Yankovic

When "Weird Al" Yankovic was growing up, he didn't dream of being a world-famous accordion player.He knew better.It wasn't that he was limited by his musical abilities, mind you. Though by no means a squeeze-box Paderewski, Yankovic could certainly get around on the instrument. It's just that the accordion has certain, well, artistic limitations.Or, as Yankovic puts it, "When you play the accordion, everything that you play winds up sounding like a polka."My name has been associated with polka my whole life," he adds, over the phone from a tour stop in Peoria, Ill. "With a name like Yankovic, everybody assumes that I'm Frankie Yankovic's son. I'm not, actually.

Just announced True Colors tour -- featuring Cyndi Lauper, the B-52s, Regina Spektor and Tegan and Sara, DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on June 7. 410-547-7328 or tick etmaster.com. Steve Miller Band -- Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia on July 17. Also, the "Return to Forever" tour, featuring Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Lenny White and Al DiMeola, stops there Aug. 4. 410-547-7328 or ticketmas ter.com. Rilo Kiley -- Rams Head Live on June 17. Also, Peter Frampton is there Aug. 15. 410-244-1131 or ramshead live.

The "Weird Al" Yankovic concert originally scheduled for Hammerjacks last nigth was canceled, due to what the venue described as a "lack of market interest."Specifically, less than 100 tickets had been sold by Wednesday morning. Hammerjacks spokesman Bud Becker felt this was less a reflection of Yankovic's popularity than of the fact that the show went on sale just before the July 4 weekend and many "Weird Al" fans were unaware of the booking.Refunds for ticket holders will be available at point of purchase.

INSIDE TODAY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TODAY'S SUN COLUMNISTS How can Martin O'Malley call this year's surge in homicides just a "rough patch?" Where's the politician who believed the mayor was accountable for Baltimore's violence? Maryland baltimoresun.com/rodricks Sound that breathes Rapper Talib Kweli offers an excellent and refreshing new album, Eardrum, which will be available in stores next week. Live! baltimoresun.com/today OTHER VOICES Dave Zeiler on the end of AppleWorks -- Business Mike Preston on Ravens' rookie class -- Sports Karen Nitkin on a new kosher restaurant -- Live!

Weird Al Yankovic -- Rams Head Live / "Weird Al" Yankovic has made a career of mocking pop hits for nearly 30 years. It's still true that when Yankovic does a parody of a song, that artist has made it to the big time. Yankovic's latest album, Straight Outta Lynwood, debuted in the Billboard Top 10. See Yankovic on Tuesday at Rams Head Live, 20 Market Place. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 day of show and $40 for bleacher seats for this all-ages show. Call 410-244-1131 or go to ramsheadlive.

GREATEST HITSZZ Top (Warner Bros. 26846)When ZZ Top began adding synths and sequencers to their albums, the group managed to rewire completely the traditional power trio approach. What this meant in terms of chart success for the band ought to be evident by the number of immediately recognizable singles backed into its newest album, the deservedly titled "Greatest Hits." But what it means in terms of the music doesn't become obvious until the fourth or fifth time through the album, when the listener suddenly realizes that no amount of familiarity can diminish the bluesy vigor of these singles.

EASY COME EASY GOGeorge Strait (MCA 10907)He may not be as good-looking as Clint Black or as charismatic as Garth Brooks, but when it comes down to putting a song across simply and effectively, George Strait tops 'em all. So even though there isn't anything flashy or trendy about the sound of "Easy Come Easy Go," it would be hard to imagine the country fan who could resist it. Not only is Strait utterly at home with the Texas twang of dance tunes like the...

Lionel RichieLouder Than Words (Mercury 314 532 240)Remember when the singer Lionel Richie most resembled was Barry Manilow? When his greatest strength seemed to be slow-'n'-sappy ballads such as "Three Times a Lady" and "Still"? Well, as "Louder Than Words" clearly articulates, those days are long gone. If anything, the singer he most often sounds like on these 12 tunes is not Manilow, but Marvin Gaye. From the funky, hypnotic groove of "I Wanna Take You Down" to the jazzy sophistication of "Lovers at First Sight," Richie evokes both Gaye's satin-smooth delivery and genre-jumping ambition.

Just announced Steve Miller Band -- Pier Six Pavilion on Aug. 31. Also, Several Species is there Sept. 15. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com. Tequila Sunrise -- Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis on Aug. 31. 410-268-4545 or ramsheadtavern.com. Aerosmith -- Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Va., on Sept. 16. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com. Neko Case -- The 9:30 Club in Washington on Aug. 16. 800-955-5566 or tickets.com. Scary Kids Scaring Kids -- Recher Theatre in Towson on Aug. 31. 410-337-7210, 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.

When the New Jersey-based Metropolitan Entertainment took over the booking of Baltimore's Pier Six Concert Pavilion last summer, promoter John Scher referred to the Baltimore concert market as "a sleeping giant" and promised to wake it up with more big-name bookings at the mid-sized venue. This season's alarm clock begins buzzing in earnest Saturday, when tickets to concerts by two stars enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, plus a third that pairs two well-known traditional music acts, go on sale.

Weird Al Yankovic -- Rams Head Live / "Weird Al" Yankovic has made a career of mocking pop hits for nearly 30 years. It's still true that when Yankovic does a parody of a song, that artist has made it to the big time. Yankovic's latest album, Straight Outta Lynwood, debuted in the Billboard Top 10. See Yankovic on Tuesday at Rams Head Live, 20 Market Place. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 day of show and $40 for bleacher seats for this all-ages show. Call 410-244-1131 or go to ramsheadlive.

When the New Jersey-based Metropolitan Entertainment took over the booking of Baltimore's Pier Six Concert Pavilion last summer, promoter John Scher referred to the Baltimore concert market as "a sleeping giant" and promised to wake it up with more big-name bookings at the mid-sized venue. This season's alarm clock begins buzzing in earnest Saturday, when tickets to concerts by two stars enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, plus a third that pairs two well-known traditional music acts, go on sale.

Lionel RichieLouder Than Words (Mercury 314 532 240)Remember when the singer Lionel Richie most resembled was Barry Manilow? When his greatest strength seemed to be slow-'n'-sappy ballads such as "Three Times a Lady" and "Still"? Well, as "Louder Than Words" clearly articulates, those days are long gone. If anything, the singer he most often sounds like on these 12 tunes is not Manilow, but Marvin Gaye. From the funky, hypnotic groove of "I Wanna Take You Down" to the jazzy sophistication of "Lovers at First Sight," Richie evokes both Gaye's satin-smooth delivery and genre-jumping ambition.

EASY COME EASY GOGeorge Strait (MCA 10907)He may not be as good-looking as Clint Black or as charismatic as Garth Brooks, but when it comes down to putting a song across simply and effectively, George Strait tops 'em all. So even though there isn't anything flashy or trendy about the sound of "Easy Come Easy Go," it would be hard to imagine the country fan who could resist it. Not only is Strait utterly at home with the Texas twang of dance tunes like the...

The "Weird Al" Yankovic concert originally scheduled for Hammerjacks last nigth was canceled, due to what the venue described as a "lack of market interest."Specifically, less than 100 tickets had been sold by Wednesday morning. Hammerjacks spokesman Bud Becker felt this was less a reflection of Yankovic's popularity than of the fact that the show went on sale just before the July 4 weekend and many "Weird Al" fans were unaware of the booking.Refunds for ticket holders will be available at point of purchase.

When "Weird Al" Yankovic was growing up, he didn't dream of being a world-famous accordion player.He knew better.It wasn't that he was limited by his musical abilities, mind you. Though by no means a squeeze-box Paderewski, Yankovic could certainly get around on the instrument. It's just that the accordion has certain, well, artistic limitations.Or, as Yankovic puts it, "When you play the accordion, everything that you play winds up sounding like a polka."My name has been associated with polka my whole life," he adds, over the phone from a tour stop in Peoria, Ill. "With a name like Yankovic, everybody assumes that I'm Frankie Yankovic's son. I'm not, actually.

INSIDE TODAY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING TODAY'S SUN COLUMNISTS How can Martin O'Malley call this year's surge in homicides just a "rough patch?" Where's the politician who believed the mayor was accountable for Baltimore's violence? Maryland baltimoresun.com/rodricks Sound that breathes Rapper Talib Kweli offers an excellent and refreshing new album, Eardrum, which will be available in stores next week. Live! baltimoresun.com/today OTHER VOICES Dave Zeiler on the end of AppleWorks -- Business Mike Preston on Ravens' rookie class -- Sports Karen Nitkin on a new kosher restaurant -- Live!

GREATEST HITSZZ Top (Warner Bros. 26846)When ZZ Top began adding synths and sequencers to their albums, the group managed to rewire completely the traditional power trio approach. What this meant in terms of chart success for the band ought to be evident by the number of immediately recognizable singles backed into its newest album, the deservedly titled "Greatest Hits." But what it means in terms of the music doesn't become obvious until the fourth or fifth time through the album, when the listener suddenly realizes that no amount of familiarity can diminish the bluesy vigor of these singles.