Jeff Schachtman of ­Minnetonka:

1 Paul Simon, Xcel Energy Center. A true American music experience. He can still sing, had a great band and was a gracious performer.

2 Kinky Friedman coming to the Turf Club on Aug. 7. Always a kick, and always unexpected. How many (Texas) gubernatorial candidates play the Turf Club in St. Paul?

3 Bruce Springsteen on the Tony Awards. Passion about being passionate. Still the Boss.

Contribute: popmusic@startribune.com.

Jon Bream of the Star Tribune:

1 Judge allows Stub Hub class-action suit to proceed. This one is about those ridiculous 20-percent-plus add-on fees that you don't see until you've entered your credit-card number for your ticket order.

2 Chicago Cubs offer free Eddie Vedder single with purchase of tickets for July 6 game. It's his 2007 baseball-themed "All the Way," with Steve Goodman's "Go, Cubs, Go" from 1984 on the flip side. Go, Eddie, go!

3 Tony Awards. The morning after, everyone was talking about Robert DeNiro and Bruce Springsteen, who both were a hit in character. How about Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles, a couple of pop singers who stepped out of character to act as hosts? Yes, they've appeared on Broadway. But they brought a pop sensibility and a sense of "Don't take us seriously" to the Tonys. Loved their opening number (lyrics by Bareilles) about how almost everyone goes home a loser.