Summer 2010 Music Tours

With summer right around the corner it's time to gear up for this year's slew of shows in the sunshine. If you're not up to date on who's playing when, just take a look below for some of the best shows/festivals that summer 2010 has to offer.

Anberlin

May 28th - Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT

May 29th - Northshore Mall, Peabody, MA (FREE SHOW!)

June 1st - Toad's Place, New Haven, CT

Even though Florida-based rockers Anberlin are busy working on their new album, they've decided to do a small tour to welcome in the summer months. They'll start off their New England run in Vermont before heading to Mass. as part of the Journey's Backyard BBQ Tour, a five city skate/BMX tour featuring both athletes and bands from across the country. Anberlin will be sharing the stage (at the Northshore Mall of all places) with Mayday Parade for the free show. Three days later the quintet will be in Connecticut alongside Story Of The Year and Terrible Things. These are some shows you don't want to miss!

Taking Back Sunday

June 25th - House of Blues, Boston, MA

As part of one of the shortest tours ever, only six shows nationwide, TBS are setting out for their first round of shows with original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper back in the lineup. Lucky for New England, they're hitting Boston's House of Blues. No word on openers just yet. Tickets are still available, though the special VIP packages are all sold out. This will be a must see for any TBS fan.

Paramore

July 27th - Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, CT

July 28th - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

Aug 3rd - Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion, Gilford, NH

The Honda Civic Tour has built itself on solid pop-punk lineups year after year, and 2010 is no different. Paramore are headlining this summer's tour alongside scene staples New Found Glory and Tegan and Sara for what's set to be one of the best shows all season. With three chances to see this tour in New England, you've got no excuses for missing it.

Green Day

Aug 12th - Comcast Theater, Hartford, CT

Aug 16th - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

Still busy touring to support their latest release, 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day are bringing out fellow punk rock lifers AFI for a late summer romp through the US. With both bands developing massive followings that carried over from the 90s, these shows will definitely draw out an eclectic crowd that will be as fun to watch as the bands.

Vans Warped Tour

July 11th - Comcast Theater, Hartford, CT

July 13th - Comcast Center, Mansfield, MA

Who could forget about the best tour of every summer? Warped is back for its 16th year, and has two stops in New England. With a lineup to suit anyone's tastes, tickets should go fast. Where else can you see The All-American Rejects, Motion City Soundtrack, Four Year Strong, Bring Me The Horizon and The Rocket Summer in the same day?

East To Providence

A few blocks down Richmond Street in Providence, Rhode Island is Jerky's - a dimly lit dive bar with cheap beer, cheaper food and one of the smallest stages you'll find in New England. I had the pleasure of spending last Friday night there for "The Real Eve of Skatefest," aka the pre-show for Skatefest the next day in Worcester.

The lineup was dope. Boston band Lions Lions were first, followed by All The Day Holiday (who are awesome, check them out!) and then my personal favorites, Envy On The Coast. And as a surprise, if the acronym for the show didn't set you off, The Receiving End Of Sirens (TREOS) rounded off the night with a reunion performance.

The sets were all really good, though Envy ran into a bit of a snag during soundcheck. There was a whole lot of nothing going on, but the guys busted out an impromptu tune with just guitar and some wicked hard hitting drums.

Once things finally got going, they killed it. Most of their set was comprised of songs off their latest release, Lowcountry. They did throw in a few crowd favorites off Lucy Gray, too. The pit of maybe 15 people got pretty wild. Trust me. Envy's lead singer, Ryan Hunter, even crowd surfed at one point.

I had yet to see Envy perform much of anything off Lowcountry, so this show was great. Hearing all new material is definitely a plus. It's easy to see their growth as musicians now. Compare anything off their EP to what they're doing now, and you'll be blown away. Good job, boys.

Other than the music, we hung around a drank plenty of cheap Sam Adam's Cherry Wheat on tap. Ryan even came to have a brew with us. It was great. We chilled, watched the Bruins/Flyers game and talked hockey for a while. Nothing like meeting up with friends from city to city.

Check out an interview I did with Hunter about Lowcountry:

*All video/photography courtesy of Backstage Press

Live shots from Jerky's - May 7th, 2010