Chicago & The Doobie Brothers announce summer tour, coming to Raleigh

Classic rock mainstays Chicago and The Doobie Brothers are hitting the road the summer playing big sheds across the U.S.

The pair will hit the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion (Walnut Creek) in Raleigh on Thursday, July 26 [the date has been changed to Sunday, August 5]. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 3 via Ticketmaster/LiveNation starting at $10 plus fees.

Both bands released live album of classic concerts last year. Chicago's latest is Chicago XXXIV: Live in '75 and The Doobies' is Live at the Greek Theatre 1982. Check out "China Grove" from the latter below.

The Roots, Eve 6 to play (separately) in the Triangle

It's barely spring but dates are popping up across the area that will take us well into the sweltering days of summer.

The Roots will play a free show at Duke University on Wednesday, April 23, for the university's "last day of class" party. In our experience, there's no sort of ID check to keep these shows students only, so by all means head out there.

In a move proving once and for all that they are totally out of touch, Downtown Live organizers have booked Eve 6 to play in Moore Square on Aug. 23. What should be a really cool event is instead a parade of past-their-peak rock bands. My hope of redemption lives on, but I'm guessing it will quickly fade as each new show is announced.

State Fair organizers are also already hard and work and have booked Jason Aldean, TobyMac and Joe Nichols for their weeklong Christian 'n Country extravaganza. This year's fair will be held Oct. 17-26.

In another Van Halen update, the show has now been re-rescheduled for May 5. We're not holding our breath.

And for those of you who are, like us, wondering when the hell R.E.M. tickets will go on sale for their June 10 show at Walnut Creek, we have no idea. But you'll be the first to know when we do find out!

Dave Matthews Band summer shows announced

In the biggest shock yet this concert season, Dave Matthews Band will play the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek (damn, that's a mouthful) on Wednesday, July 2. Opening this year's show is Michael Franti and Spearhead.

Dave Matthews Band was the no. 8 top selling tour in the summer of 2007 with an average ticket price of $138, according to StubHub.

Walnut Creek gets a new sponsor

Just in time for the new season to begin, Walnut Creek has inked a deal with Time Warner Cable for sponsorship.

This doesn't actually effect concertgoers, except that now after you buy your tickets at the Hardees Thickburger Box Office (not a joke) and sit on the John Deere Lawn (also not joking), you can enjoy for $5 beer and $7 shitty nachos in the Time Warner Cable Superfast Roadrunner High Speed Internet Gold Circle Concession Area.

The agreement made between Time Warner, LiveNation and the City of Raleigh lasts 5 years with a 2 year renewal option.

As part of the agreement, Time Warner customers will gain "exclusive perks" in the future, such as advance ticket sales. The TV giant will also record select shows to later broadcast on their Carolina On Demand Channel.

Tom Petty: The most interesting part of the Super Bowl

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers certainly didn't disappoint with their half time show tonight.

It was visually interesting without being cheesy (I'll admit I really liked the traveling arrow into the heart at the beginning — how did they do that?) and really just allowed the band and their music to shine.

The set list was "American Girl," "I Won't Back Down," "Free Fallin'," and "Runnin' Down a Dream."

What did you guys think?

Tickets officially go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. for the band's July 12 show at Walnut Creek.

I'll admit I was really peeved when I logged in to the pre-sale Friday morning and found that for a $65 ticket (that's about $160 for two including fees) the closest seats I could get were in row EE in sections 5 or 8. (That's, essentially, on the lawn)

Perhaps tomorrow will bring me better Ticketmaster juju, but for someone like Tom Petty, long heralded as the anti-establishment rock star (watch the documentary Runnin' Down a Dream, I highly recommend it) the whole thing is a little disappointing.

"American Girl"


"I Won't Back Down"


"Free Fallin" & "Runnin Down a Dream"

R.E.M. comes to the Creek, brings big openers

R.E.M. have announced plans to tour this summer in support of their new album, Accelerate. One of these dates is at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh. It's amazing that there's actually two shows worth going to so far at Walnut Creek this year (see Tom Petty to play Walnut Creek).

The Walnut Creek show will be on Tuesday, June 10. R.E.M. are showing impeccable taste in openers by bringing indie giants Modest Mouse and The National out for the entire tour.

Accelerate is due out on April Fools Day (April 1). Here's the tracklist.

01 "Living Well's The Best Revenge"
02 "Man Sized Wreath"
03 "Supernatural Superserious"
04 "Hollow Man"
05 "Houston"
06 "Accelerate"
07 "Until The Day Is Done"
08 "Mr Richards"
09 "Sing For The Submarine"
10 "Horse To Water"
11 "I'm Gonna DJ"

For a complete list of R.E.M. tour dates, go to REMhq.com. Also, check out NinetyNights.com for cool videos of the band rehearsing songs, talking about their new music and other tidbits.

Tom Petty to play Walnut Creek

Attention Tom Petty fans!

The rock legend announced today a 2008 summer tour that will take Petty and the Heartbreakers across the country, including a stop at Raleigh's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on July 12.

Steve Winwood will open the show.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 4, following the band's Super Bowl half time show.

Def Leppard rescheduled

Def Leppard's show with Styx and Foreigner at Walnut Creek, canceled Tuesday night due to insane weather, has been rescheduled for this Monday, Aug. 27.

We hear...

That things are a downright mess out at Walnut Creek after last night's storm.

Amphitheatre staff were forced to cancel last night's Def Leppard show around 7:30 last night due to high wind, rain and, well, the fact that the roof was blown off over the stage.

The cancellation didn't happen, of course, until about 12,000 slightly buzzed ticket holders were let through the gates.

If any of you were out there last night, share your stories in the comments section. We're hearing that on top of structural damage to the venue — which has another show on its calendar this evening — the parking lot was a mess with lights getting blown over, trees and branches falling on a couple cars and even some windshields getting blown out by flying gravel.

Nickelback tour coming to Walnut Creek

If you have any musical taste whatsoever you'll stay far, far away from the Walnut Creek amphitheatre on August 26. (Mean, who, me?)

Nickelback, Finger Eleven and Puddle of Mudd (the latter two of which I had no idea where still around) will play Walnut Creek. Tickets range from $29-59 and go on sale via Ticketmaster this Friday.

Usually, this would fall into my category of "If you can't say something nice, keep your mouth shut," but the radio announcers have been going nuts over this announcement since the weekend so I guess it's a big deal... Anyone? Bueller?

In all seriousness, could someone please explain the draw to these groups? I'm going out of town for a couple days, so I'll look forward to your thoughtful comments upon my return.

Projekt Revolution comes to Walnut Creek

Since the Vans Warped Tour is skipping Raleigh this year, the closest thing to it will be the newly announced Projekt Revolution Tour.

The tour will feature two stages. The main stage performers will be Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, HIM and Julien-K. The smaller stage, dubbed "The Revolution Stage," will feature Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, The Bled, Styles of Beyond and Madina Lake.

The Projekt Revolution Tour will stop at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on Monday, August 13 as well as Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte on Wednesday, August 8.

We don't have ticket information right now, but tickets should be available soon via Ticketmaster. Fore more information on the tour, check out projektrevolution.com.


Download Linkin Park on iTunes


Download My Chemical Romance on iTunes

No f-f-f-foolin', Def Leppard coming to the Creek

Def Leppard will continue Walnut Creek Amphitheatre's ever-growing classic rock/country summer. The UK bunch will play the amphitheatre on August 21 with Foreigner and Styx in tow. Foreigner was originally scheduled to play the amphitheatre in June, but have opted to join the Def Leppard tour instead.

No ticket info is available for Def Leppard right now, but rest assured, the price-gouging Ticketmaster will have tickets available in the near future.


Download Def Leppard on iTunes

Another obligatory Dave Matthews Band post

All right kids, bust out your Rainbow sandals and get together the caravan, because Dave Matthews Band is coming to town!

The band announced its annual summer tour this week and stops include Raleigh's Walnut Creek Tuesday, Sept. 18 and Charlotte's Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre the following night.

Tickets go on sale April 28 at 10 a.m. for the general public but are already on sale for Warehouse fan club members. But if you still pay for a membership to the DMB fan club, you didn't need me to tell you that.

Will tickets fly as fast as last year? Who knows. Also, does anyone care? Shrug.

New shows in the Triangle

There are a few new shows worth noting in the Triangle. Check it out.

• Wolfmother at Disco Rodeo - April 24 - tickets on sale now via etix.com
• Jay Clifford (formerly of Jump, Little Children) at Cat's Cradle - May 3 - tickets on sale TBA
• Dr. Dog at Schoolkids (Raleigh) - May 9 @ 4pm - Free in-store
  

Also, for those who haven't heard, Ben Folds and James Morrison have been added to John Mayer's July 31 show at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre. Folds will join Mayer for the entire US leg of Mayer's summer tour. It'll be interesting to see how Mayer's fans respond to Folds' music.

Keep checking the Triangle Music calendar for daily show updates.

John Mayer coming to Walnut Creek

John Mayer's Continuum Summer Tour, announced today, will make a stop at Raleigh's Walnut Creek Amphitheatre on July 31.

The 37-stop tour kicks off June 1 in Ridgefield, WA and will continue through August 8 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Ticket info has yet to be announced.


Download John Mayer on iTunes

Hootie to rock for the kids in Raleigh

It would be really easy to make a joke right about now regarding purple cowboy outfits and washed up rock stars...but I'll refrain. Because the fact is, Hootie and the Blowfish are using what celebrity they have left to do a pretty cool thing.

The band has expanded their annual concert to raise money for Charleston, S.C. schools to an 11-stop tour.

They will make a stop in Raleigh at Walnut Creek August 20. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, July 14 though Ticketmaster.

Ticket holders are asked to bring school supplies to the concert as a donation to fill an actual school bus that will be on site. Supplies will be donated to the Wake County Public School System following the show.

Better Than Ezra will open the show.

The tour kicked off in Nashville, Tenn. on July 3 and will end in West Palm Beach, Fla. on Sept. 16.