Regardless of how listening to albums and songs has changed over the last several decades, live music remains a constant. Around this time of year, loads of artists announce their live show itineraries while festivals cue us in to other performers who are likely to be on the road. As fans, we scan these listings looking for our home city (or something within a reasonable distance), plotting out just who we get to see and when we get to see them.
As always, it’s difficult to nail down the best tours coming our way. Maybe that’s why we update this feature a few times a year. Aside from the following 25 artists, which include giant stadium tours and tiny club shows, festivals have already clued us in that the likes of Tool, Lorde, Frank Ocean, Solange, and Future Islands will also be on the road. Plus, we opted not to list artists like Bon Iver, Mitski, Angel Olsen, and Japandroids, whom we included in our previous installment. And there are sure to be surprises. Will Kanye West return to his floating stage? Will Arcade Fire, Ryan Adams, and Dirty Projectors tour widely in support of new releases? This is sure to be another great year for live shows.
Black girl magic is real, and Noname wields enough to cast the entire world under her spell. Her debut LP, Telefone, is full of wisdom beyond her years and harmonies that send shivers down your spine. Everything she does has originality sewn into it — which is why Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins sought her out for collaborations early on in her career. As she proved during her appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Chance, her pipes sound just as moving live as they do on record, so she’s stepping into the light to flaunt them on a proper, lengthy tour with opener Ravyn Lenae. Noname’s hype is rightfully deserved and ever-growing. Case in point: Every single show on the tour is sold out. Chances are a couple ticketholders will fall ill, though, so it’s worth trying your luck showing up at doors to grab a stranger’s spare. The show will certainly be worth it. –Nina Corcoran
Noname 2017 Tour Dates:
01/14 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
02/11 – Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre
02/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
02/15 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
02/16 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
02/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
02/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood
02/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
02/22 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge
02/24 – Iowa City, IA @ Ballroom at The University of Iowa
02/25 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
02/26 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement
02/28 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
03/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
03/02 – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
03/03 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
03/05 – Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall
03/06 – Detroit, MI @ El Club
06/08-11 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
07/29 – New York, NY @ Panorama Music Festival
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24. RUN THE JEWELS
Photo by Philip Cosores
Run the Jewels have been all over the world over the past few years, and why not? El-P and Killer Mike have each made a lot of great music on their own, but they’ve never been bigger than they are as rap’s foremost tag team of the moment. It’s a testament to how good their album trilogy has been that we’re just as excited to see them tour behind the Christmas fucking miracle of Run the Jewels 3as we were when this all got started four years ago, even after all the dates and festivals since. And even if you’ve seen them multiple times, RTJ deliver the kind of fire-breathing live performances that carry the torch for the best of live hip-hop, and there’s just no such thing as too much of a great thing. Plus, Donald Trump’s going to be the president, and it’s a reasonable assumption that RTJ will have thoughts on the matter. –Dominick Suzanne-Mayer
Run the Jewels 2016-2017 Tour Dates:
01/16 – Columbus, OH @ Express Live!
01/17 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
01/18 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
01/20 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
01/21 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
01/23 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham Theatre
01/24 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
01/25 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore
01/29 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
01/30 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory
02/01 – Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall
02/02 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic Auditorium
02/03 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
02/05 – Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theatre
02/06 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
02/07 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
02/08 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
02/10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
02/11 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
02/13 – Kansas City, MO @ The Midland
02/14 – St. Paul, MN @ Myth
02/15 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theater
02/17 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
02/18 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
02/19 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
02/21 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
02/22 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
02/24 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
02/25 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
05/26-28 – Chillicothe, IL @ Summer Camp Music Festival
05/26-28 – Allston, MA @ Boston Calling
05/31-06/04 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound
06/08-10 – Porto, Portugal @ NOS Primavera Sound
06/16-18 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
06/17-19 – Aarhus, DK @ NorthSide Festival
Baseball may still be America’s pastime, but considering the amount of time he’ll be spending on diamonds across the country in the upcoming year, Billy Joel may just supplant its reign. The Piano Man is set to play sports centers ranging from the New Orleans arena the Smoothie King Center to classic baseball stadiums like Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium to Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Ever the showman, the legendary singer-songwriter continues to put on crowd-pleasing performances at his residency at New York’s own iconic Madison Square Garden, a commitment he’ll continue to honor in the midst of his nation-spanning tour. Instead of a bottle of red or a bottle of white, Joel may be singing about whether the peanuts or the cracker jack are more on the menu.
Billy Joel 2017 Tour Dates:
01/11 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
01/27 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
02/10 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
02/22 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/03 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/24 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
04/05 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
04/14 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
04/28 – Atlanta, GA @ SunTrust Park
05/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium
05/25 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
07/14 – Cleveland, OH @ Progressive Field
07/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Field
08/11 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
08/30 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park
09/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Citizens Bank Park
Don’t roll your eyes at Ariana Grande. She’s barely 23 years old and already dominating the pop world, but that’s not what makes her stand out. It’s Grande’s ability to collaborate with Stevie Wonder, her support of Black Lives Matter, and her voice’s leaps and bounds that still somehow seem underutilized despite her vocal range. If you thought her VMAs performance of “Side to Side” was ridiculous, wait until you see what she prepped for this tour. Grande’s got a flair for vocal and visual dramatics alike, which means the tour for Dangerous Woman will bring the drama from start to finish. —Nina Corcoran
Bonus: there’s no word regarding openers yet, but given this is the biggest tour she’s ever done, it’s bound to be someone good.
Ariana Grande 2017 Tour Dates:
02/02 Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
02/04 Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
02/07 Omahe, NE @ Century Link Center
02/09 Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
02/14 Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
02/17 Uncasville, CT @Mohegan Sun Arena
02/19 Manchester, NH @SNHU Arena
02/21 Buffalo, NY @Key Bank Center
02/23 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
02/26 Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
02/27 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
03/01 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
03/03 Boston, MA @ TD Garden
03/05 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
03/06 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
03/09 Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
03/11 Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
03/12 Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
03/14 Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/16 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
03/18 Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
03/21 Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
03/23 Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
03/24 Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
03/26 Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
03/27 San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
03/30 Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
03/31 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
04/03 Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
04/06 San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
04/08 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
04/09 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
04/11 New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
04/12 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
04/14 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
04/15 Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
05/08 Stockholm, SE @ Friends Arena
05/10 Oslo, NO @ Telenor
05/12 Herning, DK @ Jyske Bank Boxen
05/14 Amsterdam-Zuidoost, NL @ Ziggo Dome
05/16 Amsterdam-Zuidoost, NL @ Ziggo Dome
05/18 Birmingham, UK @ Genting Arena
05/20 Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
05/22 Manchester, UK @ Arena
05/25 London, UK @ O2 Arena
05/26 London, UK @ The O2
05/28 Antwerp, BE @ Sportpalais
05/31 Lodz, PL @ Atlas Arena
06/01 Lodz, PL @ Atlas Arena
06/03 Frankfurt, DE @ Festhalle
06/05 Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadion
06/07 Paris, FR @ Accorhotels Arena
06/09 Lyon, FR @ Halle Tony Garnier
06/11 Lisboa, PT @ Meo Arena
06/13 Barcelona, ES @ Palau Sant Jordi
06/15 Rome, IT @ Palalottomatica
06/17 Turin To, IT @ Pala Alpitour
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21. CHRIS ROCK
“Is America ready for a black president?” Chris Rock asked rhetorically in a special SNL Road to the White House report back in 2007. “Why not? We just had a retarded one,” he concluded. A decade later, we might ask Rock the same about an orange president and let him do what he does best: deliver a punchline. Sure, he paid his dues on SNL in the ’90s and went on to find A-list success on television, in films, and as an Oscars host, but make no mistake about it: Chris Rock is a stand-up comedian first and foremost, and it’s been nine years since he last brought his singular, foul-mouthed worldview to stages. And given the racial and political tensions of our times, never has his perspective and ability to find humor in the bleakest of realities been more needed. –Matt Melis
Chris Rock 2017 Tour Dates:
02/14 – Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
02/16 – Cincinnati, OH @ Aronoff Center for the Arts
02/18 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
02/21 – Niagra Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
02/22 – Niagra Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
02/23 – Niagra Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
02/24 – Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center
02/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
03/03 – Denver, CO @ Bellco Theatre
03/05 – Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
03/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
03/24 – Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall
03/25 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
03/29 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live
04/06 – Tulsa, OK @ River Spirit Casino Resort
04/07 – Thackerville, OK @ Global Event Center at WinStar World Casino
04/08 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House
04/14 – Tampa, FL @ David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
04/19 – Cleveland, OH @ State Theatre
04/22 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
04/28 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
05/03 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
05/05 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center
05/13 – Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Center
05/14 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
05/17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center
05/25 – Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center
05/26 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
06/03 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Event Center
20. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS + BABYMETAL
Photo by Killian Young
It can be hard to take the Red Hot Chili Peppers very seriously these days, and touring with a J-pop metal act comprising three teenage girls doesn’t exactly help matters. Or does it? On one hand, the Chilis have nearly painted themselves into a corner after turning in more of the same scabadabadoos on their latest album The Getaway. On the other hand, the band have never sounded looser and more fun during their live shows, rejuvenated by the tastefully frenetic guitar playing of young gun Josh Klinghoffer. They’re still one of the biggest rock groups in the world, but they sure don’t act like it. Maybe that’s why BABYMETAL actually makes a ton of sense as their opener. These three girls know how to get an audience riled up, but there’s an ostentatious sense of fun behind the very idea of the group’s existence. If a band this young can rock this hard, who’s to say the Chilis are too old to let their hair down a bit? —Collin Brennan
Red Hot Chili Peppers 2017 Tour Dates:
01/18 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
01/20 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
01/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
02/02 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Luis Arena
02/04 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
02/07 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
02/08 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
02/10 – Buffalo, NY @ Key Bank Center
02/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena
02/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena
02/15 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
02/17 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
02/18 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/02 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
03/04 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
03/05 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
03/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
03/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
03/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
03/12 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
03/15 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center at Rose Quarter
03/17 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
03/18 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
04/12 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center *
04/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena *
04/15 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena *
04/17 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center *
04/19 – Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena *
04/22 – Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena *
04/24 – Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Arena *
04/26 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center *
04/27 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena *
04/29 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena *
05/11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
05/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
05/14 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
05/16 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
05/18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
05/19 – Cincinnati, OH @ US Bank Arena
05/21 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
05/23 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
05/26 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
05/28 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
05/29 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
06/08 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
06/18 – Quebec, QC @ Vidéotron
06/20 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
06/22 – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre
06/23 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
06/25 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
06/28 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
06/30 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/01 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/13-15 – Lisbon, PT @ Super Bock Super Rock
07/13-16 – Benicassim, ES @ Benicassim Festival
07/20 – Rome, IT @ Postepay Rock In Roma
07/21 – Milan, IT @ Milano Summer Festivl
07/25 – Krakow, PL @ Cracovia Stadium
07/27 – Riga, LV @ Lucavsala Island
07/29 – Helsinki, FI @ Kaisafest
09/20 – Dublin, IE @ 3 Arena
09/21 – Dublin, IE @ 3 Arena
09/24 – Rio De Janeiro, BR @ Rock in Rio
Face it: The Shins aren’t playing Coachella. Or Panorama. Or too many other festivals this year. (At least if we’re to go by the few lineups that have appeared over the last two weeks.) So, those aching for a little melancholy beyond their record collection and out in the open air will have to catch James Mercer and co. at one of their select tour dates. Right now, it’s slim pickings with a few dates here and there, but considering they’ll drop their fifth studio album, Heartworms, in March, they’ll undoubtedly have a proper run sometime before December. Then again, Mercer could go totally mental and refuse to tour beyond the 10 dates below, opting to lock himself in a basement until 2018. That probably won’t happen, but you just never know, people. The world’s a twisted place, and The Shins are a twisted band. Only one of these statements is true. –Michael Roffman
The Shins 2017 Tour Dates: 03/02 – Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theatre
03/04 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
03/06 – San Diego,CA @ Observatory North Park
03/07 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
03/28 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
03/29 – London, UK @ Apollo Hammersmith
03/30 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
04/22-23 – North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival 05/12 – 14 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival
06/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Prospect Park Bandshell
The Flaming Lips’ reputation as a live band doesn’t need explaining. Their DIY whimsy and attention to spectacle is a big reason why they’re such a revered act. That said, one of the coolest things about the band is how their live shows change from album to album, often matching the new songs in atmosphere and color. So, there is genuine excitement to see the sets for Oczy Mlody find a way to present that album’s simultaneous sense of dread and hope. Europe will get the first crack at the band, but the Lips will be back to the states in March. As of now, they’re sticking to the eastern half of the US (Boston, New York, Atlanta), but if we know the band, expect many more performances to be announced. –Philip Cosores
The Flaming Lips 2016-2017 Tour Dates:
01/21 – London, UK @ O2 Brixton
01/22 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
01/24 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
01/25 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
01/26 – Stockholm, SE @ Munchen Brewery
01/28 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli
01/30 – Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
01/31 – Zurich, CH @ Volkshaus
03/03 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
03/04 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
03/05 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/06 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/08 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
03/09 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
03/13 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel Complex
03/14 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theater
03/29 – Nashville, TN @ War Memorial Auditorium
03/30 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
03/31 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
04/02 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
04/03 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
04/04 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
04/17 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theater
04/19 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live
04/21 – Madison, WI @ The Orpheum Theater
04/22 – Des Moines, IA @ Hoyt Sherman Place
04/23 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
04/25 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
06/30 – Vilanova i la Geltrú, ES @ Vida Festival
Mastodon is one of modern rock’s goofier bands, and despite continuing to re-establish their credentials as one of metal/alternative/whatever we’re calling them now’s torch-bearers, the announcement for their 2017 tour just reiterates that fact: “We couldn’t be more excited to pour majestic rock sauce all over your town. Come on down and help us celebrate the season of new beginnings where fresh buds bloom, animals awaken, the earth comes to life and there’s a new Mastodon album to melt your face off!” As they prepare to release the follow-up to Once More ‘Round the Sun later this year, expect some new material to come with the band’s spring tour. And, y’know, rock sauce.
If that doesn’t already have you excited, how’s this for a sweetener: Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles will open, ensuring a thoroughly muscular evening of music. We can already hear the ringing of tinnitus and smell the heavenly aroma of spilt beer and secondhand pot. –Dominick Suzanne-Mayer
Mastodon 2017 Tour Dates: 04/14 – Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater %
04/15 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater %
04/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield %
04/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium %
04/21 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
04/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Complex %
04/24 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore %
04/26 – Kansas City, KS @ Uptown Theater %
04/27 – St. Louis, MO @ Pageant %
04/28 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City %
04/29 – Jacksonville, FL @ Welcome to Rockville Festival
04/30 – Fort Meyers, FL @ Fort Rock Festival
05/02 – Washington, DC @ Fillmore %
05/03 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel %
05/05 – Concord, NC @ Carolina Rebellion Festival
05/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
05/08 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues %
05/09 – Portland, ME @ State Theater %
05/11 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom %
05/12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE %
05/13 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom %
05/14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre %
05/16 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Theater %
05/17 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium %
05/18 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall %
05/19 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live %
05/20 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live %
% = w/ Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles
* = w/ Opeth, Gojira, Eagles of Death Metal, Devin Towsend Project, and Russian Circles
Once-in-a-lifetime shows are something every concertgoer should aspire to see. That’s why the forthcoming run of dates from Chairlift are so important. Back in December, Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly announced that their spring tour would be their last as a band, which means, yes, you should probably catch them at one of the select handful of dates below. Looking at the itinerary, one would have thought they’d go out with a bigger bang, but oh well, this is what you get. In a way, the scant seven dates makes the whole thing even more limited and essential. So, what the hell are you waiting for? Grab tickets now before they’re gone forever and ever and ever and ever. –Michael Roffman
Chairlift 2017 Farewell Tour Dates: 04/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbos
04/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
04/14 – Chicago, IL @ Double Door
04/15 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
04/20 – Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
04/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
04/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
04. LIONEL RICHIE W/ MARIAH CAREY
Photo by Philip Cosores
Hello! Listen, put that entirely meme-able viral New Year’s performance into context — any Mariah Carey live performance will be a spectacle, because even if she doesn’t get in a tiff with producers, she’ll put on a show with those insane pipes. Plus, you’ll get Lionel Richie, with his magnetic presence and utterly underrated vocals. And, per the tour’s name (“All the Hits”), this should be an all-killer/ no-filler kind of situation, one of those shows where you realize exactly how many Lionel Richie songs are straight jams to which you know every word. He’s more than that “Hello” video. –Lior Phillips
Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey – All the Hits Tour Dates:
03/15 – Baltimore, MD @ Royal Farms Arena
03/17 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
03/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
03/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
03/24 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
03/25 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/28 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
03/30 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
04/01 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
04/05 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
04/07 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
04/08 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
04/11 – Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
04/14 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
04/16 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
04/18 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
04/21 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
04/23 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
04/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
04/27 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
04/28 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
04/30 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
05/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
05/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
05/06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
05/08 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
05/10 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
05/13 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
05/15 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
05/18 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
05/20 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
05/21 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
05/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
05/26 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
05/27 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ BB&T Center
The 25 Most Anticipated Tours of 2017
March 30, 2017Share this:
Regardless of how listening to albums and songs has changed over the last several decades, live music remains a constant. Around this time of year, loads of artists announce their live show itineraries while festivals cue us in to other performers who are likely to be on the road. As fans, we scan these listings looking for our home city (or something within a reasonable distance), plotting out just who we get to see and when we get to see them.
As always, it’s difficult to nail down the best tours coming our way. Maybe that’s why we update this feature a few times a year. Aside from the following 25 artists, which include giant stadium tours and tiny club shows, festivals have already clued us in that the likes of Tool, Lorde, Frank Ocean, Solange, and Future Islands will also be on the road. Plus, we opted not to list artists like Bon Iver, Mitski, Angel Olsen, and Japandroids, whom we included in our previous installment. And there are sure to be surprises. Will Kanye West return to his floating stage? Will Arcade Fire, Ryan Adams, and Dirty Projectors tour widely in support of new releases? This is sure to be another great year for live shows.
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25. NONAME
Black girl magic is real, and Noname wields enough to cast the entire world under her spell. Her debut LP, Telefone, is full of wisdom beyond her years and harmonies that send shivers down your spine. Everything she does has originality sewn into it — which is why Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins sought her out for collaborations early on in her career. As she proved during her appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Chance, her pipes sound just as moving live as they do on record, so she’s stepping into the light to flaunt them on a proper, lengthy tour with opener Ravyn Lenae. Noname’s hype is rightfully deserved and ever-growing. Case in point: Every single show on the tour is sold out. Chances are a couple ticketholders will fall ill, though, so it’s worth trying your luck showing up at doors to grab a stranger’s spare. The show will certainly be worth it. –Nina Corcoran
Noname 2017 Tour Dates:
01/14 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
02/11 – Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre
02/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry
02/15 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
02/16 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
02/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
02/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood
02/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
02/22 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake Lounge
02/24 – Iowa City, IA @ Ballroom at The University of Iowa
02/25 – St. Louis, MO @ The Ready Room
02/26 – Columbus, OH @ The Basement
02/28 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
03/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
03/02 – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge
03/03 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
03/05 – Toronto, ON @ Adelaide Hall
03/06 – Detroit, MI @ El Club
06/08-11 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
07/29 – New York, NY @ Panorama Music Festival
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24. RUN THE JEWELS
Photo by Philip Cosores
Run the Jewels have been all over the world over the past few years, and why not? El-P and Killer Mike have each made a lot of great music on their own, but they’ve never been bigger than they are as rap’s foremost tag team of the moment. It’s a testament to how good their album trilogy has been that we’re just as excited to see them tour behind the Christmas fucking miracle of Run the Jewels 3 as we were when this all got started four years ago, even after all the dates and festivals since. And even if you’ve seen them multiple times, RTJ deliver the kind of fire-breathing live performances that carry the torch for the best of live hip-hop, and there’s just no such thing as too much of a great thing. Plus, Donald Trump’s going to be the president, and it’s a reasonable assumption that RTJ will have thoughts on the matter. –Dominick Suzanne-Mayer
Run the Jewels 2016-2017 Tour Dates:
01/16 – Columbus, OH @ Express Live!
01/17 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
01/18 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
01/20 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
01/21 – Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
01/23 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham Theatre
01/24 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
01/25 – Miami, FL @ The Fillmore
01/29 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
01/30 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory
02/01 – Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall
02/02 – San Jose, CA @ San Jose Civic Auditorium
02/03 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
02/05 – Arcata, CA @ Van Duzer Theatre
02/06 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
02/07 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo
02/08 – Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
02/10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
02/11 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore
02/13 – Kansas City, MO @ The Midland
02/14 – St. Paul, MN @ Myth
02/15 – Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theater
02/17 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom
02/18 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
02/19 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
02/21 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
02/22 – Portland, ME @ State Theatre
02/24 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
02/25 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
05/26-28 – Chillicothe, IL @ Summer Camp Music Festival
05/26-28 – Allston, MA @ Boston Calling
05/31-06/04 – Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Sound
06/08-10 – Porto, Portugal @ NOS Primavera Sound
06/16-18 – Louisville, KY @ Forecastle Festival
06/17-19 – Aarhus, DK @ NorthSide Festival
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23. BILLY JOEL
Photo by Ben Kaye
Baseball may still be America’s pastime, but considering the amount of time he’ll be spending on diamonds across the country in the upcoming year, Billy Joel may just supplant its reign. The Piano Man is set to play sports centers ranging from the New Orleans arena the Smoothie King Center to classic baseball stadiums like Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium to Chicago’s Wrigley Field. Ever the showman, the legendary singer-songwriter continues to put on crowd-pleasing performances at his residency at New York’s own iconic Madison Square Garden, a commitment he’ll continue to honor in the midst of his nation-spanning tour. Instead of a bottle of red or a bottle of white, Joel may be singing about whether the peanuts or the cracker jack are more on the menu.
Billy Joel 2017 Tour Dates:
01/11 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
01/27 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
02/10 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
02/22 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/03 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/24 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
04/05 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
04/14 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
04/28 – Atlanta, GA @ SunTrust Park
05/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Dodger Stadium
05/25 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
07/14 – Cleveland, OH @ Progressive Field
07/28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Field
08/11 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
08/30 – Boston, MA @ Fenway Park
09/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Citizens Bank Park
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22. ARIANA GRANDE
Don’t roll your eyes at Ariana Grande. She’s barely 23 years old and already dominating the pop world, but that’s not what makes her stand out. It’s Grande’s ability to collaborate with Stevie Wonder, her support of Black Lives Matter, and her voice’s leaps and bounds that still somehow seem underutilized despite her vocal range. If you thought her VMAs performance of “Side to Side” was ridiculous, wait until you see what she prepped for this tour. Grande’s got a flair for vocal and visual dramatics alike, which means the tour for Dangerous Woman will bring the drama from start to finish. —Nina Corcoran
Bonus: there’s no word regarding openers yet, but given this is the biggest tour she’s ever done, it’s bound to be someone good.
Ariana Grande 2017 Tour Dates:
02/02 Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Arena
02/04 Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
02/07 Omahe, NE @ Century Link Center
02/09 Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
02/14 Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
02/17 Uncasville, CT @Mohegan Sun Arena
02/19 Manchester, NH @SNHU Arena
02/21 Buffalo, NY @Key Bank Center
02/23 New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
02/26 Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
02/27 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
03/01 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
03/03 Boston, MA @ TD Garden
03/05 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
03/06 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
03/09 Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
03/11 Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
03/12 Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
03/14 Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/16 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
03/18 Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
03/21 Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
03/23 Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
03/24 Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
03/26 Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
03/27 San Jose, CA @ SAP Center
03/30 Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
03/31 Los Angeles, CA @ The Forum
04/03 Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
04/06 San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
04/08 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
04/09 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
04/11 New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
04/12 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
04/14 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
04/15 Orlando, FL @ Amway Center
05/08 Stockholm, SE @ Friends Arena
05/10 Oslo, NO @ Telenor
05/12 Herning, DK @ Jyske Bank Boxen
05/14 Amsterdam-Zuidoost, NL @ Ziggo Dome
05/16 Amsterdam-Zuidoost, NL @ Ziggo Dome
05/18 Birmingham, UK @ Genting Arena
05/20 Dublin, IE @ 3Arena
05/22 Manchester, UK @ Arena
05/25 London, UK @ O2 Arena
05/26 London, UK @ The O2
05/28 Antwerp, BE @ Sportpalais
05/31 Lodz, PL @ Atlas Arena
06/01 Lodz, PL @ Atlas Arena
06/03 Frankfurt, DE @ Festhalle
06/05 Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadion
06/07 Paris, FR @ Accorhotels Arena
06/09 Lyon, FR @ Halle Tony Garnier
06/11 Lisboa, PT @ Meo Arena
06/13 Barcelona, ES @ Palau Sant Jordi
06/15 Rome, IT @ Palalottomatica
06/17 Turin To, IT @ Pala Alpitour
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21. CHRIS ROCK
“Is America ready for a black president?” Chris Rock asked rhetorically in a special SNL Road to the White House report back in 2007. “Why not? We just had a retarded one,” he concluded. A decade later, we might ask Rock the same about an orange president and let him do what he does best: deliver a punchline. Sure, he paid his dues on SNL in the ’90s and went on to find A-list success on television, in films, and as an Oscars host, but make no mistake about it: Chris Rock is a stand-up comedian first and foremost, and it’s been nine years since he last brought his singular, foul-mouthed worldview to stages. And given the racial and political tensions of our times, never has his perspective and ability to find humor in the bleakest of realities been more needed. –Matt Melis
Chris Rock 2017 Tour Dates:
02/14 – Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
02/16 – Cincinnati, OH @ Aronoff Center for the Arts
02/18 – Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre
02/21 – Niagra Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
02/22 – Niagra Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
02/23 – Niagra Falls, ON @ Fallsview Casino Resort
02/24 – Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center
02/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
03/03 – Denver, CO @ Bellco Theatre
03/05 – Richmond, VA @ Altria Theater
03/10 – Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
03/24 – Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall
03/25 – New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre
03/29 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live
04/06 – Tulsa, OK @ River Spirit Casino Resort
04/07 – Thackerville, OK @ Global Event Center at WinStar World Casino
04/08 – St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House
04/14 – Tampa, FL @ David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts
04/19 – Cleveland, OH @ State Theatre
04/22 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun
04/28 – Detroit, MI @ Fox Theatre
05/03 – Indianapolis, IN @ Murat Theatre
05/05 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center
05/13 – Sugar Land, TX @ Smart Financial Center
05/14 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall
05/17 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Benedum Center
05/25 – Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center
05/26 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
06/03 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Event Center
20. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS + BABYMETAL
Photo by Killian Young
It can be hard to take the Red Hot Chili Peppers very seriously these days, and touring with a J-pop metal act comprising three teenage girls doesn’t exactly help matters. Or does it? On one hand, the Chilis have nearly painted themselves into a corner after turning in more of the same scabadabadoos on their latest album The Getaway. On the other hand, the band have never sounded looser and more fun during their live shows, rejuvenated by the tastefully frenetic guitar playing of young gun Josh Klinghoffer. They’re still one of the biggest rock groups in the world, but they sure don’t act like it. Maybe that’s why BABYMETAL actually makes a ton of sense as their opener. These three girls know how to get an audience riled up, but there’s an ostentatious sense of fun behind the very idea of the group’s existence. If a band this young can rock this hard, who’s to say the Chilis are too old to let their hair down a bit? —Collin Brennan
Red Hot Chili Peppers 2017 Tour Dates:
01/18 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
01/20 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena
01/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
02/02 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Luis Arena
02/04 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
02/07 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
02/08 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
02/10 – Buffalo, NY @ Key Bank Center
02/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena
02/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena
02/15 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
02/17 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
02/18 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/02 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
03/04 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena
03/05 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
03/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
03/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
03/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
03/12 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
03/15 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center at Rose Quarter
03/17 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
03/18 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena
04/12 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center *
04/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena *
04/15 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena *
04/17 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center *
04/19 – Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena *
04/22 – Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena *
04/24 – Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Arena *
04/26 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center *
04/27 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena *
04/29 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena *
05/11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
05/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
05/14 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
05/16 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center
05/18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse
05/19 – Cincinnati, OH @ US Bank Arena
05/21 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
05/23 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena
05/26 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
05/28 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place
05/29 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
06/08 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo
06/18 – Quebec, QC @ Vidéotron
06/20 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
06/22 – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre
06/23 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre
06/25 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
06/28 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
06/30 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/01 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
07/13-15 – Lisbon, PT @ Super Bock Super Rock
07/13-16 – Benicassim, ES @ Benicassim Festival
07/20 – Rome, IT @ Postepay Rock In Roma
07/21 – Milan, IT @ Milano Summer Festivl
07/25 – Krakow, PL @ Cracovia Stadium
07/27 – Riga, LV @ Lucavsala Island
07/29 – Helsinki, FI @ Kaisafest
09/20 – Dublin, IE @ 3 Arena
09/21 – Dublin, IE @ 3 Arena
09/24 – Rio De Janeiro, BR @ Rock in Rio
* = w/ BABYMETAL
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19. THE SHINS
Photo by Philip Cosores
Face it: The Shins aren’t playing Coachella. Or Panorama. Or too many other festivals this year. (At least if we’re to go by the few lineups that have appeared over the last two weeks.) So, those aching for a little melancholy beyond their record collection and out in the open air will have to catch James Mercer and co. at one of their select tour dates. Right now, it’s slim pickings with a few dates here and there, but considering they’ll drop their fifth studio album, Heartworms, in March, they’ll undoubtedly have a proper run sometime before December. Then again, Mercer could go totally mental and refuse to tour beyond the 10 dates below, opting to lock himself in a basement until 2018. That probably won’t happen, but you just never know, people. The world’s a twisted place, and The Shins are a twisted band. Only one of these statements is true. –Michael Roffman
The Shins 2017 Tour Dates:
03/02 – Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theatre
03/04 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
03/06 – San Diego,CA @ Observatory North Park
03/07 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
03/28 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon
03/29 – London, UK @ Apollo Hammersmith
03/30 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
04/22-23 – North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival
05/12 – 14 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival
06/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Prospect Park Bandshell
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18. THE FLAMING LIPS
Photo by Heather Kaplan
The Flaming Lips’ reputation as a live band doesn’t need explaining. Their DIY whimsy and attention to spectacle is a big reason why they’re such a revered act. That said, one of the coolest things about the band is how their live shows change from album to album, often matching the new songs in atmosphere and color. So, there is genuine excitement to see the sets for Oczy Mlody find a way to present that album’s simultaneous sense of dread and hope. Europe will get the first crack at the band, but the Lips will be back to the states in March. As of now, they’re sticking to the eastern half of the US (Boston, New York, Atlanta), but if we know the band, expect many more performances to be announced. –Philip Cosores
The Flaming Lips 2016-2017 Tour Dates:
01/21 – London, UK @ O2 Brixton
01/22 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy
01/24 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle
01/25 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega
01/26 – Stockholm, SE @ Munchen Brewery
01/28 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli
01/30 – Milan, IT @ Alcatraz
01/31 – Zurich, CH @ Volkshaus
03/03 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
03/04 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore
03/05 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/06 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/08 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall
03/09 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5
03/13 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel Complex
03/14 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theater
03/29 – Nashville, TN @ War Memorial Auditorium
03/30 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
03/31 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
04/02 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle
04/03 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
04/04 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
04/17 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theater
04/19 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live
04/21 – Madison, WI @ The Orpheum Theater
04/22 – Des Moines, IA @ Hoyt Sherman Place
04/23 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
04/25 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
06/30 – Vilanova i la Geltrú, ES @ Vida Festival
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17. MASTODON
Photo by Carlo Cavaluzzi
Mastodon is one of modern rock’s goofier bands, and despite continuing to re-establish their credentials as one of metal/alternative/whatever we’re calling them now’s torch-bearers, the announcement for their 2017 tour just reiterates that fact: “We couldn’t be more excited to pour majestic rock sauce all over your town. Come on down and help us celebrate the season of new beginnings where fresh buds bloom, animals awaken, the earth comes to life and there’s a new Mastodon album to melt your face off!” As they prepare to release the follow-up to Once More ‘Round the Sun later this year, expect some new material to come with the band’s spring tour. And, y’know, rock sauce.
If that doesn’t already have you excited, how’s this for a sweetener: Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles will open, ensuring a thoroughly muscular evening of music. We can already hear the ringing of tinnitus and smell the heavenly aroma of spilt beer and secondhand pot. –Dominick Suzanne-Mayer
Mastodon 2017 Tour Dates:
04/14 – Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater %
04/15 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater %
04/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield %
04/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium %
04/21 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre
04/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Complex %
04/24 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore %
04/26 – Kansas City, KS @ Uptown Theater %
04/27 – St. Louis, MO @ Pageant %
04/28 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City %
04/29 – Jacksonville, FL @ Welcome to Rockville Festival
04/30 – Fort Meyers, FL @ Fort Rock Festival
05/02 – Washington, DC @ Fillmore %
05/03 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel %
05/05 – Concord, NC @ Carolina Rebellion Festival
05/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
05/08 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues %
05/09 – Portland, ME @ State Theater %
05/11 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom %
05/12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE %
05/13 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom %
05/14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre %
05/16 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Theater %
05/17 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium %
05/18 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall %
05/19 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live %
05/20 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live %
% = w/ Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles
* = w/ Opeth, Gojira, Eagles of Death Metal, Devin Towsend Project, and Russian Circles
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16. CHAIRLIFT
Photo by Philip Cosores
Once-in-a-lifetime shows are something every concertgoer should aspire to see. That’s why the forthcoming run of dates from Chairlift are so important. Back in December, Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly announced that their spring tour would be their last as a band, which means, yes, you should probably catch them at one of the select handful of dates below. Looking at the itinerary, one would have thought they’d go out with a bigger bang, but oh well, this is what you get. In a way, the scant seven dates makes the whole thing even more limited and essential. So, what the hell are you waiting for? Grab tickets now before they’re gone forever and ever and ever and ever. –Michael Roffman
Chairlift 2017 Farewell Tour Dates:
04/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbos
04/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex
04/14 – Chicago, IL @ Double Door
04/15 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk
04/20 – Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
04/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
04/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
04. LIONEL RICHIE W/ MARIAH CAREY
Photo by Philip Cosores
Hello! Listen, put that entirely meme-able viral New Year’s performance into context — any Mariah Carey live performance will be a spectacle, because even if she doesn’t get in a tiff with producers, she’ll put on a show with those insane pipes. Plus, you’ll get Lionel Richie, with his magnetic presence and utterly underrated vocals. And, per the tour’s name (“All the Hits”), this should be an all-killer/ no-filler kind of situation, one of those shows where you realize exactly how many Lionel Richie songs are straight jams to which you know every word. He’s more than that “Hello” video. –Lior Phillips
Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey – All the Hits Tour Dates:
03/15 – Baltimore, MD @ Royal Farms Arena
03/17 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
03/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
03/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
03/24 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
03/25 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
03/28 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena
03/30 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
04/01 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
04/05 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
04/07 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
04/08 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
04/11 – Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
04/14 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center
04/16 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
04/18 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
04/21 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center
04/23 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
04/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint Smart Home Arena
04/27 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
04/28 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
04/30 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
05/02 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
05/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
05/06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
05/08 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
05/10 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
05/13 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
05/15 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
05/18 – New Orleans, LA @ Smoothie King Center
05/20 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
05/21 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center
05/24 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
05/26 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena
05/27 – Fort Lauderdale, FL @ BB&T Center
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