One’s First, and You’re Next (Epic). Others on that evening’s bill include Broken Social Scene, Robyn, Liars and The Tallest Man on Earth. (more…)

The Woodstock era may as well be back this summer thanks to tried and true headliner Santana hitting the outdoor amphitheatre circuit with a little help from his psychedelic friend Steve Winwood. That former Spencer Davis Group/Blind Faith/Traffic member turned solo star had no trouble warming up the masses at Chicagoland’s First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre Friday night thanks to his blues-entrenched guitar and electric organ-doused rock that remains red hot even amidst changing musical fads. (more…)

To introduce Adam Lambert as a previous “American Idol” contestant at this point is largely unnecessary considering all he’s accomplishment, yet without that televised stepping stone, the world at large wouldn’t have met the energetic entertainer so soon. After coming in second place last year (though he could’ve easily swept the competition given those soaring pipes), the singer/songwriter inked a record deal with RCA/19 Recordings to release For Your Entertainment, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, followed by a headlining tour. Aside from some controversy after a steamy American Music Awards performance, the 28-year-old newcomer’s been embraced by fans of all ages and walks of life, earning comparisons to Queen’s Freddie Mercury, plus a slew of other punk, glam and classic rock giants, which as he admitted during a recent teleconference chat, is the ideal measuring stick.
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“This is the best Smashing Pumpkins cover band I’ve ever seen,” said a buddy of mine at the sold out Cleveland House of Blues last night as Smashing Pumpkins launched what they’re billing as an “intimate” 13-show tour. His point was well taken; singer-guitarist Billy Corgan is the only original member still in the band. And while it was always his group, the other guys (and gal) had significant roles, particularly powerhouse drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

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Looking for an alternative rock show to light up the summer but don’t know where to turn? Consider catching Paramore, the female-fronted punk outfit that rode the bus in style last summer opening for No Doubt. These days, the crew from Franklin, Tenn. scored headlining status for 2010 atop the Honda Civic Tour. Expect to hear all the hits laden with power chord sugar rushes after a full day of action that includes Tegan and Sara and New Found Glory. (more…)

Billed as “11 Days, 11 Stages, Over 800 Bands,” Milwaukee’s Summerfest is by and large considered the world’s largest musical festival. The event more than lives up to that promise with plenty of entertainment action, starting out this weekend with a headlining set from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, alongside openers ZZ Top. The supporting stages aren’t too shabby either, including Jeff Beck, 311, Public Enemy and Cowboy Mouth. (more…)