Idol Chatter & Voice Views

No doubt living in south central Pennsylvania has its benefits. One being all the great concert venues within easy driving distance.

American Idol just announced the dates for the season nine summer tour.

And if you want to see the top 10 perform live this year, you have plenty of choices on where to watch them. Check out these dates:

* July 11 at the Wachovia Center in Philly;

* July 15 at the Hershey Center in Hershey;

* July 23 at Jiffy Lube Live in Washington, D.C.

* July 24 at the First Mariner Arena in Baltimore, Md.

That’s four nearby chances to watch Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus and the rest of the top 10 perform.

If you somehow miss out on all those dates, the top 10 will return to Pennsylvania for the final show of the tour, a Sept. 14 dae at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

Tickets for all the nearby shows go on sale 10 a.m. May 15.

For a complete list of the nearly 50 tour dates, go here.