Speaking of hard rawk, the annual Vans Warped Tour is heading back into town, renewing its mission to bring together punks, emo kids, rap-rockers, ska fans, and other subcultural dwellers. So far, participants include the Offspring, Thrice, Matchbook Romance, and too many other bands to list here. Get ready to pogo over to the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre and Grounds at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 6. Tickets range from $29.75 to $32 and go on sale at noon Saturday, April 9.
In the just-announced category, Eminem is taking his Shady/Aftermath crew on the second annual Anger Management Tour. With luck, he'll offer more fresh visuals from Guerilla News Network as well as the inevitable sing-alongs to The Real Slim Shady. Backing him up is a virtual murderers' row of 50 Cent and G-Unit, Lil' Jon and the Eastside Boyz, D-12, Obie Trice, and white rap hope Stat Quo. The tour rolls by the Sound Advice Amphitheatre Tuesday, August 2; tickets should go on sale shortly.
Local promoters rejoice! Just when you were getting over the 2003 blowout, the MTV Video Music Awards are coming back to town to close out the summer. The 22nd annual edition will be held at the American Airlines Arena at 8:00 p.m. Sunday, August 28. Last year tickets were difficult to come by, but not impossible; they should go on sale during the next several weeks. In the meantime, you can look forward to plenty of South Beach parties hosted by P. Diddy, as well as innumerable celebrity sightings.