As preachers of improvisational rock, we try to prescribe patience to all those who wish to be converted (most people want nothing to do with this church). It’s patience that makes a group
“Man, I don’t even have any words for you right now.” –Kenny Crumpton Sure this video qualifies as fodder for music blogs, insomuch as it mentions two instruments prominently. Problem
It’s all over but the showering…Bonnaroo hath come and gone, and the massive crowd that descended upon a huge field in Tennessee has dispersed to all parts of the country. Our Man in Manchester is en route back to the Buckeye State, but he found time to write one final overview of the festival’s last day. TJ’s reports from the first three days are linked at the bottom of this post, and a general review follows some time this week. Onto the Day Four screed:
Just like you knew they would, the people at Bonnaroo went all Vanessa Williams on us and saved the best for the last. I saw more hours of great music yesterday than on any other day of my life (most of them beginning with “W”). By dinner time yesterday I had already seen Mavis Staples, Wolfmother and RatDog, and I still had the White Stripes, Wilco and Widespread Panic ahead of me.
But let’s start back at the beginning with what was the perfect opener for a Sunday at a festival: Mavis Staples at The Other Tent (where I’ve decided to have some of my ashes scattered after I’m dead). Let me be up front here and say that I love Mavis Staples. She makes my heart smile. The world is a better place for her being in it. I knew I was gonna love her set because I was excited to see her in person. The most satisfying aspect of seeing her, though, was that I genuinely enjoyed the performance she and her band delivered as well.
Read on for the full review of Sunday’s festival festivities, including more on Mavis, RatDog, Wilco, the White Stripes, Widespread Panic and more…
Reports from the Dust Bowl that is Bonnaroo came fast and furious this weekend, and we posted as much as we could without actually, you know, being there. Our Man
A mix of young bands and old favorites greeted our intrepid field reporter on Day Three of Bonnaroo. The oppressive heat and the aggressive rock must be difficult to endure for another two days, but sure enough, everyone we’ve been talking to down there is still at full tilt, all systems go. I’m exhausted just typing this post. Better men.
TJ has weighed in on the Day Three festivities, and his text follows below. Remember to check back tomorrow for TJ’s Day Four Overview and eventual wrap-up…
I opened my day Saturday with The American Babies. I don’t know Brothers Past, but I like the work of Scott Metzger on guitar and Joe Russo on drums a lot, so I wanted to check this out. The Babies played a really upbeat early set with a number of songs that really stood out as being assembled with care. It’s apparent that these guys put a lot into the music they’ve created together, which is surprising considering they’re a fairly new invention. They have a new album out that I think I might check out.
I started thinking after the show how it seemed back in the old days, pop artists would use a side project to explore new, often improvisational or out-of-character material. Today, it seems, some of the luminaries of the “jam” scene are finding outlets where they can create real songs without the expectations of extended solos and multiple tempo changes. And I think that’s cool.
We’ve been conditioned for 15 years to reject radio-friendly music out of hand for being too commercial or popular. Bands like the American Babies (and I can’t tell you if they’re a side project or not; I guess time will decide that) might really help us all re-evaluate how we classify and consider both the music we listen to and the music we don’t.
Read on after the jump for much more from Day Three at Bonnaroo, including the pictured Hot Tuna, The Police, Ben Harper & John Paul Jones, Galactic and others — oh, and we’ve got some videos from the festival as well…
We’re usually all smiles and yucks around here, but we regrettably begin today’s coverage with a reported death at Bonnaroo: A 25-year-old gentlemen from Kentucky was declared dead yesterday morning, a sad but inevitable tragedy in a city of 80,000 – 90,000 people. Stay safe out there, folks.
But onto less forlorn matters. TJ hath awakened and officially weighed in with his Day Two thoughts. Let’s all gather ’round and listen to the man:
They’re calling Thursday the new Friday around here, which I guess would technically make this…Sunday? The Good Lord may have only made seven days, but Bonnaroo is putting a week’s worth of living into this extended weekend.
The music and fun from opening day gathered even more momentum as the festival headed into the weekend with a diverse schedule of artists. You have to give it to the Bonnaroo people: Their Friday entertainment closes any other festival in the country. As a fan of interesting music, I felt really fortunate to bear witness to an eclectic mix of acts, none of which disappointed.
My day started with the surprising Richard Thompson. I know what you’re thinking –- Richard Thompson isn’t a surprise, guy’s a legend. Having never seen Thompson live, and being more familiar with his acoustic material, I guess I just didn’t know what to expect. This was an electrified Thompson, however, and the result was nothing short of stunning.
Read on for more of TJ’s thoughts and photos from the second day of Bonnaroo, including the SuperJam, Tool, Paolo Nutini and more…
Another communiqué from TJ: “Tom Morello is backstage here, just said he’s probably going to play with Tool tonight. Richard Thompson was awesome.” Let’s hope Mr. Morello’s telling the troof
Our man at Bonnaroo‘s had a tough time logging on to the world wide netweb down in Manchester, but our first communiqué from TJ has come through. Here’s an overview of Day One (Thursday) from a seasoned Bonnaroo veteran…
The Pluses
New Mother Nature: First-day attendees were blessed with some of the most pleasant weather Bonnaroo has ever enjoyed — sunny skies, cool breezes and comfortable overnight sleeping temperatures. My crew decided that if the promoters started going to each campsite and asking for a $50 Good Weather Tax, we would all happily pay. (Sure beats the drug tax collector.)
Blame Canada: I know that the United States and Canada aren’t close like we used to be, but even I can’t believe they’ve been keeping the Sam Roberts Band a secret from us. I think half of Alberta was in That Tent last night, alternating between cheering on the band, waving the Canadian flag and making strange chants in Quebecois that surely had something to do with secession or socialized medicine. If America gets turned on to SRB like French Canada appears to have, then I see big things in their future.
Read on for much more coverage and photos from Day One of Bonnaroo…
Just yesterday we posted a torrent of Pearl Jam’s appreance at Festimad Sur in Madrid last week, saying the band sounded “tight as fuck.” We then lamented our only chance
The ramp-up to this year’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is all but over, and the real action begins in earnest in just a matter of hours. Trying to make me wholly jealous, I’m sure, our weekend reporter TJ texted me earlier today: “First man gone in a three-man war. Waiting in line. The sun is shining.”
Nothing better than a kids card game, a trusty RV and a line of heads waiting to get into what promises to be one of the best American music festivals in decades. But for those of us unlucky asshats that won’t be attending this weekend’s festivities in Manchester, the AT&T Blue Room is at our rescue again.
Specific times and shows have yet to be released — really? nothing? why? — but click on this giant image above for all your live streaming video needs.
And remember to check back with Hidden Track all weekend long as we post live reports from the sure-to-be scorching field. Sure that means my bringing a laptop out to Fire Island and sacrificing a little beach time, but we work for you…and tips.
**UPDATE** The official webcast schedule is out, and the lineup follows after the jump. Also, our Intrepid Bonnaroo Reporter TJ has sent over a few photos from the trip and the grounds, just an appetizer of things to come. Make sure to check those out after the jump as well…
