We’re only a little over a week into 2011, and I can already tell it’s going to be great. Not only did my husband win first place in his fantasy football league (making the past 17 weekends of watching every single game seem somewhat worth it) and the Real Housewives of Atlanta start back up again, but music-wise, the year is definitely kicking off with a bang.
In addition to the endless list of anticipated albums I’ll be snagging throughout the upcoming months, a handful of tour announcements that I am eagerly awaiting have trickled through the interwebs. And being a woman of lists, I’ve decided to conveniently package my top five tours for the early part of 2011.
5. Motörhead and Clutch – March 11 @ Nokia Theatre
How weird is it that the only time I’ve ever seen Lemmy perform is with The Head Cat? After years and years of always just missing Motörhead, I’ll finally have my chance to see the 35+ year veterans at their hometown show. And as if that’s not enough, Maryland’s finest, Clutch, will be there too. I can’t wait!
4. Glassjaw – February 25 @ El Rey Theatre
Already getting a taste of the next era of Glassjaw with the recently released Our Color Green, I’ve been counting down the days to have the chance to witness the spectacle firsthand. Daryl Palumbo & co. will be returning to the west coast for the first time in years later next month. It’s also been rumored that the band will be appearing at Coachella this year, so here’s to hoping 2011 will bring the band to our neck of the woods on more than one occasion.
3. Times of Grace – February 8 @ The Troubadour
It’s been many, many moons since I’ve seen Jesse Leach and Adam Dutkiewicz share the stage, and to be quite honest, I never thought I would have the chance to see it happen again. While Killswitch Engage continues to take time off, the guitar guru and Leach have teamed up again for their “new” project, four years in the making. This tour marks the band’s first live appearances in support of their upcoming Roadrunner Records debut, The Hymn of a Broken Man.
2. Henry Rollins – February 16-19 @ Largo
Ok, maybe this one shouldn’t count since it’s not actually a concert, but the massively talented Henry Rollins is finally returning to the touring world with his widely-renowned spoken word. I’ve been a fan of Rollins’ music and written work for years and am eagerly awaiting these LA appearances. The shows are in celebration of the punk icon’s 50th birthday, so hopefully cake is included in the ticket price.
1. Scott Kelly and Wino – February 5 @ The Viper Room
Words cannot express my adoration for Scott Kelly and his laundry list of musical endeavors, and while I’ve been a fan for more than a decade, it wasn’t until last year that I finally had the chance to catch him live. Shrinebuilder’s show at the Echo last March was also my first time seeing Wino, the man who almost single-handedly has inspired every single band I love. Saint Vitus and The Obsessed remain two monumental muses for modern heavy music, and although the man has yet to receive the mainstream success he deserves, he’s more than a legend in the scene itself. The two will be hitting the road together in early February in anticipation of their upcoming split release through Volcom. Additionally, Wino will release a new solo effort, Adrift, on March 8 through Exile On Mainstream Records.
