10. No Address. With their new album, “Time Doesn’t Notice” and a hit under their belt, No Address is quickly making a name for themselves in an increasingly difficult market. With its infectious lyrics, “When I’m Gone (Sadie)” will have you singing along with the band and by the end of the set, you’re sure to feel your twenty bucks was well spent.
9. Def Leppard. Yes, I know I’m sure to take some heat for putting them on this list but what can I say, 80’s hair bands are a guilty pleasure. (You know all the lyrics to “Photograph.” Stop pretending you don’t.) This year, the Brits we have all grown to love will be on tour with their new album, “Rock of Ages” so dig out those leather pants and “Let’s Get Rocked.”
8. U2. I have to admit, I feel like a bit of a sell-out for adding U2 to the list but I feel like I just have to see Bono and the boys perform at some point during their last tour-ever. This is a band who has raised awareness from everything from AIDS to African poverty with the lyrics of their songs and who has given as much back to society as they have been given. They are the idols for many of the new bands coming out now and one would be amiss not to have seen the legendary Irish group.
7. Yellowcard. After seeing them perform the Breakfast Club tribute on the MTV Movie Awards, how can you not go out and buy a ticket to see the native Floridians kick it live and in person. Though they are not on tour just yet, they are set to release a new album (a follow-up to the immensely popular “Ocean Avenue”) a tour will be coming to us soon, hopefully by the end of the year if there are no delays. How can you say no to a band that uses an electric violin (played by Sean Mackin) and the blonde bombshell, Ryan Key, at vocals to entertain us? I definitely cannot.
6. Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendell and Chris Shiflett come together to make a band who has managed to go survive the early 9o’s grunge movement and the late 9o’s boy band era. With their new album, “In Your Honor” is just as good as “The Color and the Shape” which was released in the late 9o’s and it gives us a choice with 2 disks. Disk one being the harder rock disk and Disk two being the laid back acoustic version. This is a band who has grown together over the past ten years and honestly seems to like each other and has fun entertaining us—a fact that makes it very easy to place them at number 6 of the must see bands of summer.
Chevelle Makes the Top 10 List
5. Seether. The South African boys who have done their part to save the face of rock should not be left off this list. What can I possibly say about the band versatile enough to take over the rock charts with songs like “Gasoline” and “Remedy” while conquering the mainstream Top 40 charts with a song like “Broken.” There are really only two things that I can say. The first is that they rock and the second is to tell you to get off the couch and go see their show for an unforgettable rock and roll experience.
4. Chevelle. The trio of brothers are may be no more with the announcement of Joe Loeffler’s (bass) departure, but this is no reason not to go see the band who has been making die hard fans with their album, “This Type of Thinking Could Do Us In.” Hits like “The Red” and “The Clincher,” seal Chevelle’s place as the number 4 must see band of summer and curiosity and Pete Loeffler’s looks quickly become a girl’s dream—and oh, that voice is great too. Brothers, Pete and Sam will remain on tour with a new bassist who has yet to be announced. I have to admit that curiosity is definitely getting the best of me and I cannot wait to see this band perform live.
3, 2 and 1. Staind, Breaking Benjamin and 3 Doors Down. This will by far be the greatest rock show of the summer with three great rock bands joining forces to rock our worlds. With an August 9th release date, Staind will be rocking out all of the venues to show fans just why they should buy “Chapter V” while just one listen to 3 Doors Down’s “Seventeen Days” will make you a fan of the Mississippi boys for life. Meanwhile, Breaking Benjamin will open the show to a no doubt packed house and show the faithful followers of Stained and 3 Doors Down why they deserve to be there. After hearing Breaking Benjamin’s “Sooner or Later,” Staind’s “Right Here” and 3 Doors Down hit “Behind those eyes, you’d better get ready to buy new CDs because the ones you have will quickly be worn out and warped thanks to that handy little repeat button.
