Dirt Off Your Shoulder: Bonnaroo Day 2

[Getting Juggy With It]

Next up was the ever elusive Umphrey’s McGee. The set started out right with All In Time and then an excellent, heavily jammed out transition into The Floor. Turn & Dub seemed appropriate for a daytime slot at a large outdoor festival. The show also featured two of their new songs that I had yet to see – Conduit and Booth Love. Their performance was solid, but what I might call a standard afternoon festival set. I sincerely hope the next time Umphrey’s appears at Bonnaroo they have a late night slot. Also of note is that their performance at the Sonic Stage included a cover of Paul Simon’s Graceland featuring Brock Butler.

She & Him’s performance was a show stopper. Sentimental Heart and Change Is Hard were performed early in the set. In the Sun was impeccable and included a crowd singalong. M. Ward took command of Roll Over Beethoven and brought down the house. The show concluded with a hauntingly beautiful version of I Put A Spell On You.

[Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers]

Steve Martin & The Steep Canyon Rangers set was unbelievable – a talented group of musicians complete with comedic interludes between each song. In a bit of technological irony – Steve Martin used an iPad for setlist purposes. I found it odd, yet hilarious. Highlights from this performance include: The Crow, Late for School, Athiests Don’t Have No Song done a capella style, and Rare Bird Alert. The show concluded with a great rendition of Orange Blossom Special.

At one point the famous actor/author/banjo-strummer alluded to the possibility of a sit in by Jack Black of Tenacious D, but all Mr. Black did was run from one side of the stage to the other. Apparently, Steve and Jack are in the process of filming a movie together. It’s weird to think about the fact that Steve Martin, Jack Black and Zooey Deschanel all became famous for their acting careers and they all performed within a three-hour time frame yesterday. Who knows what other actors and actresses will find themselves making music and then performing at the country’s premiere music festival in the near future?

[Steve Martin’s $500 setlist]

Well, it’s music time for me once again. I’ve got a lot in store to catch today and still need to process all that I witnessed at yesterday’s late night performances. I’ll be back later to share a post that includes a complete report and setlist of Chromeo & Daryl Hall, my take on the Lips’ version of Dark Side of the Moon and the best performance of the festival thus far – LCD Soundsystem.