Concerts I Am Looking Forward to in 2015

As a huge live music fan, going to concerts is one of my favorite things in the whole world. I love the entire experience: you get to see your favorite artists and sing along to their songs. I love the energy of the crowd; the production values — lights, costumes, choreography; the big spectacle of it all. Like Madonna says “Music — makes the people come together”. So what shows am I looking forward to in 2015, read on:

Maroon 5

Taylor Swift

Little Big Town

Lady Antebellum

Jason Aldean/Kenny Chesney

Lady GaGa and Tony Bennett

Bette Midler

Ariana Grande

Maroon 5
One of my favorite groups of the last 10 years, surprisingly I have never seen them live before. It’s not that I haven’t tried to get tickets, as I have, but they are always sold out. Yes, their albums have gotten more pop, and commercial since their first album, but I still like them. The group heads out of the “V” tour with special guest, Magic! this coming spring.

Taylor Swift
She is winning me over. When she first came out, I was shocked at how bad her vocals were. But she’s grown up, and gotten better control of her instrument and her range. She will never be Faith Hill, but that’s OK. Plus the whole pop thing fits well with her, she was always more pop than country anyways. Her tour will be in support of her “1989” album. She has quite the song catalog now too.

Little Big Town
This 4-person country vocal group has been one of my favorites since their song “Bring It on Home.” I have described their sound as the country version of Fleetwood Mac, as they trade off between male and female vocals on their songs. I am not so thrilled that their biggest hit “Pontoon” was pretty lame. But they have albums of great songs, so I can overlook that one. Opening acts include: Brett Eldredge and Brothers Osborne.

Bette Midler
The Divine Miss M is headed back on the road to promote her covers CD “It’s the Girls” — a tribute to female groups. She is looking to go “green” on this tour. I have seen some of her shows on video before. It should be a good show as she is a consummate performer.

Kenny Chesney/Jason Aldean
Two of country’s big guns head out for a series of co-headlining shows in stadium across the country. Jason is supporting his CD “Old Boots, New Dirt,” while Kenny is supporting his recent CD ‘The Big Revival.” Country hunk newcomer Brantley Gilbert will be opening for them on select dates.

Lady GaGa/Tony Bennett
2014’s most unlikely collaboration will result in some live shows in 2015. Their CD of standards “Cheek to Cheek” proved to be a success on many levels including a Grammy nomination. It will be interesting to see how much of their own song catalogs they fit into the shows. The tour even includes a stop at the legendary Hollywood Bowl.

Ariana Grande
She was definitely one of the biggest breakthrough acts of 2014 with her string of irresistible sing-along hits (Problem, Break Free, Bang Bang). Now she is heading out on the Honeymoon Tour with boy band Rixton and Cashmere Cat as opening acts. From what I have seen of her on TV, she will definitely be hitting the right notes on stage.

Idina Menzel
Broadway star Indina Menzel helped the “Frozen” soundtrack dominate the charts in 2014. She will be singing songs from Rent, Wicked, IF/Then and more I am sure. Maybe even some songs from “Glee” too. But for me, hearing her sing “Let It Go” live would be worth the price of admission alone.

Lady Antebellum
Country’s top trio head out on their Wheels Up Tour in support of their recent album “747”. Supporting acts include: Hunter Hayes and Sam Hunt. Their irresistible vocal harmonies and catchy songs will make for a great concert.

So that’s my list. I hope you have a chance to catch these artists on the road in 2015. Look for me in the cheap seats. And of course, every show I go to I will blog about it too. Let me know who you want to see in 2015.

KiltManinSoCal is a Los Angeles-based writer and designer. Be sure to check out the latest T-Shirts for sale here, including Marriage Equality and Real Men Wear Kilts lines. They make great gifts for friends, family and loved ones.

A View from the Cheap Seats

Remember the first concert you went to and how you were blown away by the performance? How the performer had the whole world in the palm of their hand and the crowd on their feet singing and clapping along? So do I.

This is the beginning of my first eBook, A View from the Cheap Seats. This book, has been a labor of love for me. When I started going to concerts about 34 years ago, putting a book together was probably the last thing on my mind. But as time went on, I started going to more shows and compiling the set lists as well as reviews of each show. I realized how much material I had and thought about how I could present it to the music-loving public.

This book contains reflections and reviews from 30+ years of concert going

to over 300+ shows — everyone from Peter Paul & Mary to Wynonna Judd to Madonna to Journey and much more. It also includes my thoughts on the music and concert industry. For example, is it best to see someone when they are hot or not, or how about cheap seats v. down in front. What about the times I actually touched the performer? Or experienced something interesting happening… like Patti Labelle’s meltdown at the Hollywood Bowl.

Going to concerts is one of my favorite things in life. For a few hours, I can forget my troubles and be swept away in the performance. I am the type of guy who is singing, and dancing along the whole show. Believe it or not, I actually have made my hands bleed because I was clapping so much! I didn’t even know it until after the show!