Joey Fatone & AJ McLean, Nelly and more: 5 shows to see in the Coachella Valley this week
HOT PICKS
Saturday
Pop: In the '90s, The Backstreet Boys and NSYNC were the ultimate heartthrobs of teenage girls worldwide. Both bands captured the hearts of fans with chart-topping albums, merchandise, posters, teen magazines and sold-out concerts.
The music industry was saturated with new teen idols and changing trends in the early 2000s. Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, LFO, O-Town and more gained popularity alongside two unstoppable bands. The Backstreet Boys stayed together and continued on, but NSYNC broke up in 2002.
On Saturday, Joey Fatone of NSYNC and AJ McLean of The Backstreet Boys will perform together at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage.
If you go: 8 p.m. Saturday, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. $50 to $150. aguacalientecasinos.com
BEST BETS
Thursday - Sunday
Pop: Pink Martini has no limits. The band can handle singing in different languages, styles of music from around the world and have performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Pops and the Cleveland Orchestra. See for yourself when Pink Martini plays multiple performances from Thursday to Sunday at the McCallum Theatre.
Frontman Thomas Lauderdale founded the band in 1994 in Portland and began playing bars, clubs and political fundraisers. Pink Martini features several musicians, including vocalists China Forbes and "Rock Star: Supernova" contestant Storm Large.
If you go: Multiple performances on Thursday to Sunday, McCallum Theatre, 73-000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. $55 to $95. 760-340-2787. mccallumtheatre.com
Friday
Tribute: Queen is a legendary rock band that produced some of the most recognizable hits of all time, including "We Will Rock You," "We Are The Champions," "Radio Ga Ga" and "Bohemian Rhapsody." The tribute band Killer Queen does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the original band. Killer Queen has performed in arenas all over the world, including a notable concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado.
Killer Queen will perform on Friday at Spotlight 29 Casino.
If you go: 7 p.m. Friday, Spotlight 29 Casino, 46-200 Harrison Place, Coachella. Tickets start at $20. 760-775-5566. spotlight29.com
Folk: Devendra Banhart's 2004 album "Rejoicing In The Hands" is a masterpiece. Its traditional folk sound mixed with Brazilian compositions and mind-bending lyrics opened the door to further creativity on subsequent albums. He's performed notable sets at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Desert Daze, Lollapalooza and venues around the globe.
Apart from music, Banhart's drawings have been presented at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, the Tate Modern in London and several galleries in the U.S. and Europe.
Banhart will perform on Friday at Pappy and Harriet's.
If you go: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Pappy and Harriet's, 53-688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. $41.50. 760-228-2222. pappyandharriets.com
Saturday
Rap: Nelly has a knack for writing catchy rap hits. His early 2000s hits "Ride wit Me," "Hot In Herre," "Air Force Ones," and other songs featured his innovative use of twang, vocabulary and freestyle artistry. As an early visionary of rap and country crossover success, he has collaborated with the biggest stars in country music such as Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Jimmie Allen and more. He was also a highlight of the 2023 Stagecoach country music festival.
Nelly will perform Saturday at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
If you go: 8 p.m. Saturday, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio. $59 to $99. 760-342-5000. fantasyspringsresort.com
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 5 shows to see in the Palm Springs area this week
