His winter tour of colleges and universities, a deliberate downsizing of venues when he could otherwise fill arenas, was dubbed the Club Paradise Tour.

So what does it mean that Canadian sensation Drake‘s next Southern California appearance will be his largest yet, May 8 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine? Since his Viejas Arena gig was larger but still tied to a school (San Diego State), should this date be considered somehow tied to … UCI?

No? Too much of a stretch?

Doesn’t really matter what you call it. Bound to be a wild night all the same.

J. Cole, who made a cameo during Drake’s striking performance earlier this month at USC’s Galen Center, will deliver a proper opening set for the O.C. gig, as will Wacka Flocka Flame, Meek Mill, 2 Chainz and French Montana.

Tickets, $43.75-$93.75, go on sale Saturday, March 24, at 10 a.m., with pre-sales underway ’til Friday at 10 p.m.

That’s only one of three Verizon shows announced this week. We already learned about Kiss and Mötley Crüe teaming up for a tour that stops there in August. But also on the way is the return of Danzig Legacy, the three-set show that creative force Glenn Danzig brought to Gibson Amphitheatre last year.

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