The first dates are out for Cheech & Chong's tour -- and guess what? If you hoped to catch them nearby, your plans are up in smoke.
Not one date is in Buffalo, Cleveland, or Pittsburgh.
So far, the closest area date is Sept. 8 at Toronto's Massey Hall. Tickets go on sale Aug. 8 at 4:20 p.m., of course -- through Ticketmaster.
The tour's web site promises that more dates will be added. This is a LIve Nation tour, as well, so it's likely either Pittsburgh or Cleveland will be added at some point. To check dates yourself, visit www.cheechandchongtour.com.

LiveDaily reports that Iron & Wine will play Buffalo's Asbury Hall at the Church on Nov. 14. No on-sale date is listed, yet.

Plenty of fun stuff goes on this weekend, starting with the Erie Art Museum's Blues & Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday at Frontier Park. This is one I hardly ever miss myself, though it's usually Saturday that I attend on account I'm more of a blues and rock guy than straight jazz.
Mem Shannon's live CD leads me to believe he'll deliver a crowd-pleasing set; the man can not only sing -- he's got one of those gruff, authoritative voices -- but play guitar. He can a little political in song -- "SUV" is a funny rant about gas-guzzlers -- but doesn't preach or talk politics on stage. He's there to entertain. Wallace Coleman Band from Cleveland will bring the mail, too.

Of course, don't overlook our own local talent: Rodger Montgomery Blues Band, Torn Curtain, Mary Alice Brown Trio, and Matt Hudson -- an Erie native, who leads the Chicago group Hudson.

If you need a place to hang after Saturday wraps at Frontier Park, check out Harper at the Docksider. It's a welcome-home bash for bassist Ralph Reitinger, for one thing. Plus, the band plays satisfying blues-rock with a groove, and band leader Peter Harper himself is a soulful, fiery harp player.
Billboard reports that singer Fergie has been cast as a prostitute in "Nine," the movie adaptation of the Broadway show. With Rob Marshall ("Chicago") directing -- and a cast that also includes Daniel Day Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, and Nicole Kidman -- this is a prestige project that sounds like a can't-miss. Don't expect to see it until 2009, however.
In the meantime, Fergie also tells Billboard that she's recording a new Black Eyed Peas' album. Good to see her go back to her band, be a part of the team. Gwen Stefani is finally doing the same; she's recording again with No Doubt.

David Byrne and Brian Eno will release their first joint project since 1981's "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" in August. On the new web site for the CD, "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today," Byrne says Eno wrote most the music; he sings and wrote most the lyrics. The CD will be available through their web site, www.everythingthathappens.com., free for streaming and also for download. Physical CDs will be released later in the fall.
Byrne will launch a fall tour for the CD, but Eno reportedly will not join him on the road. Byrne says he'll not only play the new songs, but material from "Bush of Ghosts" as well as the three Talking Heads' CDs that Eno produced -- "More Songs About Buildings and Food," "Remain in Light," and "Fear of Music."
That'll be cool. My all-time favorite concert out of hundreds -- thousands? -- I've seen remains the Talking Heads' tour for what would become the "Stop Making Sense" film. I had a front-row seat at an outdoor Chicago venue for my then-favorite band.
Byrne came out by himself, with a boom box, that played the backing for "Psycho Killer." The band slowly emerged, a song at a time, eventually becoming a polyrhythmic powerhouse. Byrne wore the Big Suit, he danced, he ran laps around the stage. The crowd was so overwhelmed that Talking Heads came back out for an unplanned extra encore and did "Burning Down the House" for the second time that night.
Oh, I brought my camera, too, and have some really cool photos. THe only bummer of the night: Someone swiped the T-shirt I bought from right under my chair.
"Well, I'll get a new one on their next tour," I thought.
Talking Heads never toured again.

The Wolfgang's Vault web site, which posts free concerts online, added one today by the Clash from 1979 that was recorded during their first U.S. tour. Get this: It was recorded at Cleveland's Agora Theatre. Check www.wolfgangsvault.com., then click on concert vault.

We have no on-sale dates yet but notable concert news nonetheless.

According to USA Today, actor/comedian Robin Williams is embarking on a rare comedy tour. He'll play Cleveland's Allen Theatre on Oct. 10. (By co-incidence, comedian David Sedaris will be in the larger Palace Theater the same night).

Check playhousesquare.org. to see when tickets will go on sale. You know this will sell out, quickly.

Also, David Byrne will bring his tour to Cleveland's Allen Theatre on Oct. 23 and Pittsburgh's Carnegie Music Hall on Nov. 7. He'll play songs from "Everything That Happens WIll Happen Today," a joint CD with Brian Eno, as well as songs from Talking Heads' albums that Eno produced. He'll also draw from the only previous Byrne/Eno album, "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" (1981).
On-sale dates will be announced later.

This also just in: Hard-rock band Dirty Looks with Henrik Ostergaard is looking to play an Erie show in early October. We'll let you know more when more is confirmed.

The Eerie Horror Film Festival is adding a new wrinkle this year. You can buy raffle tickets to win dinner for 2 with a special guest -- this year, Sid Haig, the star of "The Devil's Rejects" and a zillion other films.
Raffle tickets will cost $10. The dinner -- at a place to be announced -- will take place on Oct. 10. Tickets will be available starting Saturday, when the Erie Horror FIlm Festival visits the Millcreek Mall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You'll also find info on it at the fest web site, www.eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com.
Partical proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation.
By the way, the Eerie Horror Film Festival debuts its upcoming TV commercial tonight at Brewerie at Union Station. They shot the zombie-bar clip at Brewerie. After the commerical and outtakes air, four bands will play -- Glorious Goodnight, Denzel, the Trashed, and the Laundromat.

Dirty Looks will play Erie's Warner Theatre on Oct. 5. Henrik Ostergaard and company also plan to bring in two other acts, including a national one for the comeback show. Stay tuned for details.

Sugarland's "Love on the Inside" hits No. 1 on the next Billboard album chart. The country duo lists an Oct. 18 concert at the Tullio Arena with guests Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shephard. Stay tuned for on-sale info.

Erie's Matty B. and the Dirty Pickles have set an Aug. 22 date at Sara's for the CD release party of "Picklebilly," which will feature 14 originals. It'll be an outdoor show from approximatley 6 to 9 p.m. Look for a feature on the CD and the band in the Aug. 21 Showcase.

Billboard reports that the Clash's opening gig for the Who at Shea Stadium in New York in 1982 will be released on CD in October. The set draws heavily from their then-new "Combat Rock" and "London Calling."

Billboard also reports that Best Buy will exclusively offer a live CD/DVD release by the Police that was filmed in Buenos Aires during their wildly successful reunioin tour. "Certifiable" will be released on Oct. 7.

Tickets will go on sale Aug. 15 for David Byrne's Oct. 23 concert at Cleveland's Allen Theatre. They'll be available through tickets.com and by phone at 866-546-1353.

Also, Old 97s have added an Oct. 10 show at Beachland Ballroom. Tickets will go on sale Aug. 15.

The New York Post reported today that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will play halftime at the next Super Bowl in February 2009.
Neither the NFL nor Springsteen have confirmed the rumor but it'd make sense. The band is in prime form on the "Magic" tour, which finally wraps Aug. 30 in Milwaukee. To rev it up one more time for the biggest viewing audience in the world would be a nice capper.
Also, the NFL has announced Keith Urban and Usher -- and others -- will play at a NFL Kickoff Music Celebration on Sept. 4 in New York before the season -opener between the Super Bowl champs the New York Giants and Washington Redskins. The concert starts at 4 p.m., the game begins at 7 p.m.

The death of Issac Hayes came as a shock over the weekend. Though best known for "Shaft," he was also a stellar songwriter, producer -- and character actor, as "South Park" showed. He was a key songwriter and musician at Stax; he co- wrote Sam & Dave's biggest hits, and some by Carla Thomas and Johnnie Taylor, among others. He also collaborated with Dionne Warwick and Millie Jackson.
As a performer, ironically, he also put his stamp on other people's songs, most notably "Walk on By" and "Never Can Say Goodbye."
Hayes ws elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

It's almost official: Dirty Looks and Harpo will play the Warner Theatre on Oct. 5. Tickets will be $22.50; stay tuned for on-sale information. It'll be the band's first Erie gig since 1996.

Beachland Ballroom says its Oct. 31 show with Lords of the Highway will be Sugar's final gig with the band. That's a shame; she's a joy to watch, and a huge reason why the band draws so well -- including its Erie shows at Beer Mug. Their web site doesn't list any more shows for Erie.

These are cool times for country fans.
First we got word that red-hot Sugarland will play Tullio Arena on Oct. 18 with guests Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shepherd. (Tickets will be going on soon).
Then we heard Monday that Gary Allan and guest Lee Brice will perform at Edinboro's McComb Fieldhouse on Oct. 11 Those tickets ($30) will go on sale to the general public on Aug. 25 at noon at 732-2177 and online at edinborotickets.com.
Now -- according to a press release -- it looks like the CMT on Tour show with electrifying performer Jason Aldean and special guest Lady Antebellum will play Erie, too. The release lists a Nov. 15 at the Warner Theatre.
This is the seventh edition of CMT on Tour; previous ones featured Sugarland, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, and Trace Adkins.
No word yet when tickets will go on sale but most likely it won't happen until after Sugarland tickets go on sale. That show arrives first.

Metallica has announced the dates for its North American tour....and you won't find any near us. Ditto, unfortunately, Trans-Siberian Orchestra -- a staple here since 2002 and automatic sellout at Tullio Arena. Erie is not listed on the band's Christmas itinerary. Blame that on a couple factors: The show's production has grown so large it's hard to cram it into an arena the size of ours. Plus, as costs go up, it makes it more paramount the show plays larger venues. The civic center just doesn't have enough seats -- the show has basically outgrown the market.

Consider that TSO will play two shows at Buffalo's HSBC Arena (Dec. 6), another two at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena (Dec. 17), and four at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena (Dec. 29-30). When they can sell out stadiums, why play to only 6,000 or so fans here? It's the same reason we'll never see Kenny Chesney or AC/DC again --they can make more money elsewhere.

Old 97s play Buffalo on Oct. 8 and Cleveland on Oct. 10, which means they'll be driving right by us on I-90. Wouldn't it be cool if someone alertly snapped them up for a Thursday, Oct. 11 show?

Just a thought. Check that: A pipe dream.

That's a shame because TSO has plenty of devoted fans here. Now they'll have to see the group in

Congratulations to Fairview's Eric Brewer, who has reached the finals of Guitar Player's Guitar Superstar Competition 2008.
The prestigious contest draws hundreds of entries each year. Brewer, who plays in Spooner, and nine other finalists will compete in the finals on Sept. 13 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco.
He'll play before a panel of judges that includes guitar gods Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.
"I have to get up in front of my two main heroes and perform. What an experience," Brewer said, by e-mail.
Other judges include George Lynch (Lynch Mob), Elliott Easton of the Cars, and Brendon Small the creator of Adult Swim's Metalocalyse," will be the fifth judge.
The Police's Andy Summers will host the event.
Look for more on Brewer in the Aug. 21 issue of Showcase. He plays with Spooner on Friday at Docksider, and will also be in the house band for the Erie Rock Music Awards on Aug. 24 at the Bayfront Convention Center.

Original Beatles' drummer Pete Best and the Cryers are booked to play the Theatre 145 in Erie on Sept. 19. Cryers backed up members of the Bay City Rollers and the Hollies at an earlier Theatre 145 show this summer.

Mas Nova will spring back into action with an Aug. 30 show at Sherlock's.

Kid Rock, the Jonas Brothers, and Lil Wayne are booked to play at MTV's VMA Music Awards, which will be broadcast Sept. 7. Britney Spears is another likely performer. She's appearing in promotional ads for the show but hasn't actually been booked, yet.

It's finally official.
Sugarland will play the Tullio Arena on Oct. 18 with special guests Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shepherd. Tickets are $50.50 and $43.50 and will go on sale Friday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. at the Tullio Arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 452-4857 or 456-7070, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Erie's Sonic Medusa will throw a CD release party for "American Standard" on Aug. 22 at the Beer Mug. Special guests include the Laundromat and Hard Luck Story.

Mercyhurst College has unveiled the list of films for September in the Guelcher Film Series.
"Young@Heart" will open it up on Sept. 10. It's the story of a a group of New England senior citizens who cover songs by the Clash, Coldplay, and more.

Also coming: "The Band's Visit" on Sept. 17 and "The Counterfeiters" on Sept. 24. Show times are at 2 and 8 p.m.

Oh, yeah: Mercyhurst will also feature the Dirty Dozen Brass Band with Trombone Shorty on Sept. 19. Tickets are $40 for gold circle, or $35 for adults. Put this one on your don't-miss list.

I am not the world's biggest Foreigner fan, but, man -- they delivered a blistering, impressive show in front of perhaps the largest CelebrateErie crowd in history on Saturday. New singer Kelly Hansen not only sounded a lot like Lou Gramm but was a terrific front man as well -- confident, energetic, and totally in command.
What a treat, too, to catch Jason Bonham on drums, who slyly reminded us of his huge Led Zeppelin gig by adding a dash of "Kashmir" to his drum solo. Later, Foreigner segued into "Whole Lotta Love," too. They also turned in white-hot versions of their own songs -- including a ripping "Dirty White Boy" and stellar "Urgent" with Jeff Pilson shining on the all-important sax part which Junior Walker played on record.
That was the highlight of the weekend for me. Neal McCoy, unfortunately, I found a lot less satisfying. He smiles a lot and sure has an engaging personality but the band and McCoy did way too much audience pandering, serving doses of Village People (?), Commodores, and other surprising covers that felt out of place for a country band.
With Souled Out, you got what they promised: Slick, entertaining Motown and R&B covers. They worked hard, and actually asked the city if they could play longer, so you know they were having fun. So did we.

Of course, with Souled Out -- and McCoy -- we also got our singing Mayor, Joe Sinnott. He was in heaven singing "My Guy" on Friday, then engaged in Garth Brooks' "Friends in Low Places" with McCoy. He didn't make it out on stage with Foreigner but that's only because plans hit a snag. The city tried to find a boys choir to augment "I Want to Know What Love Is" but that didn't work out. The mayor, I believe, was going to join the choir for that, but no matter. Foreigner didn't miss a beat.

The crowds felt extra large this year -- not only at the main stage, but around Taste of Erie, and evening in the late afternoon and early evenings. The city deserves high marks for how well organized the event was, and how much it truly delivered. Remember, it's free but only because sponsors galore muster up a little civic duty by pitching in.

Nice job, all around.