Between reporting and writing stories, hosting a live radio show ("The D-List" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on 540 ESPN) and the usual music / people watching / beer drinking, I'll probably see more of Don Smiley and the Summerfest crew over the next two weeks than of my immediate family.

That's OK, though. Summerfest comes but once a year. I consider it our annual reward for putting up with a brutal Wisconsin winter.

Here are my picks for Summerfest 2009:

June 25 -- I've heard great things about Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons, so they may be worth checking out at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard before the always-interesting Conor Oberst fronts the Mystic Valley Band. I haven't seen Oberst since a pretty solid Bright Eyes show a few years back at the Pabst, so it will be interesting to see how he's developed as a performer. I'll definitely make it over to check out Matthew Sweet, too. He's been a longtime favorite and songs from "Girlfriend" still pop up on the iPod during walks with the dog. On a side note, did they get the order wrong on the order wrong over at Harley? Shouldn't the kids from Rise Against be opening for Rancid? Just wondering...

June 26 -- The John Sieger / Buckwheat Zydeco pairing at the Mid-Gate Stage at the Potawatomi Bingo Casino Pavilion is enticing, but I'll be hanging out with my friend Ken Casey (OK, he's just a friend-of-a-friend acquaintance, but he's such a damn nice guy that I feel like I've known him a long time) and his band, The Dropkick Murphys. If you've never seen a Dropkicks show, you're going to be amazed at the energy level, particularly with The Tossers opening.

June 27 -- Friend of OnMilwaukee.com Kevin Brandt took me to a KISS show at the Amphitheater a couple years ago. Although the spectacle appealed to me inner sixth-grader, I don't think I need to see it again. I've seen plenty of Barenaked Ladies, BoDeans and Cowboy Mouth, too, but they're all great bands to see while drinking cold beer on a warm night. I can stroll to all three venues and run into somebody in the crowd that I haven't seen in awhile.

June 28 -- I like a good harmonica solo as much as the next guy, but can only handle Blues Traveler in small doses, so I'll probably only make it through a couple songs after watching Cage The Elephant at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage. I've heard that Cage puts on a great show and might even stick around to see the first song by The Airborne Toxic Event.

June 29 -- I might need a Summerfest break on this night. If you see me on the grounds, I'll be watching Spoon at the Harley stage, gristle-master Greg Koch at Potawatomi or Robert Randolph & The Family Band at the Rock Stage.

June 30 -- I wonder what the average age will be on the south end of the grounds when Earth, Wind & Fire / Chicago headline the Amp and Billy Squier holds court at the Classic Rock Stage. After watching KB and the boys in Slumpbuster rock an early set Briggs, I'll be tempted to go see The Championship at 7:30 at the Mid-Gate Stage. That is, of course, if I'm not helping KB haul guitars and gear to his minivan.

July 1 -- I'm 1 for 3 with Bob Dylan, who headlines the Amphitheater with Willie Nelson. I've seen three shows -- one bad, one mediocre and one unforgettable. Since Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers aren't backing him this time around, I'll be happy watching Pat McGee play a 4 p.m. set at the Miller Lite Oasis and then just drifting around.

July 2 -- I've heard great things about Matisyahu, but I may head south to watch the Brewers open a series the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

July 3 -- I'd love to see the Roots, but might want to beat the fireworks traffic by bolting after Fest veterans Joe D'Urso and Stone Caravan play their 5:30 p.m. show at the Miller Lite Oasis. That's an early slot for a band making its 18th appearance at Summerfest, but it's also a 2 1/2-hour show.

July 4 -- Though I think it would be hilarious to see co-worker Andy Tarnoff rocking to the hits of Huey Lewis, I have to be honest. I'll probably spend the night watching the fireworks at my local park and saving my energy for....

July 5 -- Elvis Costello. The best side-stage act on the lineup this year. Come to think about it, Elvis and the Imposters would be the best just about any year.