March Concert Preview - A quick look at the hottest bands set to play Philly next month

By Kevin Kennedy
Collegian Reporter
February 28, 2007

Tours have begun rolling into Philadelphia and surrounding cities, and March is playing host to some of the hottest concerts around. Many of the best concerts are already sold out, including Guster at the Electric Factory March 3, The Who at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City March 9, The Shins at the Electric Factory March 13 and up-and-comers Cold War Kids at the First Unitarian Church March 29. That said, there are plenty of good shows with tickets still available. Here’s a look at some good concerts you can still grab tickets to:

On March 3, indie-pop singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy (real name Damon Gough) will be playing at The Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia. This is his first tour of the States to support his October 2006 release Born in the U.K. Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com at $21.50.

On March 20, the Tweeter Center at the Waterfront in Camden, N.J. will play host to Rockstar Energy Drink’s Taste of Chaos tour. The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars, Senses Fail, Saosin, Chiodos and Aiden will be performing. The Used have their third studio album (yet to be titled) set for release May 8. New Jersey natives Senses Fail will be supporting their October 2006 sophomore release Still Searching, which showed their growing popularity when 200,000 copies were sold in the first month. Saosin just released their first full-length album (self-titled) back in September 2006. Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com for $27.75.

Snow Patrol is once again touring the States, and they’ll be playing at the Tweeter Center March 24. The band has seen a lot of mainstream success with their May 2006 release Eyes Open. The hit single “Chasing Cars” has gotten them major recognition in the United States after being featured at the end of the second season finale of the hit TV drama Grey’s Anatomy.

Power Pop Grammy-award winners OK Go will be one of the two supporting acts. The band has gained popularity in the States with their hit singles “Get Over It” and “Here It Goes Again.” The other supporting act will be Silversun Pickups. The indie-rock band is just getting started, with their debut album reaching number one on the U.S. Top Heatseekers chart and number 21 on the U.S. Top Independent Albums chart. Tickets are still available on ticketmaster.com for $35.

Up-and-comers Augustana will be headlining the Theatre of the Living Arts March 25. Vega 4 will be the opening act (this will be the first tour of the States for the British band). Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com for $14.50

For all mainstream music lovers, Justin Timberlake will be headlining a show at the Wachovia Center March 27 with Pink as the supporting act. Justin’s second solo album, FutureSex/LoveSounds, has gone triple platinum and peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 Albums. Pink’s latest album, I’m Not Dead, peaked on the U.S. Top 200 at number six. Tickets are available through wachoviacenter.com for anywhere from $56 to $154.

The Decemberists will be playing at the Tower Theatre March 27. Their fourth and latest album, The Crane Wife, reached number 35 on the Billboard Top 200. The Crane Wife is their major-record label debut after being signed by Capitol Records. The opening act will be My Brightest Diamond, who will be releasing a new studio album, Tear It Down, March 6. Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com for $28.50

For any instrumental post-rock fans, Do Make Say Think will be playing at the First Unitarian Church in Philly March 30 for just $12. The band just released its fifth studio album, You, You’re a History in Rust, Feb. 26. Tickets are available on ticketweb.com

There’s obviously going to be a lot of other concerts in town, but these are the ones I’d recommend. Get tickets soon before they sell out.

kennedyk1@lasalle.edu