The B-52's

We can't think of a better way to kick off Memorial Day weekend than with the B-52's, a band capable of making even a workday commute on a snow-covered February morning seem like a sun-kissed summer party. Add Cleveland's annual Great American Rib Cook-Off to the mix, and we could be looking at one of the year's best summer parties … and summer doesn't even officially start for another month. The B-52's are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year the same way they celebrated their 34th, 33rd, and 32nd anniversaries: by playing a ton of open-air concerts packed with lots of hits. Very few groups can fill a show with so many ass-shaking classics like “Rock Lobster,” “Dance This Mess Around,” “Planet Claire,” “Private Idaho,” “Love Shack, “Roam,” and “Channel Z.” Yeah, it's been four years since they released Funplex, their seventh album and first in 16 years. Doesn't matter – you'd just complain if they started playing a bunch of new stuff you didn't want to hear. Their Friday-night show at Jacobs Pavilion should be about 97 percent filler free. Your rib fest ticket gets you free general admission, or you can upgrade to reserved seats for $36. 9 p.m. – Michael Gallucci