The Sweet Sounds of Summer

By Jeremy Caplan

There's nothing worse than wasting a sunny day waiting in line. And with scores of major artists planning tours this summer--from Coldplay and the Rolling Stones to the Dave Matthews Band, above, and Alanis Morissette--this will be one of the biggest concert seasons in years. Savvy groupies are finding new ways to strategize for tickets using online resources. Here are some of the best tools for getting a seat--and avoiding those lousy lines. --By Jeremy Caplan

FIND CHEAP TICKETS

Choosing among sites can be confusing. Some charge exorbitant fees while others, like eBay and Stubhub.com offer auctions where bids can rocket through the roof. To avoid overpaying and the nuisance of scanning hundreds of sites yourself, go to FatLens.com a new site that scours the Web for the cheapest concert tix, even if they're offered on Craigslist or by an obscure online discount broker.

DOES SIZE MATTER?

If mega-stadiums aren't your thing, nab seats for more intimate settings using Brownpapertickets.com which specializes in small and midsize venues. The good news: its fees are just a fraction of what Ticketmaster charges.

GET THE WORD

Check for the latest info on your favorite band's tour schedule at Mojam.com If it's buzz you're after, Pollstar.com posts stories about the concert scene and also sends automatic e-mail when new dates are announced.

CONCERT MERCHANDISE

If you can't get to the show but want to pretend you did, Star500.com has relaunched with hats, stickers, shirts--even commemorative flags--for more than 1,500 bands. Look for closeout deals; Moby and Kiss T shirts were recently listed at $6.