By Bennett Fuson

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Coldplay feat. Snow Patrol
June 5, 2009
Verizon Wireless Music Center

It would be utterly useless to give a brief bio of Coldplay.  After all, the Grammy award-winning band that might be more popular than U2 has conquered the radio waves and iTunes commercials.  So I’ll just get down to the meat of it: the British are coming.  (Get it? Coldplay and Snow Patrol both come from the UK.  Punny!)  Coldplay sold out two shows last year in Chicago, a surefire sign of musical success.  And co-headliner Snow Patrol, with music better than their hit single, “Chasing Cars,” essentially guarantees a great night of music from across the pond.

Phish
June 19
Verizon Wireless Music Center

Prophets have predicted the second coming of Phish since they dissolved in 2005.  That time has come, my friends. Phish is not only the father of jam band music, they are also the greatest example.  And I promise it will be a night to remember. Trey Anastasio’s guitar are equal to none, and the melodic soundscapes he and the rest of the band create impart on the listener an almost euphoric high.  Tickets are sold out at the moment, but it would be well worth your time to scalp, because who knows when they’ll be back again?

Dave Matthews Band
Verizon Wireless Music Center
July 31, August 1

Seeing the Dave Matthews Band every summer has become a summer tradition for Hoosiers.  This year, however, the band returns with a heavy heart after the loss of saxophonist and charter member LeRoy Moore.  While most bands would struggle to overcome such loss, DMB has pushed through, and will promote their new album, Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King, on this summer’s tour.  The newly released single, “Funny the Way It Is,” shows immense promise as one of the band’s instant summer classics.  Even if that’s not the case, fans can always look forward to concert mainstays like “Ants Marching,” “Crash Into Me,” “What Would You Say” and countless others.

O.A.R. with the Wailers
June 17
The Lawn at White River State Park

O.A.R. (abbreviated for Of A Revolution) debuted their wholly new sound with last year’s All Sides.  Still a grassroots jam band at the core, O.A.R. has a new, shiny sound that, as heard on their single “Shattered,” evokes more of a Maroon 5 sound than traditional O.A.R.  Still, the band can’t avoid the songs that shot them into the spotlight, and they will no doubt play “Hey Girl,” “Love and Memories,” and others from their extensive catalogue.  An added bonus this year is the Wailers, Bob Marley’s backup band before his untimely death.

The Decemberists
August 8
Egyptian Room at the Murat Centre

This is a dark horse pick, but I’m going to stick by my guns on this one.  Out of 100 people, only about 3.5 have heard of the Decemberists, which is a true shame.  The Portland-based band, fronted by Colin Meloy, is one of the few bands that can truly be appreciated for their tone.  The lush, melodic harmonies of the Decemberists compile albums that consist of stories rather than singles.  The Decemberists head out this summer to promote their new album, The Hazards of Love.

Metallica
September 17
Conseco Fieldhouse

True Indianapolis music fans cannot complete a well-rounded summer concert series without homage to the Kings of Metal.  Metallica, former radio stars and current video game stars, return to Indianapolis to promote Death Magnetic, the latest album in a career of face-melting ferocity.  Of course, no concert is complete without a little bit of “Enter Sandman,”  “One,” Sad, But True…” the list goes on and on.  This is the perfect show to end a fantastic concert season in Naptown.