Summer Concerts 2005

Summer Concerts 2005

Aidin Vaziri | It's time to drain the life savings account, mortgage the home and sell the kids to Michael Jackson. We're on the brink of the 2005 summer concert season and, well, let's just say that -- apart from attending the American Music Awards -- this might be the only opportunity to catch Coldplay, MC Hammer, Wilco, Judas Priest, Avril Lavigne, 50 Cent and the Dave Matthews Band in one fell swoop. Here are the highlights from the Chronicle's clip-and-save guide:



Summer Concerts 2005

MARS VOLTA Not since Van Der Graaf Generator has there been a prog-rock band that has struck such a fine balance between 18-inch Afros and 18-minute drum solos.

GRETCHEN WILSON Country music is supposed to be making a comeback thanks to Wilson's quadruple-platinum release, "Here for the Party." But what we're really looking forward to hearing are the cuts from her forthcoming release, "All Jacked Up." Trailer-park people come up with the best album titles.

OLD SCHOOL FUNK FEST REUNION WITH MC HAMMER Why is NASA wasting billions of dollars building a secret time machine when it could just send everyone to this show featuring MC Hammer, Morris Day & the Time, Cameo, the Ohio Players and S.O.S. Band?.

BECK/LE TIGRE Beck is the funkiest showman around. Le Tigre is an all-girl band that includes a member with a mustache and mullet. How could this concert be anything less than insane?

ROBERT PLANT Plant says his main challenge these days is being relevant rather than a 50-year-old jukebox, promising a heavy load of songs from his latest solo album, "Mighty Rearranger. " That would be the sound of crickets chirping.

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND When so many people find your band impossibly annoying, the best thing to do is bring out an even more annoying band to open the shows. Stand up, Black Eyed Peas.

AMERICAN IDOLS LIVE! The world's biggest roaming karaoke bar brings us Bo Bice, Anthony Fedorov, Constantine Maroulis and a bunch of other people who have already submitted their applications for "Surreal Life 7.".

JAMES TAYLOR "How Sweet It Is." "Fire and Rain." "Sweet Baby James." No, not the worst iPod playlist shuffle ever dealt. Just some of the hits the old folk-rock singer will be airing during his summer live shows..