What's so good?
By Joshua Mellin | June 17th, 2011
No matter how much you think you know about music, there’s always more to learn at Bonnaroo. After attending the past several years as civilians, we were privileged enough to be granted press credentials for the Tennessee festival’s 10th anniversary — and what a celebration was had!
The arch, which is freshly decorated every year, featured mirrors, spotlights, a disco ball, and was topped off by Dr. John’s trademark Night Tripper cap, complete with a gigantic feather. Other new additions included a cuckoo clock that didn’t actually tell time and street art-influenced murals of past performers along the festival walls.
In the press tent, we were treated to shows featuring eclectic pairings, from Grace Potter cracking up alongside Lewis Black as he hurled obscenities, to Eugene from Gogol Bordello’s theories on sexual vibes emitted by the festival, to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar looking on as Stephen Stills explained how he penned “For What It’s Worth.”
One of the most interesting panels included Bonnaroo founders Ashley Capps of AC Entertainment and Jonathan Mayers of Superfly reminiscing about surveying the empty land some 10 plus years ago, deciding on naming the stages, and most encouragingly, explaining their vision of the future of the festival as fostering a strong community experience.
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Running across the sprawling 700-acre farm through crowds of 50 to 70,000 and managing the long, hot, dusty days presented its own unique challenge, but in the end paid off with a slew of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and amazing rock shows. Chronicled here are a few of the finest.
"Dr. John / Superjam - What Comes Around (Goes Around)"
As his trademarked feathered Night Tripper hat capped the Arch, Dr. John graced the festival with his presence not just once, but for two separate and phenomenal shows. First, presenting the festival's namesake, his 1974 album "Destinitely Bonnaroo" in it's entirety alongside the Original Meters and the album's producer Allen Toussaint.
Then, he helped close out the weekend, acting almost an elder statesman alongside the Black Key's Dan Auerbach, the Preservation Jazz Hall Band and My Morning Jacket's Patrick Hallahan on drums at the traditional Superjam where the makeshift band poured through creole classics, "Iko Iko" and even covered "St. James Infirmary Blues."
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"The Strokes - Games"
It seemed downright bizarre to see Casablancas & Co. play a daytime gig, but the sun seemed to bring out a dormant energy in the band. As bassist Nikolai Fraiture put it, "Beautiful sunset, beautiful breasts and beautiful crowd!! Thank you Bonnaroo. You were awesome!" With John Waters decked out in a skull suit to the side of the stage, the boys happily poured through their catalogue, presenting a near "Best Of" setlist, with a focus on their newest, Angles.
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"Iron & Wine - The Same Old Song (Four Tops Cover)"
Transforming their sound to play to larger crowds ended up working wonders as Marketa Irglova of the Swell Season provided backing vocals to Sam Beam's gentle, yet louder team. Appearing as though they were floating on the clouds behind them, the group lulled the late afternoon crowd into a soft daze.
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"Mavis Staples - Song For Everyone (Creedence Clearwater Revival Cover)"
The "closest thing to church at Bonnaroo," Mavis did not disappoint to those who made the pilgrimage out to the What Stage early Sunday afternoon. Presenting soul standards and rock classics like The Band's "The Weight" alongside Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller, the Woodstock veteran closed her set with a rousing rendition of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth."
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"The Black Keys - Sinister Kid (Live)"
Aziz Ansari (as "Founder Ken Bonnaroo") made the
same mistake as MTV, and introduced Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney as The Black Eyed Peas.
Although they played an incredibly tight set, after seeing this
Brothers incarnation several times over the past year (including a stellar late night tent set last year), I was a little disappointed. They finished a half hour before their set was scheduled to close, and with a 10-year catalogue of great songs to choose from, I'm kind of tired of hearing the same
Brothers-laden set.
I'd love to hear some of their older songs with this fuller, new found vigor. Even some material from their rap side project Blakroc would be welcome.That being said, we stopped by Dan Auerbach's new Nashville recording studio where the Keys are working on their follow-up with Danger Mouse, so hopefully we'll get some fresh tunes soon.
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"Mumford & Sons - The Cave (Live at Bonnaroo 2010)"
Like I said: Everyone loves Mumford & Sons. At the largest Which stage day crowd in the history of the fest, the boys from London delivered a lively show that had some 50,000 fans bopping and jumping along. Right at home in Tennessee, keyboardist Ben Lovett has recently credited nearby Nashville with easing the song writing process for their second album due in late 2011. Joining them to close out their set, their Railroad Revival tour bandmates, Old Crow Medicine show for a breathtaking version of "Amazing Grace."
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"The Arcade Fire - Wake Up (Live at Bonnaroo 2011)"
After the synchronized light-brite show to close out their Coachella set, I was extremely excited to see what the Fire would bring to the farm. They did not disappoint.
Right before their set, it rained pixie dust. I could explain, but I don't want to ruin it -- you just had to be there. As for the show itself, this is a superhuman band. There's no other way to explain it. They're all constantly trading places, driving through an anthem-laden set at a pace few bands can match for a song, much less an entire concert… and they appear to do it with ease in front of countless scores.
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"Florence + The Machine - My Darling (Beatles Cover)"
Packed into a sweltering tent, Florence Welch floated across the stage like a spirit cloaked in black to hordes of screaming fans. Her booming voice overtook the entire festival grounds as "Dog Days" shook Bonnaroo's foundations, reverberating across the open expanse.
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"Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - Medicine (Live)"
The Nocturnals made the most of their main stage appearance, playing an impassioned set to an impressive crowd. Grace herself was quite busy, covering Joan Jett's "I Love Rock & Roll" (an impending song of the day) and making the rounds throughout the festival. We caught up with her for a few moments while running between tents. Talking about what has changed since they last played the Roo back in 2009, Grace said they are much tighter band, working constantly to improve and flesh out their sound.
Although Grace admits she was surprised they were chosen to headline the Bonnaroo Buzz tour that led up to the festival, she explained how she warmed up the idea. "I started into this business so I can get onto that stage every night -- and that doesn't get old for me. The grind is why I got into this; if Bonnaroo is the pinnacle opportunity for showing live music, and sharing it and experiencing it with a live audience than thats the kind of platform I want to be on, absolutely."
Oozing with talent, that work ethic and drive have made Grace Potter & The Nocturnals a must-see festival act, so much so she has her own: the upcoming
Grand Point North Festival in Vermont.
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"Sleigh Bells - Kids"
Opening the festival gates a day early on Wednesday, coupled with the main stages being closed, Sleigh Bells played to a headlining sized crowd at the Other Tent in the corner of the festival. Strutting out to the opening chords of Iron Maiden's "Iron Man" mixed with Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain," Alexis Krauss grabbed the audience by the throat and never let go, frolicking across the stage in a custom BELLS 23 jersey as Derrek Miller shredded through a wall of Marshall amps. Jumping into the the crowd during "A/B Machines," Alexis ended the show declaring "See ya in 2012!" before cancelling their Lollapalooza appearance to focus on recording their follow-up to Treats.
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Note: In many cases we can't share a track for free. So, we either link to sites that can, or provide purchase links (e.g., iTunes).
Joshua is a staff writer and photographer at Indie Shuffle, reviewing albums, live concerts and music festivals.
Favorite bands include Wilco, the White Stripes, the ...learn more →
