Coldplay, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen to rock this summer

BY GLENN GAMBOA | glenn.gamboa@newsday.com

May 25, 2008

R.E.M. plays at the Nokia Theater on June 14 and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform July 27, 28 and 31 at Giants Stadium. (Newsday composite)

True Colors Tour (June 1 at Nikon Theater at Jones Beach and June 3 at Radio City Music Hall). It turns out last year's excellent debut for Cyndi Lauper's package tour was just a warm-up. This year's version is even stronger, with Lauper and The B-52s rolling out material from their new albums, and Rosie O'Donnell and Carson Kressley making sure there's never a dull moment. Profits this year go to the Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG and Centerlink.

R.E.M. (June 14 at Nikon Theater atJones Beach and June 19 at Madison Square Garden). As promised, "Accelerate" was filled with songs that were hard and fast, the most direct the band has been since "Monster" in 1994. Not only will all those great songs - including "Living Well Is the Best Revenge" and "Supernatural Superserious" - make this tour one of the year's most-anticipated, but because the album is only 35 minutes long, it leaves plenty of time to hear the band's hits as well.

The Cure (June 20 at Madison Square Garden and June 21 at Radio City Music Hall). The '80s icons will tour before their still-untitled album arrives in stores in September, but Robert Smith and friends will already have released two singles by then and will, hopefully, be ready to offer more previews, while reaching back in their massive catalog. It's all part of a platoon of '80s stars reuniting or re-emerging this summer, including new wave idols Blondie (June 18 at the Brookhaven Amphitheatre in Farmingville and June 22 at Nokia Theater Times Square) saluting the classic "Parallel Lines" album, electro-pop pioneers Yaz (July 16 and 17 at Terminal 5), George Michael (July 21 at Madison Square Garden) and the bands of The Regeneration Tour (Aug. 22 at Nikon Theater at Jones Beach), including The Human League and ABC.

Coldplay (June 23 at Madison Square Garden). After good results offering its new single "Violet Hill" free for a week, the band moved on to offering free concerts in London and New York to celebrate the release of the upcoming "Viva la Vida" album, produced by Brian Eno. Go to coldplay.com to try to get free tickets.

Projekt Revolution (July 22 at Nikon Theater atJones Beach). This year's edition of Linkin Park's "Projekt Revolution" tour features a harder-edged rock than previous years, with Chris Cornell, Ashes Divide, Atreyu, Hawthorne Heights and Armor for Sleep alongside the poppier sounds of The Bravery. Though Linkin Park's "Minutes to Midnight" arrived more than a year ago, it's still spinning off great singles, with "Given Up" set to become the album's fourth hit.

Warped Tour (July 26 at the Nassau Coliseum parking lot). The summer's biggest punk-pop party never disappoints and this year's lineup seems set to carry on that tradition, boasting heavy hitters Against Me!, Gym Class Heroes and The Academy Is ..., alongside up-and-comers We the Kings, Does It Offend You, Yeah? and The Color Fred. If that's not enough Nassau parking lot fun, Good Charlotte and Boys Like Girls will be there (Aug. 6) for the Soundtrack of Your Summer Tour.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (July 27, 28 and 31 at Giants Stadium). Few performers get better in a stadium, but newly inducted New Jersey Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen is clearly the exception. He and The E Street Band always seem to soak in the crowd's energy and the summertime stadium surroundings to create something, um, "Magic." Expect extra-special performances to honor the E Street Band's great Danny Federici, who died in April after battling melanoma.

Rock the Bells (Aug. 3 at Nikon Theater atJones Beach). After last year's amazing debut with Rage Against the Machine and the Wu-Tang Clan, this year's edition of "Rock the Bells" should be a little more laid-back, but just as cool, with the reunited A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def and Strong Island's De La Soul as headliners.

The All Points West Festival (Aug. 8, 9 and 10 at Liberty State Park). Not quite Coachella East yet, but the All Points West Festival is off to a pretty strong start with Radiohead headlining the first two days and the ever-present Jack Johnson taking the third. The supporting cast runs the gamut from electronica kings Underworld to cute-popsters The Go! Team and Mates of State.

Vince Gill (Aug. 20 at the Capital One Bank Theatre at Westbury). How great is Vince Gill live? Well, not only did he take home the best country album Grammy for the ambitious four-CD masterwork "These Days," he was smart enough to zing Kanye West in his acceptance speech.

And keep in mind ...

POP

MAY 28, 30, 31. The Eagles. At 8 p.m., Madison Square Garden, $189.50, $89.50, $49.50. thegarden.com, 212-465-6741.

JUNE 21-22. James Taylor. At 8 p.m., Nikon Theater at Jones Beach, $79.50, $59.50, $26. livenation.com, 516-221-1000.

JULY 9. John Mayer. With Colbie Caillat and Brett Dennen. At 7 p.m., Nikon Theater atJones Beach, $65.50, $41.50. livenation.com, 516-221-1000.

AUG. 3. KT Tunstall. At 8:30 p.m., Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, $125, $100, $75. whbpac.org, 631-288-1500.

AUG. 4-5. American Idols Live Tour. With David Archuleta, David Cook, Syesha Mercado and the rest of the show's Top 10. At 7 p.m., Nassau Coliseum, $65, $51, $39. Nassau Coliseum.com, 516-794-9300.

AUG. 8, 10, 11. Jonas Brothers. At 7 p.m., Aug. 8, Nikon Theater atJones Beach, $82.50, $67, $57, $32.50. livenation.com, 516-221-1000. At 7 p.m., Aug. 10-11, Madison Square Garden, $79.50, $64, $54, $44. thegarden.com, 212-465-6741.

ROCK

JUNE 10. Death Cab for Cutie. With Rogue Wave. At 7 p.m. McCarren Pool, $42.50, mccarrenpark pool.org, 212-639-9675.