Here Comes Rhymin’ Simon

Two shows are going up beginning Sunday – Phoenix at Comerica Theatre Oct. 17 and Berkeley, Calif., at the Greek Theatre at U.C. Berkeley Oct. 20.

Tickets for the Phoenix show go on sale Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. local time. There are two presales currently running with one being presented by promoter Another Planet Entertainment and the other by San Francisco radio station KFOG. The general onsale begins Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. local time.

The San Francisco Bay Area is quickly becoming top-heavy with talent during the week leading into Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit scheduled for Oct. 22 & 23 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. Lindsey Buckingham plays San Francisco’s Regency Center Oct. 19; k.d. lang appears the same night, but at The Fillmore, and The Who’s Roger Daltrey rocks the San Jose Civic Oct. 21, to drop a few names.

Of course, this year’s Bridge School Benefit isn’t exactly short on talent. Scheduled to appear both days are Dave Matthews, Arcade Fire, Eddie Vedder, Beck, Mumford & Sons, Jenny Lewis and Los Invisibles featuring Carlos Santana, Cindy Blackman Santana and guests. Krall is scheduled to appear Oct. 22, Foo Fighters and Bennett Oct. 23. Tickets for the 25th annual Bridge School Benefit go on sale Sept. 16.

A game fans like to play during the weeks leading up to Neil Young’s annual benefit is to look at who else is playing the Bay Area during the same general time period and then speculate on whether the artists can squeeze a Bridge School performance into their schedules. While no one is talking about surprise appearances at this year’s benefit, there are certainly plenty of acts playing Northern California in mid- to late-October to keep folks guessing right up until show time Oct. 22.