Bonnaroo was both the best and worst experience of my life up to this point. I got to see some of the greatest bands in the world, but also get to sleep in a wet tent, burn up in 90+ degree temperatures during the day, with no shade, and shiver throughout the wet, cold nights. As long as you come prepared (or more prepared than I was), you will do ok. If not, get ready for one of the worst experiences of your life.
Ok, enough logistics, let's discuss the only reason to go to Bonnaroo (besides the atmosphere, of course): The music.
In 3 days, I saw at least half of all of the following bands' sets:
Calexico
The Black Keys
Wilco
Bob Dylan
Dave Matthews and Friends
Kings of Leon
Grandaddy
Ween
Primus
Guster
David Byrne
Material
Trey Anastasio with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra (first set) and his band (second set)
Every band was great, just because they were playing right in front of me, but some were better than others...I might as well review all of the shows for you, I know some of you are interested to see what some of your favorite bands are like live.
Calexico
Calexico was an excellent choice to kick-start the festival. While most people were heading over to the second stage to see Los Lobos, and all of the hippies were at the smallest tent to see New Monsoon, the smart Bonnaroovians were rocking out to some eclectic Tex-Mex rock straight outta Tucson. Calexico isn't a very well known band, and it was obvious that they were thrilled to be performing at a festival as big as Bonnaroo, in front of about a thousand people, no less. Calexico fed off the crowd's energy the entire time and employed some interesting techniques in their music, including two trumpet players, and an accordion/drum solo in a few songs. I was pleasantly surprised by this band, and they got me really pumped for the rest of the weekend. It was easy to get within ten feet of the band, and everyone was friendly and fresh, ready to enjoy the weekend. It was rare seeing everyone this happy over the course of the weekend, especially during/after the rain on Saturday, so, in retrospect, the Calexico show left me with one of the best after show recoveries (sometimes, after an amazing 2 hour set by a great band later in the weekend, your body will over-compensate for all the energy you use during the show, energy that you didn't even know you were using, and give you what I liked to call a post-show hangover). Calexico left me fresh, and ready for the bigger bands I would be seeing the rest of the day.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Really terrific, thorough, vivid you-are-there review. Thanks so much and welcome, Matthew!
2 - Eric Olsen
BTW, as a veteran of several festival wars, I would very strongly recommend to think about your own comfort FIRST and LAST, and plan for everything that can and will go wrong. And that night/day dichotomy is a killer.
3 - Natalie Davis
Thank you, Matthew! I live for summer music fests and was crushed when I had to ditch plans to attend Bonnaroo this year. Thanks for letting me know what I missed.
One question: Wasn't the Dead supposed to hit Tennesee for the event?
4 - Matthew Parten
They did play, natalie. I only got a chance to hear 'Tennessee Jed,' though (it was cold and wet, and the closest you could get was a football field away). I downloaded the set, and it sounded very good. If you want to download it for yourself, you can find it here:
http://www.sharingthegroove.org/msgboard/showthread.php?s=&threadid=73914
5 - Natalie Davis
Oh, rock on. THANKS!!!
6 - Viviana
Can you believe this boy missed Patti Smith's set? TELL ME IT ISN'T SO!
7 - Natalie Davis
Attend an International ANSWER rally -- Patti plays those fairly often. And awesomely...
8 - Lono
Thank you for capturing in words what I experienced when I saw Dylan in college about 12 years ago. I am a HUGE fan of early Dylan and the show I saw was just the worst thing ever. It was like seeing a favorite uncle who has alzheimers and he doesn't even remember you... but your best memories are of the two of you together.
Sorry to get off the topic of Bonaroo, but that Dylan bit grabbed me.
9 - Grant
I was at the Ween show. I agree with every word. I could not believe what I was hearing. I think it seared my brain.
What I want to know is where I can get a bootleg?
10 - phil
hey guys! nobody memtioned the umphreys mcgee-moe.-umphreys set in another tent fri.night! whoa! unbelievable! i left roun 4:20 a.m. and they were still playing!
11 - bonnaroo_baby
matthew, i can't believe all the negative things you had to say about the fest! it was very hot, it's true, but there were tents everywhere to hide under (including the very refreshing mist tents!) and it wasn't that cold at night, really. it just makes me sad that you would fill peoples heads with a comment like, "if you don't come prepared axpect one of the worst experiences of your life." but, of course, that's your personal opinion. and one more thing - in MY opinion, trey burned down the house with both the orchestra set, and the trey band sets. as long as you are there to appreciate the music, i think you can be moved by any show, whether it's symphony style or "spazzed out" guitar jams. thanks!
12 - paul asplin
Fantastic festival, we came from UK / Holland and what a great way to kick off a USA holiday. Yep it rained, but as long as you had rain gear no problem - and the soaked fans going to get changed meant we ended up 10ft from the front for the best bit of the 3 days - 3 hours of the Dead, incredible musicianship. Did anyone catch Chris Robinson's new outfit - very promising.
Thanks to all the Dead Heads for making a couple of Europeans so welcome.
13 - Heba
AWESOME REVIEW MATT!!!! simply spectacular, it's just like i actually went with you guys, thanks.
14 - matt
i was at bonnaroo and it was hot but still i had the best time of my life no complaints, how do you miss shows like praxis, moe., yonder mountain, jazz mandolin and string cheese man i skipped dylan mainly because he played here in Columbia earlier and people who saw it said hes losing it as sacreligious as that is to say