The Mann Season

Between Richard III in Central Park, The Philadelphia Orchestra in Fairmount Park and Bloomsday, I must say that I've been having quite the high art week. But while hearing the Fab Philadelphians on Tuesday was a sure fire kick - read David Patirck Stearns' perspicacious review in today's Inquirer here - spending an almost-summer night being rocked by Beethoven at the Mann Center mainly got me jonesing for the rock shows coming up later in the season.

There are some good ones. West Coast based promoter AEG Live contracted with the Mann to present the summer season, which includes trumpeter Chris Botti playing with the orchestra tonight, and kicks off, rock-wise, on June 27 with indie dance band Passion Pit, with Tokyo Police Club. A handful of genuine buzzworthy bills are on the way: Mike Patton and the reunited Faith No More on July 3, the Arcade Fire with Spoon on August 2  (the day before the AF's The Suburbs hits) and the reformed Pavement on Sept. 17. Other noteworthies include the Dead-centric Furthur fest on July 10 and 11, Squeeze and Cheap Trick on July 16, Rufus Wainwright on August 4,  Herbie Hancock on August 10, MGMT on August 15 and Tony Bennett on August 28.

The 14, 000 capacity Mann might prove to be a bit too big for some of these acts - indie-rock has blown up some, but it's still hardly classic-rock size.  But with the open-air breeze and views of the Center City skyline, the Mann is the most pleasant large-scale outdoor venue in Philadelphia by a long shot - even if they do nail you for $15 to park. And the likes of Faith No More or the Arcade Fire (that's them above) certainly have the wherewithal to fill up the space with sound. It should be a good summer.

Previously: Imelda May at Johnny Brenda's