Same day - 4:12pm CST Experiment time. PC's are full at the moment so I'm posting from my phone. It's worth noting though that in a weekend filled with the previously mentioned multi-genre soundtrack, I once again find some Waylon love. Durham NC's Hiss Golden Messenger just blew us all away with a scorching and most Cosmic cover of Steve Young's Lonesome Onry and Mean. Still working on pictures. Time to rehydrate and hit the What Stage for Spoon. I do hope this post went out. Rob 06/14/2015 - 12:28pm CST It is hot. Heat index for today is predicted to top out near 100 degreeable It's a beautiful day though. I'm typing this one corner over from the studio booth that Brad and I used on Friday for the live broadcast + this place is still going full-speed on this closing Sunday afternoon.
Yesterday featured more of those hard choices with a payout at every destination, filled with what I think of, and keep hearing others refer to, as Bonnaroo moments. Woods played a set of swirly psych-folk just before 4pm, and it was as if they personally brought in the breeze. Sturgill Simpson was my next stop and the overflow crowd at That Tent couldn't have been happier. Live, his Metamodern Sounds were perfect vintage, varying between classic country and the 70's outlaw sound. He brought Waylon to mind, so I'd call it another moment when I wandered over to Belle and Sebastian for the next set and they briefly covered WJ's "Good Ol' Boys". I slipped away to rinse off the summer Tennessee dust and made it back just in time to make Slayer. Metal on the farm, and Tom Araya couldn't stop smiling between songs as everything fell right into place. Certainly the friendliest mosh pits I've ever seen, and far more tie-dye. Quick stop at the Food Truck Oasis, and then it was D'angelo and the Vanguard to finish my night. Another special Bonnaroo moment as he initially broke his hiatus three years ago joining ?uestlove for the Superjam. And he was amazing. His set prominently featured his seven-piece band with full horns and impeccably tight R&B/soul, and I loved every minute.
Sorry to say, I did not get close enough to the Pretty Lights-curated Superjam 80's dance party to share many thoughts. It sounded great from the back of (once again) the overflow crowd but it had been a long day and I was in bed by 330. Brad said it was great so I'll see about getting some thoughts from him later today. I will be back on with some final thoughts of my own tonight. It's almost time for a presser with Bela Fleck and Ed Helms just behind me, and there's still so much music to hear today.
Radiate positivity. Drink lots of water. High five for Bonnaroo.
Rob
06/13/2015 - 2:40pm CST And the first update comes on the third day. It has been hectic and we've faced a few small tech challenges but all is now copacetic and these should come a little more often. We got off to a late start on Thursday and have probably been chasing ourselves ever since. Traffic was backed up due to construction on both sides of Knoxville, and then afternoon commute traffic (and probably a few Bonnaroovians) slowed us down again in Chattanooga. The good folks at Mason Jar Media had everything ready for us though, and we got our bunks claimed and gear stowed in time for a most-appreciated opening night party/BBQ hosted by Vagrant Records. I can't remember just now who Brad saw that night, but I caught part of Courtney Barnett's set and all of Benjamin Booker's and felt completely compensated for any travails in our travels.
Next morning was coffee and water and half of Brownout's set on the Which stage just before our live broadcast from the Media Compound, which is just behind the Which Stage so we were able to maximize our time between work and play. Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath: members of Grupo Fantasma covering Black Sabbath tunes with Latin horns and percussion behind a still most-metallic guitar. We touched on this topic on-air, but they're a great example of the diversity that Bonnaroo has to offer. My night was Tears for Fears, Atmosphere, Ben Harper, Run the Jewels. Tonight's plan is Sturgill Simpson, Belle and Sebastian, the William Onyeabor tribute/remix/reinvention set + then a short break before Slayer and D'angelo. I know Brad's looking forward to The War on Drugs and he may follow a completely different path between so many stages. It's a beautiful thing. There are scheduling conflicts but there are no bad decisions. And the surprises...I was on a coffee run this afternoon and wandered into an amazing set from Rhiannon Giddens.
No pictures at the moment due to camera troubles involving some shaky tech and no small amount of user error, but I should have some professional pics up from our friends at Mason Jar at some point before the weekend's over. Speaking of, thanks so much to Molly, Crissa, Zac, David, Josh, Matt, Shelly, Chandler, Parker, Billy Jack, and anyone I'm forgetting in this happy confusion for all of their help and hospitality. Thanks to Tom and Laura for keeping the radio compound operational and optimal. These folks have put in some long long days thus far and we're just past halfway. Lots of music still to come, lots of beautiful people to enjoy it with. It's hot and it's dusty, but we're having a great time. Back on later(?) with a more leisurely synopsis of the goodness.
Rob
Rob Daves and Brad Watson leave for Bonnaroo this week. They will begin posting photos and observations from their perspective in the middle of 700 acres and some 100,000 people as soon as possible, and will continue to do so throughout the weekend.