Last week, we brought you part one of our in-depth interview with Superfly Presents president Jonathan Mayers where we discussed his start in the industry, the booking process for Bonnaroo and so much more. This week, we bring you part two of Scott Bernstein and Jeffrey Greenblatt’s talk with Jonathan, which includes his thoughts on Outside Lands, Vegoose, Superfly’s Greening efforts and much more…
Hidden Track: What has been your favorite Bonnaroo – both, in terms of your experiences and in terms of performances?
Jonathan Mayers: I have a couple, really. I’ve had many amazing moments there. You know, to be working with your friends every day, to feel creatively inspired, realizing that you can do anything. It’s like you can have an idea and with a good team of people you can execute on it and that just for me, the festival itself happening, is very fulfilling.
In terms of performances, I’m a huge Neil Young fan and when Neil Young & Crazy Horse played [in 2003] it was just such an amazing thrill for me because here was my hero, playing the festival and totally killing it. That was amazing. And, I’m also a huge Radiohead fan and I thought, Radiohead it was just an amazing set and they are one of my favorite bands. When they played, it felt like the festival was evolving – so that was really exciting too. And even Metallica last year – we had a lot of people that didn’t feel like that was a good booking for us and I thought that they were amazing. I thought it was a statement that – you know what – the place isn’t going to burn down. They’re an amazing live band and it worked.
READ ON for more on Outside Lands, the future of Vegoose, the economy and who Jonathan is most excited to see at this year’s Bonnaroo…
Vegoose 2006 won't be remembered in the annuls of music history, or even for Halloween's sake, but it will be remembered for being a crazy weekend, one to mark on your calendar for 07. It's a hell of an excuse to hit Vegas every year, if it was anywhere else, chances are you'd make those early shows.
With Vegoose just days away, some of the festival's biggest acts filled us in on their plans for the show, the halloween weekend and Vegas baby!
Halloween in Vegas is a recipe for a serious bender. Throw in a two-day festival and a dozen late-night shows and you might as well check-in under the name "Dr. Gonzo."
A place like Las Vegas makes forgetting easy, but Widespread Panic, who have planted so many roots in New Orleans, made it a point to remember this Halloween night.
The inaugural Vegoose was not about social consciousness or warm, fuzzy, neo-hippie activism, nor was it about resurrecting some nihilistic hedonism of by-gone summers. Vegoose was all about chance
Photos by Brian Gearing of the 2005 Vegoose Festival, Las Vegas, NV – 10/28/05 through 10/30/05. Performers included Widespread Panic, The Shins, The Decemberists, Sleater-Kinney, The Flaming Lips, Primus, The Arcade Fire, Trey Anastasio and Gov’t Mule among many others.
What more could you possibly ask for than heading to Vegas on Halloween weekend? What if a festival the likes of Bonnaroo was going on while you
