It's that time of year again, when bands hit the road for the obligatory fall touring schedule.
The summer festival tour schedule has passed, and the big-name guns are set to roll out. Unlike the booze-filled summer fests, the big-name acts are a far tamer affair, which is an open invite to all age groups. Madonna is making a rare appearance in Canadian cities this fall, which will guarantee that she’s the biggest act to pass this way for 2008. Otherwise, it’s a mix of the old and new, the acts that will make kids scream, and the ones that’ll make their moms scream too.
Foo Fighters – The quintessential post-grunge rockers led by charismatic Dave Grohl always put on a great show, rounded out by hit singles Learn to Fly, Best of You, Resolve, DOA and Miracle. For the nostalgia factor, you’ve got the added bonus that Grohl is the esteemed former drummer for Nirvana and has given Kurt Cobain a lot of credit for his band’s sound.
New Kids on the Block – It’s back to the future for 80s wiz kids New Kids on the Block, who’ve released a new album to go with the tour. The group, including Marky Mark’s kid bro, kick their comeback off at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre in September, with six other shows scheduled for Canada.
Janet Jackson – The queen of pop, R & B, dance, and wardrobe malfunction, goes on a world tour to celebrate her new Discipline album, which is her 10th. Her Rock Witchu Tour is the culmination of a career that has made her one of the biggest selling artists of all time and an icon to rival Madonna.
Madonna – Speaking of Madonna, the superstar diva may be 50 years old, but she’s not showing signs of slowing. The singer is on tour to promote her Hard Candy album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. It’s received lots of critical acclaim, and the lead single 4 Minutes, featuring Justin Timberlake, is one of Madonna’s best tracks yet.
Jonas Brothers – Kevin. Joe. Nick. Oh, how those names must be etched into the collective conscious of every girl under the age of 15 right now. The superstar boy band from New Jersey are riding high with their third album, A Little Bit Longer and their Burning Up Tour. The boys were featured this summer on the cover of Rolling Stone, cementing their newfound status as household names. Warning: when Nick sings his piano ballad A Little Bit Longer live, the screams will be ear piercing.
Feist – Leslie Feist, former member of Toronto’s Broken Social Scene, is now better known for her 1234 song being used in an iPod commercial. Time magazine announced it was the best song of 2007. Feist is now almost a household name herself, but best of all, she’s stayed true to her mellow, folkie pop sound that’s just a tad quirky. She also happens to put on one of the best shows around.
