Sounds Like A Plan
By Catlin Dorset
6/2: Lady Gaga @ SDSU’s Viejas Arena, as.sdsu.edu
Forbes magazine named dance-pop megastar Lady Gaga (born as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in 1986) one of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” in 2013, thereby elevating her to the ranks of heavy hitters including Queen Elizabeth II, Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. Gaga’s adoring fans (“little monsters,” as she calls them) also make her one of the most popular people on social media with more than 65 million Facebook “likes” and 41.4 million Twitter followers. Gaga’s most recent album, Artpop, dropped in November 2013, preceded by its mega-hit singles “Applause” and “Do What U Want.” In true, outrageous Gaga-fashion, the accompanying artRAVE: The ARTPOP Ball tour making a pit stop in America’s Finest will flaunt flashy theatrics including a giant blue octopus costume, a seashell bikini with cleverly placed leaves and a bejeweled body suit with golden wings.
6/1: Aloe Blacc @ Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon, runrocknroll.competitor.com
This r&B/soul singer-songwriter performed vocals on Avicii’s 2013 smash hit “Wake Me Up” and is currently enjoying the success of his single “The Man.”
6/1: Los Lobos @ Illumina Outdoor Amphitheatre, ljfa.org
Grammy Award-winning Latin rock band most known for its 1987 cover of Ritchie Valens “La Bamba.” 6/1: pete yorn @ the Casbah, casbahmusic.com This alt. rock singer-songwriter collaborated with actress Scarlett Johansson in making their 2009 album, Break Up.
6/2: OneRepublic @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com
Colorado rockers touring to promote their recent album, Native, released April 14.
6/3: Kelis @ House of Blues, hob.com
This R&B songstress’ song “Milkshake” brought all the boys to the yard in 2003.
6/4: Between the Buried and Me @ House of Blues, hob.com
Progressive metal band set to release a DVD this fall.
6/4: The Jezabels @ the Casbah, casbahmusic.com
Four-piece indie rock band from down unda.
6/5: Tech N9ne @ House of Blues, hob.com
Rapper Aaron Dontez Yates (aka Tech N9ne) released his album Strangeulation on May 6.
6/6: Nashville Pussy @ Soda Bar, sodabarmusic.com
Songs from this rock and roll foursome were featured in TV shows The Sopranos and Entourage.
6/5: Hands Like Houses @ SOMA, somasandiego.com
Australian rockers on the road with Slaves, Miss Fortune and Alive Like Me.
6/5: Danity Kane @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ all-girl R&B creation enjoyed mainstream success in 2008 with hit the single “Damaged.”
6/6: Man Overboard @ SOMA, somasandiego.com
Pop-punk quintet headlining the North American Heart Attack Tour.
6/6: T-Pain @ Fluxx, fluxxsd.com
Chart-topping hits “I’m Sprung” and “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper)” launched this hip-hop singer-songwriter’s career back in 2005.
6/6: Logic @ House of Blues, hob.com
Hip-hop artist promoting his upcoming album, While You Wait, with a tour of the same name.
6/6: Neon Trees @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
This alt. rock band’s rising single, “Sleeping With A Friend,” is from the new Pop Psychology album, which dropped in April.
6/7: Air Supply @ Pechanga Resort & Casino, pechanga.com
Eighties pop rock band most recognized for the sappy love tunes, “All Out of Love” and “Making Love Out of Nothing At All.”
6/7: Third Eye Blind @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
San Franciscan alt. rockers busy working on their fifth and final album.
6/7: Lionel Richie and CeeLo Green @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com
Former The Voice coach CeeLo Green joins Lionel Richie for the R&B/soul All the Hits All Night Long summer tour.
6/8: Saosin @ House of Blues, hob.com
Hardcore rockers who have toured with Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, and Coheed and Cambria, among others.
6/8: Max @ The Irenic, casbahmusic.com
This pop singer-songwriter (and sometimes-actor-dancer-model) released his second EP, The Say Max, on May 13.
6/8: Voz de Mando @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
Four-piece tex-mex band that performs en Español.
6/9: Il Volo @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Italian pop/opera trio touring the U.S. and Canada through the end of June.
6/10: The Fray @ SDSU’s Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu
These pop rockers became an overnight success with their 2005 breakout hit, “Over My Head (Cable Car).” The Fray also performs at Pechanga Resort & Casino on 6/13.
6/10: Jimmie Vaughan @ Ramona Mainstage, ramonamainstage.com
Grammy Award-winning blues rock singer and guitarist from Texas.
6/11: Joe Nichols @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
The “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” country crooner performed at Anna Nicole Smith’s funeral.
6/12: Love and Theft @ House of Blues, hob.com
These country rockers won “Duo Video of the Year” honors at the 2013 CMT Music Awards.
6/13: Darius Rucker @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
The former Hootie & The Blowfish front-man is now a hugely successful country singer.
6/14: Fu Manchu @ The Casbah, casbahmusic.com
O.C. stoner rock band with a new album, Gigantoid, released April 29.
6/14: Hunter Hayes @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
Twenty-two-year-old country singer racking up hits with singles “Wanted,” “Storm Warning” and “I Want Crazy,” to name a few.
6/14: Ronnie Milsap @ Sycuan Casino, sycuan.com
The six-time Grammy Award-winning country legend will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame later this year.
6/14 Dizzy Wright @ Epicentre epicentreconcerts.org
Las Vegas-based rapper on his State of Mind U.S. tour.
6/15: Ramón Ayala @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
Mexican Norteño musician and songwriter known as the “King of the Accordion.”
6/15: Matt Nathanson @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Most recognized for his 2008 hit “Come On Get Higher,” this folk rocker is currently on tour with Gavin Degraw.
6/17: Steve Winwood @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Rolling Stone magazine ranked this rocker at No. 33 on its list of “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.”
6/17: Sage Francis @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
The self-proclaimed “forefather of indie-hop” will perform in U.S. and Canadian cities throughout summer on his Copper Gone tour.
6/18: Zendaya @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
This 17-year-old pop singer is enjoying the success from her first and current single, “Replay.”
6/18: Anuhea @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Hawaiian folk pop singer-songwriter
6/19: MURS @ the Casbah, casbahmusic.com
Rapper Nick Carter (who goes by the acronym MURS - “Making Underground Raw Shit”) is signed to Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label.
6/19: Creedence Clearwater Revisited @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
The former bassist (Stu Cook) and drummer (Doug Cliffford) of Creedence Clearwater Revival formed this wildly successful rock cover band in 1995.
6/19: Uh Huh Her @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Indie/electro pop girl band touring to promote its recent album, Future Souls, which dropped in March.
6/20: Smokey Robinson @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
This mid-’70s singer-songwriter once had his own line of gumbo - Smokey Robinson’s “The Soul is in the Bowl” Gumbo.
6/20: Cultura Profética @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Puerto Rican reggae band on its Viva La Cultura tour.
6/20: Ray-J @ UCSD’s Porter’s Pub, porterspub.com
R&B singer-songwriter mostly known for his 2008 single, “Sexy Can I,” and his 2007 sex tape with Kim Kardashian.
6/21: mewithoutyou @ epicentre, epicentreconcerts.org
These indie rockers travel on a customized 1976 charter bus, which runs on vegetable oil.
6/21: Souls of mischief @ UCSD’s Porter’s Pub, porterspub.com
Oakland-based hip-hop foursome comprised of emcees A-Plus, Opio, Phesto and Tajai.
6/21 Toni Braxton & Babyface @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
These two ‘90s r&B singers dropped their Love, Marriage & Divorce collaborative album in February.
6/21: CountryFest @ Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, kson.com
East County’s semi-annual country festival returns with acts David Nail, Scotty McCreery, Danielle Bradbery and more.
6/22: Michael Franti & Spearhead @ SDSU’s Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre, as.sdsu.edu
Songs from this hip-hop/reggae/ jazz band have been featured in soundtracks for films Good Burger, Last Holiday and Mystery Men.
6/22: Grupo Intocable @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
This “Untouchable Group” of Norteño musicians has amassed seven Latin Grammy awards and two American Grammy awards over the years.
6/24: The Winery Dogs @ Ramona Mainstage, ramonamainstage.com
Hard rockers out of L.A., on tour to promote their 2013 self-titled debut album.
6/24: Pentatonix @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
These a cappella vocalists took home $200,000 and a Sony Music recording contract after winning Season Three of NBC’s The Sing-Off in 2011.
6/25: Vans Warped Tour @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre, ticketmaster.com
Yellowcard, Falling in Reverse, Anberlin, and more than 80 other indie/rock/punk bands take the stage at this all-day music and extreme sports festival, now celebrating a 20-year run.
6/26: thepianoguys @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Classical pop quartet who gained mainstream popularity via YouTube by playing instrumental covers of famous songs.
6/27: Larry Hernandez @ San Diego County Fair, sdfair.com
This Latin music singer-songwriter, composer and musician is set to release his latest album, Otra Vez En La Lista Negra, at the end of May.
6/27: Yuna @ Autumn DeWilde
Malasian alt. pop singer Yunalis Mat Zara’ai (Yuna, for short) describes her music as “a cross between Mary Poppins and Coldplay.”
6/28: Johnny Mathis @ Pala Casino, palacasino.com
This soul/jazz crooner earned himself a Guinness World Record after his Greatest Hits album spent 490 weeks (nearly 10 years) on Billboard’s Top Albums Chart.
6/29: Sarah McLachlan @ Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay, humphreysconcerts.com
Like it or not, this soft rocker’s song “Angel” will always evoke images of those sad, hungry puppies from her ASPCA commercials.
6/30: Devo @ Belly Up Tavern, bellyup.com
Electronic rockers still riding the success of their 1980’s hit, “Whip It.”