For some people, summer is all about the epic movies always promised to be the “best film of the year!” But for me, summer is all about music! My closet is full of old concert shirts and memorabilia. I love nothing more than to throw on the gear and head for a live show.

Concerts and I go way back. When I turned 12, my older sister took me to my first live show. I remember being utterly blown away by the amazing laser light show and pyrotechnics, not to mention seeing my heartthrob Bret Michaels belting out the tunes for which my favorite band (at the time) Poison was so famous. Great! Now “Every Rose has its Thorn” is stuck in my head. Since then, I have yet to find any kind of entertainment that I love more than concerts.

Going to any concert can break the bank because so many shows are outrageously expensive. If you have to pay for parking and drinks, you probably won’t be going out again for a month. So, hopefully this preview of upcoming events will help in making this all-important

decision of which shows to hit.

“Sactopalooza”

Kicking off the summer is a festival at Raley Field being touted as “the party of the year.” “Sactopalooza” is only open to those 21 and up, so expect there to be tons of drunken ‘80s throwbacks rocking out to the eight cover bands and two disc jockeys that will be jamming on four “huge” stages. I’m typically skeptical of cover bands, always feeling like I’m watching a Saturday Night Live spoof, but the promoters of the show promise these cover bands are the best in the country.

The show will include all the usual cover band suspects: Journey, Van Halen and U2, but also some surprises like Beastie Boys and Sublime. To sweeten the pot, the party is also going to have bull rides, toilet races and a variety of other cool amusements. Sounds like a good time for $25.

“KISS-Walk N Rock Tour”

In the event you have not seen KISS at any of their previous “final” shows, you have one more chance! Raley Field will host the classic rock band on May 29 at the “Walk N Rock” show. I guess some people cannot get enough of those long tongues, crazy makeup and rocking all night long. While I respect the band for its rock ‘n’ roll contribution I cannot fathom spending $50 to go to the show. If you’re a die-hard KISS fan, this might be a show for you; for me, it’s one to skip. I figure nostalgia is better handled by an afternoon with a free VH1 “Behind theMusic” episode.

“Rush-Time Machine Tour”

Much like KISS, Rush has been on the tour circuit for decades and for some people, they never get old. I’m not particularly a fan of the high-voiced Canadian band, but they are epic in the world of rock, going all the way back to 1968. The crowd will no doubt be older, mellow, and die-hard Rush fans. Much like the Roger Waters concert I saw a few years back, I expect there to be a thick cloud of medicinal smoke wafting around, making the esoteric event of “2112” live even more intense. For about $50 you can catch some lawn at the Sleep Train Pavilion on June 26, and take on some Tom Sawyer.

“Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival”

Come July 10, you will know where to find me! I’ll be in Mountain View at the Shoreline Amphitheater watching the insanity that will be the Mayhem Festival. This kind of daylong, multi-stage mosh-fest reminds me of my teenage years, full of angst and parental resentment. Throngs of rockers will be flashing horns as Disturbed, Godsmack, Megadeth, Testament, Machine Head and many other bands bang their heads.

No doubt there will be blood; the mosh pits will be full of guys who thrive from slamming into each other in a sort of violent camaraderie. Beer will be flowing all day long so the headlining bands later in the evening are sure to get the rowdy energy they need to blow the crowd’s ears out. Lawn seats are only $40, which is probably one of the best deals you’ll get in live music. Of course, for a little more you can get “pit tickets.” Just remember, no open-toe shoes in there!

“Britney Spears and Nicki Minaj-Femme Fatale Tour”

The ladies will be strutting their stuff, in tiny outfits no doubt, on June 16 at the Power Balance Pavilion. Unlike the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, the Femme Fatale Tour is sure to attract tons of bubble-gum girls and guys who love them. While I appreciate the perseverance of Spears, I cannot appreciate her music and don’t understand why the masses still seem to love her. Nicki Minaj is an artist I’ve recently started listening to and some of her stuff is fun. But there’s tons of better stuff I could think of to spend $40, especially when that only gets you nosebleed seats. I guess if you’ve got a little girl’s birthday coming up, this show could be a great gift.

“Usher with Akon-OMG Tour”

On May 28 at the Power Balance Pavilion, thousands of screaming girls will be lined up to see Usher, with dreams that the DJ will have them falling in love. While I’ve never been to a show like this or to a concert like Spears’, I can only imagine it’s like a huge underage dance party. To me this isn’t concert music; it’s house music. Usher does have a nice swagger about him, so it will probably be fun to see him dancing onstage, but with upper level tickets around $40 it would probably be better to go dancing at a strobelight-filled club.

“Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series in the Park”

Even if you have no money you can enjoy live music in the summer. Now through Aug. 12 is the free outdoor concert series at Cesar Chavez Park, featuring different local bands starting at 5 p.m. every Friday. They cover a broad musical spectrum. It’s always a good time with people from all over bringing coolers, picnics, kids and dogs. The music isn’t always awesome, but there’s just something about sitting on a blanket, drinking a beer and watching someone jam that brings people together.

No matter what your musical preference or price range there’s a live show for you. So, don’t let summer pass you by with only a sunburn and some blacked-out nights you wish you could remember. Grab your friends, crank up the tunes and go enjoy a show!

For those about to rock …well … you know.