BONNAROO BITS! Short recaps on what I saw at Bonnaroo 2011.
Friday
Phosphorescent: Only caught the tail end, but sounded like a band worth checking out more.
Matt and Kim: Always a party, but not being able to see Kim well really cut down on the experience.
The Decemberists: Perfect band to listen to at the end of a hot day as the air finally cools off and the sun lies long across the lawn.
Ray Lamontagne: Obviously great – my surprise though was how thin he was. Somehow figured someone with that voice would be fatter and bearded.
Florence + the Machine: Wow, wow, wow.
My Morning Jacket: Power ballads.
Arcade Fire: Standard set. No Coachella balloons.
Bassnectar: I missed this because I was sleeping, but heard it was unreal.
Saturday
Forro in the Dark: Brazilian forro music – worth checking out further.
Chiddy Bang: A disappointment for me. They didn’t really have much stage presence, and their mixtape live fell flat.
Portugal the Man: Pleasant, so may check out more.
Wiz Khalifa: Who knew I loved songs about weed so much? Really fun show.
Mumford and Sons: So good they almost rivaled GSB Unplugged’s cover of them.
!!!: Under attended (due to scheduling) but other than Girl Talk, the most fun I had at a show. Full on crowd dance party.
The Black Keys: Apparently everyone loves the Black Keys because the lawn was so horrifically claustrophobically crowded that we couldn’t get within a half mile of the stage. Glad I caught them at the Fox last fall.
Eminem: This guy is legendary for a reason.
Girl Talk: CRUSHED it.
Sunday
The Head and the Heart: Well worth waking up early for. What music I already have on repeat.
Smith Westerns: Eh.
Neon Trees: Eh.
Amos Lee: So nice to listen to that I fell asleep on the lawn (well, really the dirt).
Iron & Wine: Epic.
Robyn: Guilty pleasure electro-pop.
Silent disco: Wish I had recorded our very enthusiastic and audible group rendition of LCD’s “Yeah”.
Beirut: Magical in the late afternoon sun. Not to be missed live.
Dallas Mavs winning the NBA Championships: Unreal experience for those of us from Dallas.
that’s it.
-maria
