As we dip our toes into 2024, I resolve to continue enjoying the live music experience as much as possible.
With that in mind, it is not possible to see everyone I want to see, so this year’s focus will be on visiting some of the bands I have yet to see.
One of those bands is Toto. I will get to see this classic band when they take the stage at Memorial Coliseum opening for Journey on April 19, but the band recently announced some headlining dates as well. This offers fans a chance to see the legendary progressive rockers go deeper than the big hits they will likely be restrained to as an opening act.
Head down to the Brown County Event Center in Nashville, Indiana, on Feb. 25 or MGM Northfield Park outside Cleveland on April 18 for a preview of the show. Also on the docket is an appearance at Mershon Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio, on April 21.
While they are a band with some age, Toto have gathered more than 5 billion streams, mostly on the resurgence of the 1982 hit “Africa,” which was also a single off the 2019 Weezer album, Teal Album.
R&B acts embark on tour
The Love Hard Tour, featuring R&B superstars Keyshia Cole, K. Michelle, Trey Sonz, and Jahiem, begins a 24-date run on Feb. 22.
The tour stops by at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Feb. 29 and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on March 3.
K. Michelle will be supporting her latest album, I’m the Problem, which was released in September, while Cole was recently featured on The Color Purple soundtrack as well as having starred in Lifetime’s Keyshia Cole: This Is My Life biopic.
While Songz and Jaheim have not released new music in the last three years, it is rumored they are both working on new material.
Idles coming to Chicago
British alternative rock band Idles, a participant in Middle Waves at Headwaters Park a few years ago, have dates lined up for a 2024 tour in support of their forthcoming album, Tangk, out Feb. 16.
Head to the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago on Sept. 18 if you are interested since that currently is the only spot in our region where there are scheduled.
Tangk will be Idles’ fifth album and follows up their Grammy nominated Crawler.
Queensrÿche return to origins
Queensrÿche celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2023, and although the band continues to create new music, fans still thirst for “the old stuff.”
The Seattle-based band will seek to quench that thirst when they head out on The Origins Tour that will see them performing their debut, self-titled EP and the followup LP, The Warning, in their entireties.
Launching in March, The Origins Tour will stop at The Vogue in Indianapolis on April 12, The State Theatre in Kalamazoo on April 13, Majestic Theatre in Detroit on April 14, Bogart’s in Cincinnati on April 16, and The House of Blues in Cleveland on April 17.
Armored Saint will open the shows.
Greta add Michigan date
Finally, rockers Greta Van Fleet have extended their ongoing Starcatcher world tour with a dozen new dates across the United States beginning in April.
In what is sure to be a wild night, the band will return to their home state when they play at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on May 19.
Road Notes covers concerts within driving distance of Northeast Indiana. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.
