20. Red Hot Chili Peppers + Babymetal

Photo by Killian Young

It can be hard to take the Red Hot Chili Peppers very seriously these days, and touring with a J-pop metal act comprising three teenage girls doesn’t exactly help matters. Or does it? On one hand, the Chilis have nearly painted themselves into a corner after turning in more of the same scabadabadoos on their latest album The Getaway. On the other hand, the band have never sounded looser and more fun during their live shows, rejuvenated by the tastefully frenetic guitar playing of young gun Josh Klinghoffer. They’re still one of the biggest rock groups in the world, but they sure don’t act like it. Maybe that’s why BABYMETAL actually makes a ton of sense as their opener. These three girls know how to get an audience riled up, but there’s an ostentatious sense of fun behind the very idea of the group’s existence. If a band this young can rock this hard, who’s to say the Chilis are too old to let their hair down a bit? —Collin Brennan

Red Hot Chili Peppers 2017 Tour Dates:

01/18 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center

01/20 – Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

01/21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center

02/02 – Detroit, MI @ Joe Luis Arena

02/04 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre

02/07 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden

02/08 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden

02/10 – Buffalo, NY @ Key Bank Center

02/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena

02/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Arena

02/15 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

02/17 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

02/18 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden

03/02 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center

03/04 – Glendale, AZ @ Gila River Arena

03/05 – San Diego, CA @ Valley View Casino Center

03/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

03/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

03/10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center

03/12 – Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena

03/15 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center at Rose Quarter

03/17 – Seattle, WA @ Key Arena

03/18 – Vancouver, BC @ Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena

04/12 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center *

04/14 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena *

04/15 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena *

04/17 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center *

04/19 – Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena *

04/22 – Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena *

04/24 – Jacksonville, FL @ Veterans Memorial Arena *

04/26 – Orlando, FL @ Amway Center *

04/27 – Tampa, FL @ Amalie Arena *

04/29 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena *

05/11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena

05/13 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena

05/14 – Columbus, OH @ Schottenstein Center

05/16 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! Center

05/18 – Indianapolis, IN @ Bankers Life Fieldhouse

05/19 – Cincinnati, OH @ US Bank Arena

05/21 – Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center

05/23 – Des Moines, IA @ Wells Fargo Arena

05/26 – Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre

05/28 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place

05/29 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome

06/08 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo

06/18 – Quebec, QC @ Vidéotron

06/20 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre

06/22 – Hamilton, ON @ FirstOntario Centre

06/23 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre

06/25 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena

06/28 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest

06/30 – Chicago, IL @ United Center

07/01 – Chicago, IL @ United Center

07/13-15 – Lisbon, PT @ Super Bock Super Rock

07/13-16 – Benicassim, ES @ Benicassim Festival

07/20 – Rome, IT @ Postepay Rock In Roma

07/21 – Milan, IT @ Milano Summer Festivl

07/25 – Krakow, PL @ Cracovia Stadium

07/27 – Riga, LV @ Lucavsala Island

07/29 – Helsinki, FI @ Kaisafest

09/20 – Dublin, IE @ 3 Arena

09/21 – Dublin, IE @ 3 Arena

09/24 – Rio De Janeiro, BR @ Rock in Rio

* = w/ BABYMETAL

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19. The Shins

Photo by Philip Cosores

Face it: The Shins aren’t playing Coachella. Or Panorama. Or too many other festivals this year. (At least if we’re to go by the few lineups that have appeared over the last two weeks.) So, those aching for a little melancholy beyond their record collection and out in the open air will have to catch James Mercer and co. at one of their select tour dates. Right now, it’s slim pickings with a few dates here and there, but considering they’ll drop their fifth studio album, Heartworms, in March, they’ll undoubtedly have a proper run sometime before December. Then again, Mercer could go totally mental and refuse to tour beyond the 10 dates below, opting to lock himself in a basement until 2018. That probably won’t happen, but you just never know, people. The world’s a twisted place, and The Shins are a twisted band. Only one of these statements is true. –Michael Roffman

The Shins 2017 Tour Dates:

03/02 – Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theatre

03/04 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater

03/06 – San Diego,CA @ Observatory North Park

03/07 – San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park

03/28 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon

03/29 – London, UK @ Apollo Hammersmith

03/30 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso

04/22-23 – North Charleston, SC @ High Water Festival

05/12 – 14 – Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Festival

06/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Prospect Park Bandshell

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18. The Flaming Lips

Photo by Heather Kaplan

The Flaming Lips’ reputation as a live band doesn’t need explaining. Their DIY whimsy and attention to spectacle is a big reason why they’re such a revered act. That said, one of the coolest things about the band is how their live shows change from album to album, often matching the new songs in atmosphere and color. So, there is genuine excitement to see the sets for Oczy Mlody find a way to present that album’s simultaneous sense of dread and hope. Europe will get the first crack at the band, but the Lips will be back to the states in March. As of now, they’re sticking to the eastern half of the US (Boston, New York, Atlanta), but if we know the band, expect many more performances to be announced. –Philip Cosores

The Flaming Lips 2016-2017 Tour Dates:

01/21 – London, UK @ O2 Brixton

01/22 – Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy

01/24 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle

01/25 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega

01/26 – Stockholm, SE @ Munchen Brewery

01/28 – Utrecht, NL @ Tivoli

01/30 – Milan, IT @ Alcatraz

01/31 – Zurich, CH @ Volkshaus

03/03 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues

03/04 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore

03/05 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

03/06 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

03/08 – New Haven, CT @ College Street Music Hall

03/09 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5

03/13 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel Complex

03/14 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theater

03/29 – Nashville, TN @ War Memorial Auditorium

03/30 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

03/31 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz

04/02 – Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle

04/03 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues

04/04 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live

04/17 – Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theater

04/19 – Grand Rapids, MI @ 20 Monroe Live

04/21 – Madison, WI @ The Orpheum Theater

04/22 – Des Moines, IA @ Hoyt Sherman Place

04/23 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant

04/25 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom

06/30 – Vilanova i la Geltrú, ES @ Vida Festival

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17. Mastodon

Photo by Carlo Cavaluzzi

Mastodon is one of modern rock’s goofier bands, and despite continuing to re-establish their credentials as one of metal/alternative/whatever we’re calling them now’s torch-bearers, the announcement for their 2017 tour just reiterates that fact: “We couldn’t be more excited to pour majestic rock sauce all over your town. Come on down and help us celebrate the season of new beginnings where fresh buds bloom, animals awaken, the earth comes to life and there’s a new Mastodon album to melt your face off!” As they prepare to release the follow-up to Once More ‘Round the Sun later this year, expect some new material to come with the band’s spring tour. And, y’know, rock sauce.

If that doesn’t already have you excited, how’s this for a sweetener: Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles will open, ensuring a thoroughly muscular evening of music. We can already hear the ringing of tinnitus and smell the heavenly aroma of spilt beer and secondhand pot. –Dominick Suzanne-Mayer

Mastodon 2017 Tour Dates:

04/14 – Missoula, MT @ Wilma Theater %

04/15 – Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theater %

04/18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield %

04/20 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium %

04/21 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre

04/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Complex %

04/24 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore %

04/26 – Kansas City, KS @ Uptown Theater %

04/27 – St. Louis, MO @ Pageant %

04/28 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City %

04/29 – Jacksonville, FL @ Welcome to Rockville Festival

04/30 – Fort Meyers, FL @ Fort Rock Festival

05/02 – Washington, DC @ Fillmore %

05/03 – Toronto, ON @ Rebel %

05/05 – Concord, NC @ Carolina Rebellion Festival

05/06 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *

05/08 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues %

05/09 – Portland, ME @ State Theater %

05/11 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom %

05/12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE %

05/13 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom %

05/14 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre %

05/16 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Theater %

05/17 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium %

05/18 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall %

05/19 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live %

05/20 – Austin, TX @ ACL Live %

% = w/ Eagles of Death Metal and Russian Circles

* = w/ Opeth, Gojira, Eagles of Death Metal, Devin Towsend Project, and Russian Circles

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16. Chairlift

Photo by Philip Cosores

Once-in-a-lifetime shows are something every concertgoer should aspire to see. That’s why the forthcoming run of dates from Chairlift are so important. Back in December, Caroline Polachek and Patrick Wimberly announced that their spring tour would be their last as a band, which means, yes, you should probably catch them at one of the select handful of dates below. Looking at the itinerary, one would have thought they’d go out with a bigger bang, but oh well, this is what you get. In a way, the scant seven dates makes the whole thing even more limited and essential. So, what the hell are you waiting for? Grab tickets now before they’re gone forever and ever and ever and ever. –Michael Roffman

Chairlift 2017 Farewell Tour Dates:

04/07 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbos

04/08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex

04/14 – Chicago, IL @ Double Door

04/15 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk

04/20 – Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall

04/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

04/22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

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