Music Sound and the fury 

A week on the scene

Diamonds in the rough

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This is a big week for those who gravitate to big-ticket arena concerts and outdoor festivals. The hotly anticipated Anger Management Tour, featuring Eminem, 50 Cent and the ever-suave kings of crunk, Lil' Jon and his Eastside Boyz, comes to Verizona Wireless Amphitheater on July 29 and tickets went on sale Saturday, May 7.

Green Day, the pop-punk comeback story of the last year, have announced that they'll hit the SBC Center on August 21. Pre-sale tickets for the show became available on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 10 and can be purchased thru Friday, May 13.

But all arena pretenders inevitably must bow before their rabbinical master, for they all pale in the light of the mighty Diamond, pop's gaudiest jewel, the real deal, the man who's forever in blue jeans: Neil Diamond.

Mr. I Am, I Said will make it a hot October night when he turns on his heartlight and parks his traveling salvation show at SBC Center on October 9 (and really, is there a better way to celebrate John Lennon's 65th birthday than to hear this guy croon "Love On the Rocks"?). Tickets for this concert went on sale May 9, creating a massive dilemma for Eminem fans who can afford only one arena-show purchase this month. Keep this in mind, however: For a mere $75, you can be close enough to count the number of rhinestone beads on Neil's jacket. Shine on you crazy Diamond!

Finally, the lineup for the fourth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival has been announced, and it will again deliver an eclectic array of performers. Among the more than 130 bands set for the festival, which runs from September 23-25, are Coldplay, Widespread Panic, Oasis, The Black Crowes, Arcade Fire, Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Bloc Party, and The Bravery. Three-day passes are now available at www.austincitylimits.com.

Compiled by Gilbert Garcia