While checking out Andrew Bird, I took some time to people-watch and saw a group of people on the VIP bleachers that caught my attention. For a few moments I had the pleasure of seeing a group of hearing-impaired Andrew Bird fans take turns signing the lyrics to the songs that were playing to one another. It was quite beautiful to see as well as proof that Bonnaroo really is for everyone.
Country legend Merle Haggard played a solid set at This Tent to a huge crowd of adoring fans, many who waited all weekend just to sneak a peek at the legend. Despite his age, he looked and sounded astounding along side his band The Strangers. Playing through an array of songs like “Momma Tried”, “Big City”, a new track titled “I Had A Gal”, and “Okie From Muskogee”, fans were going ballistic for the country artist. Everyone was singing along, dancing, and loving every moment of the set especially when he played a couple of Johnny Cash tracks, "Folsom Prison Blues” and “Jackson”. Merle’s performance was a highlight of my weekend.
Speaking of highlights, Coheed & Cambria played one of the last sets before the final performance started. They were another band I was looking forward to all weekend to seeing live and I was at That Tent before they even took the stage. I skipped out on Snoop Dogg, Neko Case, and even Band Of Horses to see Coheed play live. I wish I could have seen the other acts live but given the choice I picked Coheed.
I sang along at the top of my lungs when they broke into “In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3” as well as “Ten Speed (Of God’s Blood & Burial)” and shockingly I was not the only one. I loved hearing “Welcome Home”, “Favored House Atlantic”, as well as the newer “No World For Tomorrow” and “Mother Superior”.
The surprise to my ears during the set was when the band broke into the Church’s “Under The Milky Way” as well as Peter Gabriel’s “Red Rain”. Both covers blew me away but the ultimate Coheed moment for me was when they played an extended version of “The Final Cut” complete with Claudio playing guitar solos behind his back and also with his teeth. Adding to the impact of the song, Travis Stever played some serious guitar solos complete with his trademark voice box. In an attempt to go beyond amazing, there was an almost ten-minute drum solo making for the greatest performance for me all weekend.
Article comments
1 - dude
You skipped all the best bands dude!