Songs for the Summer at FivePoint Amphitheatre
LADY ANTEBELLUM. COURTESY ERIC RAY DAVIDSON
Last October, music fans celebrated a remarkable accomplishment: replacing Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, an iconic venue where generations had enjoyed live music, with a new interim amphitheatre less than a year after the older venue closed forever.
FivePoint Amphitheatre opened with three outdoor concerts drawing thousands to the new venue. Fans were excited by the music, as well as the food, drink and other amenities at the new venue. Now, the first full season will debut on May 11 with a sold-out show, the opening of what will be three full seasons at the interim venue.
The 2018 summer season produced by Live Nation will feature classic rock, country, pop, singer-songwriters, metal and more. While looking at the schedule, our music-loving staff began to imagine the iconic songs spanning generations and genres that will be heard in the coming months. Here are a few of the hits we’re looking forward to hearing. fivepointamphitheatre.com
May 11
“California Man,” Cheap Trick
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” Poison
Here’s hoping Cheap Trick has “California Man” on the band’s play list for its May 18 show. It’s the second concert of the season, following a sold-out Slayer show on May 11. It’s one of those songs you remember as soon as you hear it: “Dance right on till the floors are breakin’… I’m a California man!”
Though it’s not as iconic as “Surrender” and “I Want You to Want Me,” we’re fans of the entire “California” genre of songs, from Joni Mitchell and The Eagles to X, 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. You should hear our mixed tape of Golden State tunes.
Cheap Trick plays on a bill with ‘80s rockers Poison. If the songs “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Nothin’ But a Good Time” don’t ring a bell, then you weren’t around in 1988.
May 30
“I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
The May 30 show features Styx and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. We’ll see how well Styx hits like “Lady,” “Come Sail Away” and “Babe” have aged. But we know Joan can still rock, having seen her in concert in recent years. “I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” “Crimson and Clover,” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You” will get us out of our seats. But it’s also the older songs from the Runaways, like “Bad Reputation” and “Cherry Bomb,” that we can’t wait to hear.
June 16
“Saturday in the Park,” Chicago
There are so many Chicago songs, it’s hard to pick one. But since FivePoint Amphitheatre is on the border of the Orange County Great Park, and the concert is on a Saturday, this one seems as good as any.
We’ll also enjoy juxtaposing two classic breakup songs during the double bill: Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now” and REO Speedwagon’s “Time for Me to Fly.” But it’s “Ridin’ the Storm Out” that we’re most looking forward to hearing from REO. We loved the concert version of the song on “Live: You Get What You Play For,” the one that opened with a keyboard that sounded like a siren. That was way back when live albums were actually a thing, along with cassette tape players and landlines.
July 8
“’Round Here,” Counting Crows
When the band’s album August and Everything After came out in 1993, we discovered it early and shared it with family and friends. Then it hit big, and you couldn’t get away from “Mr. Jones” and other songs by singer Adam Duritz. We caught “we liked them first” syndrome, and soon abandoned the band in search of the next thing. We haven’t been nostalgic for them, but are certain many will love singing along.
July 20
“Crazy on You,” Ann Wilson
We assume Wilson will include one of the signature songs from the Wilson sisters band Heart in her solo set. She did tour once without singing a single Heart tune, but that’s not what we expect from this triple bill that includes Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers, of Bad Company and Free fame.
Aug. 1
“Juke Box Hero,” Foreigner
“I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Feels Like the First Time,” might have been bigger hits, but whenever we see one of those YouTube videos about a band bringing a fan onstage who proceeds to be fantastic, this song pops into our head. Whitesnake is also on the bill. Who can forget “Here I Go Again,” by singer David Coverdale, or O.C.’s own music video vixen Tawny Kitaen?
Aug. 5
“This Town,” Niall Horan
We expect the kids to be out in force, screaming Beatlemania-style for the former member of boy band One Direction.
Aug. 24
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
Our taste runs to older, classic country. But one cannot deny the talent of this trio. Also on the bill is Darius Rucker, who made the transition to country after first gaining fame leading the band with one of the worst names ever, Hootie & The Blowfish. And in an OC connection, Rucker is friends with Tiger Woods.
Sept. 14
“I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz
Summertime sounds a lot like a Jason Mraz song. This one was nominated as Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Performance at the Grammys, and will sound fine on a warm Irvine night.
Sept. 15
“What Hurts the Most,” Rascal Flatts
The best country songs should resound with regret and anguish, and this one does.
FivePoint Amphitheatre opened with three outdoor concerts drawing thousands to the new venue. Fans were excited by the music, as well as the food, drink and other amenities at the new venue. Now, the first full season will debut on May 11 with a sold-out show, the opening of what will be three full seasons at the interim venue.
The 2018 summer season produced by Live Nation will feature classic rock, country, pop, singer-songwriters, metal and more. While looking at the schedule, our music-loving staff began to imagine the iconic songs spanning generations and genres that will be heard in the coming months. Here are a few of the hits we’re looking forward to hearing. fivepointamphitheatre.com
May 11
“California Man,” Cheap Trick
“Every Rose Has Its Thorn,” Poison
Here’s hoping Cheap Trick has “California Man” on the band’s play list for its May 18 show. It’s the second concert of the season, following a sold-out Slayer show on May 11. It’s one of those songs you remember as soon as you hear it: “Dance right on till the floors are breakin’… I’m a California man!”
Though it’s not as iconic as “Surrender” and “I Want You to Want Me,” we’re fans of the entire “California” genre of songs, from Joni Mitchell and The Eagles to X, 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. You should hear our mixed tape of Golden State tunes.
Cheap Trick plays on a bill with ‘80s rockers Poison. If the songs “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Nothin’ But a Good Time” don’t ring a bell, then you weren’t around in 1988.
May 30
“I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
The May 30 show features Styx and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. We’ll see how well Styx hits like “Lady,” “Come Sail Away” and “Babe” have aged. But we know Joan can still rock, having seen her in concert in recent years. “I Love Rock ‘N Roll,” “Crimson and Clover,” and “I Hate Myself for Loving You” will get us out of our seats. But it’s also the older songs from the Runaways, like “Bad Reputation” and “Cherry Bomb,” that we can’t wait to hear.
June 16
“Saturday in the Park,” Chicago
There are so many Chicago songs, it’s hard to pick one. But since FivePoint Amphitheatre is on the border of the Orange County Great Park, and the concert is on a Saturday, this one seems as good as any.
We’ll also enjoy juxtaposing two classic breakup songs during the double bill: Chicago’s “If You Leave Me Now” and REO Speedwagon’s “Time for Me to Fly.” But it’s “Ridin’ the Storm Out” that we’re most looking forward to hearing from REO. We loved the concert version of the song on “Live: You Get What You Play For,” the one that opened with a keyboard that sounded like a siren. That was way back when live albums were actually a thing, along with cassette tape players and landlines.
July 8
“’Round Here,” Counting Crows
When the band’s album August and Everything After came out in 1993, we discovered it early and shared it with family and friends. Then it hit big, and you couldn’t get away from “Mr. Jones” and other songs by singer Adam Duritz. We caught “we liked them first” syndrome, and soon abandoned the band in search of the next thing. We haven’t been nostalgic for them, but are certain many will love singing along.
July 20
“Crazy on You,” Ann Wilson
We assume Wilson will include one of the signature songs from the Wilson sisters band Heart in her solo set. She did tour once without singing a single Heart tune, but that’s not what we expect from this triple bill that includes Jeff Beck and Paul Rodgers, of Bad Company and Free fame.
Aug. 1
“Juke Box Hero,” Foreigner
“I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Feels Like the First Time,” might have been bigger hits, but whenever we see one of those YouTube videos about a band bringing a fan onstage who proceeds to be fantastic, this song pops into our head. Whitesnake is also on the bill. Who can forget “Here I Go Again,” by singer David Coverdale, or O.C.’s own music video vixen Tawny Kitaen?
Aug. 5
“This Town,” Niall Horan
We expect the kids to be out in force, screaming Beatlemania-style for the former member of boy band One Direction.
Aug. 24
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum
Our taste runs to older, classic country. But one cannot deny the talent of this trio. Also on the bill is Darius Rucker, who made the transition to country after first gaining fame leading the band with one of the worst names ever, Hootie & The Blowfish. And in an OC connection, Rucker is friends with Tiger Woods.
Sept. 14
“I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz
Summertime sounds a lot like a Jason Mraz song. This one was nominated as Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Performance at the Grammys, and will sound fine on a warm Irvine night.
Sept. 15
“What Hurts the Most,” Rascal Flatts
The best country songs should resound with regret and anguish, and this one does.