Rocking the Conventions

One word historians will never be able to use to describe the 2016 election season is “boring.”

Things can only get more interesting with the upcoming GOP convention from July 18-21 in Cleveland, and the Democratic National Convention gathering from July 25-28 in Philadelphia.

The DNC will feature events for its endless array of “identity politics” groups such as the DNC LGBT Welcome Happy Hour and the Official DNC Marijuana Welcome Party.

Both sides will attempt to have big-name entertainment at their biggest party weeks of the year, but just as there’s differences in policy between the parties, so too are there distinct differences in their choices for fun — both in official events and at unofficial concerts that many convention-goers will flock to anyway.

The biggest name coming to Cleveland is Kid Rock, who will headline the Cleveland Rocks 2016 event on the last night of the convention, July 21, at an outside venue near the convention site of Quicken Loans Arena. The private concert is not an official convention event, but will honor veterans across all military branches. Its proceeds will benefit numerous charities that support veterans and their families.

Earlier this year, Kid Rock told Rolling Stone he was “digging Trump.”

Another big event tied to the RNC is Rev The Vote’s July 19 concert, featuring a performance by the Royal Machines — a band consisting of Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath, The Cult’s Billy Morrison, guitar wizard Dave Navarro and his Jane’s Addiction bandmate Chris Chaney. The now-defunct Camp Freddy, a band featuring many members of the Royal Machines, also played at an event surrounding the GOP convention in 2012.

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Rev the Vote is a nonpartisan organization whose goal is to increase voter registration and turnout among motorsports fans. It has more than two dozen members of Congress on its advisory board, including Reps. Richard Hudson and Sanford Bishop as co-chairmen.

During that day, Rev the Vote will offer guests activities — including a “rally cross” obstacle course led by stunt drivers. It will present a concert at the DNC as well, featuring Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who in April initially said yes to a July 17 concert until he realized it was connected to the RNC and backed out.

There are rumors of an effort to stage an official RNC concert at the city’s main stadium, Jacobs Field, featuring Big & Rich, Pat Green, and Lee Brice — but there hasn’t been any confirmation of that.

Yet Grays Armory, one of downtown Cleveland’s most historic sites, will be home to several musical events following nightly watch parties of the convention proceedings.

Opening night, a Monday, features popular soft-rock singer-songwriter Jim Brickman.

Tuesday features singers from “American Idol” and “The Voice,” including Candace Glover.

Wednesday is Ohio night, where the Ohio delegation will be in the house, and partying to country-rock legend Marshall Tucker, as well as Ohio state auditor Dave Yost and his band.

Meanwhile, a huge party is being promised, with a yuuuge musical act worthy of Trump’s impressive standards. The currently top-secret act is a nationally known country music artist whose revelation is promised to draw big cheers from those lucky enough to attend.

The DNC will feature more star power — because, of course, the entertainment industry favors liberal candidates and causes. It will also feature special events for its endless array of “identity politics” groups such as the DNC LGBT Welcome Happy Hour and the Official DNC Marijuana Welcome Party.

If that seems like a joke, it’s not, but plenty of jokes will be offered at the Zellerbach Theatre, when “The Daily Show  with Trevor Noah” tapes four episodes there from July 26-29.

Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” will air live Monday through Thursday (during the RNC) and then return with another run of live shows from July 25 through July 28 (during the DNC). He won’t be at the conventions but will have a presence there.

The biggest show on the DNC opening day, July 25, is at the Politico Hub, featuring Alicia Keys. The event is designed to spotlight the Hub, which is intended to be a hotspot for newsmaker interviews, policy luncheons, and nightly lounges enabling people to discuss the news of the day and watch streaming speeches from the DNC.

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On July 26, the Veteran’s Benefit Concert at the Troc will feature the MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band performing, with the Congressional Jam Session as the opening act to support, celebrate, and honor veterans at the Trocadero nightclub. Meanwhile, the DNC Watch Party Celebrating the Black Vote will be hosted by actress Vivica Fox and feature a performance by veteran R&B singer Howard Hewett at Penns Landing Caterers.

The biggest DNC-related concert of the week takes place earlier that day, at 1 p.m., when Lady Gaga, Lenny Kravitz, and DJ Jazzy Jeff headline the Camden Rising concert. The free show sounds great, but attendees have to take the risk of going into nearby Camden, N.J., which has earned a troubled reputation as one of America’s most forlorn and crime-ridden cities — yet claims that this show will spotlight an impressive comeback.

Finally, rapper Snoop Dogg, who is everywhere these days, will headline the Unity Party at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia on the closing night, July 28.