As you might’ve heard, the Super Bowl is finally returning to the Bay Area.
Yet, the closest most fans will get to the actual game — set for Feb. 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara — is watching it on TV.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t take part in some Super Bowl fun. A great way to get in on the action is to catch one of the many Super Bowl-related concerts taking place next week. But act now, since tickets are going fast to many of these events. Here’s a roundup of some of the major musical offerings:
Metallica: The top-selling Bay Area band of all time, which has moved over 100 million albums worldwide during its nearly 35-year career, would’ve been an ideal choice to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. But organizers went with Coldplay and other performers instead. But at least that translates into fans getting to see a full Metallica show on Feb. 6 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
It’s the mighty metal act’s first Bay Area outing since headlining the 2012 Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park. Hopefully, the band will have some new material to perform. Metallica’s last studio album was 2008’s “Death Magnetic.” The event — billed as the third annual “CBS Radio’s The Night Before” — also features Cage the Elephant. Details: Show time is 7 p.m., and tickets are $51.75-$151.75 (www.livenation.com).
Alicia Keys: In my book, this multi-Grammy-winning R&B star is the single best reason to visit the Super Bowl City fan village at Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco. She’s a supremely talented singer-songwriter-pianist who can command a stage like few others in all of popular music. Her songbook includes such smashes as “No One” and “Girl on Fire.” Plus, this Feb. 6 concert — like all the others going on at Super Bowl City — is free. Details: East Bay singer Goapele opens the 7 p.m. show. (www.sfbaysuperbowl.com/super-bowl-city).
Heart: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act, known for such classic tunes as “Barracuda” and “Crazy on You,” headlines the Super Community Concert and Fireworks Show on Jan. 31 at Mission College in Santa Clara. The event begins at 1 p.m., with Heart due to take the stage at 4:30 p.m. and fireworks to follow at 6 p.m. Details: Tickets are currently listed as sold out (www.sfbaysuperbowl.com). Note: Heart returns to the Bay Area to perform at Aug. 24 at Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View, with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and Cheap Trick ($82.50-$132.50, www.livenation.com).
Dave Matthews Band: One of the top touring acts of the last 20 years, DMB is known for such multiplatinum albums as “Under the Table and Dreaming,” “Crash” and “Before These Crowded Streets.” Matthews and crew perform the DIRECTV and Pepsi Super Thursday Night show on Feb. 4 at Project Nightclub (Pier 70) in San Francisco. Details: Show time is 9 p.m., and tickets are $75 (www.livenation.com).
Pharrell Williams: He’s best known for “Happy,” one of the biggest hits of recent years. Yet, Williams has been featured on so many smash singles, including Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.” Williams performs at the Pepsi Super Friday Night concert on Feb. 5 at Project Nightclub (Pier 70) in San Francisco. Details: Show time is 10 p.m., and tickets are $75 (www.livenation.com).
San Francisco Symphopny — A Concert of Champions: This should be a real treat, as dramatic football imagery — from the Emmy-winning NFL Films — is shown on a big screen while accompanied by a live score from the San Francisco Symphony. Raiders great Marcus Allen is your host. Details: Show times are 8 p.m. Feb. 3-4 at Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, and tickets are $50-$195 (www.sfsymphony.org).
Third Eye Blind: The Bay Area modern-rock act, best remembered for the ’90s smash “Semi-Charmed Life,” will serve as the main course at the Taste of the NFL’s Party with a Purpose on Feb. 6 at the Cow Palace in Daly City. Details: The event, which will also feature athletes and other celebrities, starts at 7 p.m. Tickets for the bash are pricey, $700-$1,000; visit www.tasteofthenfl.com for more information.
And there’s more: Alicia Keys isn’t the only act in the lengthy Super Bowl City lineup. Pop-rock band One Republic, country music’s popular The Band Perry and singer-songwriters Chris Isaak and Matt Nathanson are also performing free concerts at the fan village, which is open to the general public from Jan. 30-Feb. 7 To see the main stage lineup, go to www.sfbaysuperbowl.com/super-bowl-city and look under “events” for “The City Stage.”
Here’s the main stage lineup:
Jan. 30:
Noon-1:30 p.m. Destiny Arts, Sean Hayes
7:25 p.m. Bay Lights Relighting, Macy’s Fireworks Show, Chris Isaak
Jan. 31:
Noon-1:30 p.m. Community Music Center Teen Jazz Orchestra, Marcus Shelby Trio
3-4 p.m. Oakland Interfaith Gospel
Feb. 1:
Noon-1:30 p.m. TBA, local programming
Feb. 2:
12-1:30 p.m. Vocal Rush, Amor Do Samba
Feb. 3:
Noon-1:30 p.m. Loco Bloco, Taiko drummers
7:30 p.m. Matt Nathanson
Feb. 4:
Noon-1:30 p.m. Culture Shock, Le Vice
7:30 p.m. The Band Perry
Feb. 5
Noon-1:30 p.m. Conservatory of SF, Jarrod Spector
8:30 p.m. One Republic, Macy’s Fireworks Show
Feb. 6
Noon-1:30 p.m. B-Boys and DJs
7 p.m. Goapele, Alicia Keys
Feb. 7
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble, John Brothers
2 p.m. Glide Ensemble
Follow Jim Harrington at twitter.com/jimthecritic and www.facebook.com/jim.bayareanews.
