The classic rock reunion festival known as “Oldchella” will not be taking place this summer, but neither Styx nor the Stones will be taking the summer of 2017 off. (The Stones, however, will only be touring Europe.) We already told you about the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk free concerts lined up to let you rock out with your Gen X cred and AARP discounts on full display. But we didn’t know about a ton of new arena rock shows that have been announced since then, and it turns out that Roger Waters, Chicago, and the Doobie Brothers are all playing the Bay Area tonight. For people like me who are so old they think Radiohead is “new music”, we’ve put together this list of the Bay Area’s best classic rock concerts and reunion tours coming this summer.
Roger Waters - June 7 and 10
Former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters’ new album Is This The Life We Really Want? Is set to be his first solo album to debut at No. 1. But remind me again, what is an “album”?
Wednesday, June 7 at 8 p.m. at SAP Center in San Jose
Saturday, June 10 at 8 p.m. at Oracle Arena in Oakland
Chicago and the Doobie Brothers - June 7
The Doobie Brothers fire up as the warmup act for a Chicago iteration that will be without Peter Cetera.
Wednesday, June 7 at 7:15 p.m. at Concord Pavilion
Poison and Tesla - June 13
The hair-raising sounds of Poison will be teased by opening act Tesla.
Tuesday, June 13 at 8 p.m. at Oracle Arena
Boston and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - June 14
Don’t look back on the late 70s and early 80s, relive them with this nostalgia show at the Shoreline.
Wednesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Shoreline Amphitheatre
Eddie Money - June 16
Considering Eddie Money’s history of taking the stage completely wasted, this free show promises to be worth every penny.
Friday, June 16 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
King Crimson - June 16 and 17
You’ll see red because the Saturday show is sold out, but there are still tickets available to see King Crimson on Friday.
Friday, June 16 at 8 p.m. at Fox Theater in Oakland
Styx and REO Speedwagon - June 23
The opening-opening act for Styx and REO Speedwagon is former Eagles guitarist Don Felder, whom enough people should confuse for Don Henley to sell a few extra tickets.
Friday, June 23 at 7 p.m. at Concord Pavilion
Queen + Adam Lambert - June 29
American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert will try to fill the estimable Adidas shoes of Freddie Mercury on a Queen reunion tour.
Thursday, June 29 at 8 p.m. at SAP Center
Great White -June 30
This Great White should be straight fire! (Too soon?)
Friday, June 30 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Ann Wilson of Heart - June 30
Unlike the fabulous San Mateo County Fair concert series, the Marin County Fair still makes you pay $50 for a concert seat in addition to your $20 fair admission. If that strikes you as a good deal, Ann Wilson is playing this Friday night show.
Friday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Marin County Fair
Image: EMI Records
Iron Maiden - July 5
Hallowed be Iron Maiden, who are touring with Swedish metal band Ghost.
Wednesday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Oracle Arena
Quiet Riot - July 7
I am just now learning that Quiet Riot frontman Kevin DuBrow has passed away (this happened ten years ago!) But the boys will still get wild, wild, wild with his latest replacement James Durbin from American Idol.
Friday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Blue Oyster Cult - July 14
Easy, guys. I put my pants on just like the rest of you one leg at a time. Except, once my pants are on, I make gold records. Alright, here we go. "Fear... Don't Fear the Reaper" take one. Roll it. Really explore the room.
Friday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Daryl Hall & John Oates - July 15
I’m pretty sure Hall & Oates the only band on this list still performing with its original lineup. Tears for Fears are opening!
Tuesday, July 15 at 7 p.m. at SAP Center
Eric Burdon & The Animals - July 21
British Invasion act The Animals do have Eric Burdon with them on this particular iteration, as evidenced by the title.
Friday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Los Lobos- July 28
Both of their two hits are likely to be played at both of these free Friday night shows in Santa Cruz.
Friday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Y&T - August 4
Wait, Y&T hail from Oakland? Apparently so, but these shows are in Santa Cruz.
Friday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Pablo Cruise - August 11
Pablo Cruise plays Santa Cruz in a pair of free boardwalk shows.
Friday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Steve Miller Band, Peter Frampton, and Night Ranger - August 12
Despite his magnificent Geico commercial, Peter Frampton is not headlining this retro-rock triple threat.
Saturday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Shoreline Amphitheater
The Who - August 13
As has been the case for a number of years, Outside Lands will feature their "legacy" headliner on Sunday this year, and it's The Who. As of 2017, The Who consists of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend along with a sextet of backup musicians that includes longtime band member, and Townshend's younger brother, Simon Townshend.
Sunday, August 13 at approximately 8 p.m., Outside Lands, Golden Gate Park
Gin Blossoms - August 18
On the ten-year anniversary of their original breakup, the Gin Blossoms are back with two of the original Blossoms still intact.
Friday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Toto and Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
To clarify, Toto is the headliner and Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are playing together as the opening act.
Monday, August 21 at 8:15 p.m. at Wente Vineyards in Livermore
Foreigner, Cheap Trick and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience
This is the Bone Bash XVII, baby! The Led Zeppelin reunion did not happen, but perhaps you will settle for John Bonham’s kid with four other little-known studio musicians.
Saturday, September 2 at 7 p.m. at Shoreline Amphitheatre
Guns N’ Roses
You think five months is a long time to wait to see Guns N’ Roses reunite? Wait til you see how long it takes Axl to get his ass on stage!
Tuesday, November 21 at 8 p.m. at Oracle Arena
Related: Outside Lands Single-Day Tickets On Sale Thursday, Daily Lineups Announced
