What's so good?
By Joshua Mellin | June 7th, 2012
Bonnaroo offers a lot more than just music. This year, the comedy theatre moves to an all new home, where Comedy Central will be filming specials featuring comedians, such as Bonnaroo mainstays Aziz Ansari and Brian Posehn, along with Steven Wright, Reggie Watts, Rhys Darby of Flight of The Conchords, and World Champion Judah Freidlander, of “30 Rock” fame, who will actually be presiding over a wedding following Beach Boy’s Sunday afternoon set.
Aside from the Comedy Theatre, one of the only other air conditioned places on the Farm is the Cinema Tent, which this year features An R.Kelly “Trapped in the Closet” sing-a-long, as well as appearances by Dax Shepard & Kristen Bell, who will be there supporting their new film Hit and Run. Also in attendance will be Bobcat Goldthwait, promoting his film God Bless America. Uniquely, tUnE-yArDs, Reggie Watts and Steven Bernstein will be providing musical accompaniment to select silent films. The tent will also play host to panel discussions featuring Alice Cooper, Charles Bradley, The Civil Wars, and others.
When it comes to the music though, the best thing about Bonnaroo is that it’s festival you can customize. There are no wrong combinations! Featured here are a few of the acts that we’re most looking forward to — be sure to catch our other preview playlist, featuring Radiohead, Feist, Little Dragon, Alabama Shakes + more here!
"The Roots - Rising Down (Ft. Mos Def and Styles P)"
Saturday, What Stage, 7:30pm-9:00pm Far and away the hip-hop highlight of the weekend,this group was founded in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia. The Roots have truly become the Legendary Roots Crew, playing along icons from Bruce Springsteen to Jay-Z. Widely known as the best band in Late Night for Jimmy Fallon, The Roots are a true band that continues to put out the best work of their genre, continuing with their 2010 collaboration with John Legend, on Wake Up!, and last year's Rising Down.
Download from:
amazon.com (External Link)
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).
"Red Hot Chili Peppers - I Get Around (The Beach Boys Cover)"
After being elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside The Beastie Boys and Guns & Roses, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, now sans John Frusciante, decided to release an EP of covers honoring former Hall of Famers, including this track from fellow headliners The Beach Boys. Even having seen them just a week ago, this is one of the shows I'm most excited for. Flea's energy on bass is unmatched; he's a complete monster. After nearly a lifetime together, few bands are tighter or have more fun than Anthony Kiedis, Chad Smith, and Josh Klinghoffer, whose overzealous style (he nearly flung himself off the stage during the show I saw) fits perfectly with these now-legends from Los Angeles.
Download from:
youtube.com (External Link)
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).
"Superjam + ?uestlove - Adam Yauch (MCA) - I Don't Know"
Saturday, This Tent, 12:15am-2:00am All we know for sure so far is ?uestlove will be curating the Superjam from behind the drum kit, but rumor has it he has a Beastie Boys tribute in mind. It would be fitting, since Bonnaroo was the site of the trio's final live performance in 2009. Immediately following the Red Hot Chili Peppers, it seems likely for Flea to make an appearance, which has led to some speculation this his Atoms For Peace bandmate Thom Yorke could as well, as he's sometimes known to at festivals. More likely though, if anything were to be Beastie related, it's Santigold (she was featured on their final album Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2) or punk band Bad Brains, whose frontman H.R., guitarist Dr. Know, bassist Darryl Jenifer and drummer Earl Hudson were close friends of Yauch's. They also helped produced their most recent album. In the end though, this is all speculation -- but what's certain is the Superjam is always one of the most memorable sets of the festival.
Download from:
IndieShuffle (right click save as)
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).
"GZA - Liquid Swords"
Saturday, This Tent, 2:30am-4:00am The Roo gets rowdy late at night. The ones who have managed to make it this long are usually just going for broke and just plain wiling out. This will be that show. Recorded in RZA's basement studio in State Island New York in 1995, GZA has described the beats as "grimy" and "rock-like," no doubt, the title track from this classic album has become the entrance music for The Black Keys. Really. GZA himself describes Liquid Swords best: "It has great songs, it's not an ignorant album, it doesn't sound dated. If you listen to it and compare it to what's out now, it's timeless. Lyrically, it's not my best work. Not at all. But the chemistry? Production? Overall, I mean, c'mon! RZA's atmospheric production? Yes. It's my best album."
Download from:
soundcloud.com (External Link)
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).
"Sunday - Don't Owe You A Thang"
Sunday, What Stage, 1:00pm-2:00pm This is another early main stage treat of one of the most talented contemporary bluesman. I first was introduced to him at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2010, his early afternoon set on one of the most blindingly hot days of that summer was one of the takeaway moments from a day that featured not only Eric Clapton but Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, and B.B. King. Playing with the best often causes artists to rise to their level, and this 28 year old from Austin, Texas is already on par with some of the legends of blues guitar.
Download from:
soundcloud.com (External Link)
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).
"The Beach Boys - Heroes And Villains (Alternate Version)"
Sunday, What Stage, 3:00pm-4:00pm You wouldn't normally see the top listed act at a festival playing in the middle of the afternoon, but The Beach Boys fit too well into a mid-afternoon set on the Farm, and it also gives them ample time to catch the early bird special. This is the part of the bill that simply cannot be denied -- the closest thing America can boast to the Beatles, complete with mastermind Brian Wilson -- playing for the first time in more than two decades in celebration of their 50th anniversary.
Download from:
amazon.com (External Link)
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).
"Ben Folds Five - Not The Same"
Sunday, Which Stage, 4:30-6:30pm While Ben Folds has been on an odyssey of creation the last several years, serving up a multitude of phenomenal solo albums, the band that launched his career has fully reloaded with a new album in the works and a fall tour planned. In one of their first appearances, it will be interesting to see how the band may put a twist on some of Fold's solo work, such as "Annie Waits," "Zak & Sara," and especially "Not The Same."
Download from:
amazon.com (External Link)
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).
"The Joy Formidable - While The Flies"
Download from:
soundcloud.com (External Link)
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).
"The Shins - Simple Song"
Sunday, Which Stage, 6:30pm-8:00pm The final show at Which Stage always seems to be memorable. Whether it was Weezer in 2009, White Stripes in 2007, or The Strokes last year, Which Stage always seems to have a certain edge, a character, that rewards those who decided to see the act deemed the undercard over whatever usually agreeable jam band type act is closing out the main stage (this year that honor goes to a double Phish set). The Shins were a constant highlight throughout Indie Shuffle's time at SXSW. After taking time away to collaborate with Brian Burton, Danger Mouse on Broken Bells, James Mercer returned to the Shins and cleaned house. He replaced the lineup, -- calling it "an aesthetic decision," which now, a few years later, has really turned out to be true -- with Yuuki Matthews, Jessica Dobson, Joe Plummer and Richard Swift at the helm. The collective's entire catalogue shines like it never has before.
Download from:
soundcloud.com (External Link)
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 →
