Bonna-roundup

The best aspect of Bonnaroo, in this music-lover’s opinion, is the opportunity to see bands I probably wouldn’t have checked out otherwise. It does get hard to keep up, but even if you see only a fraction of the artists performing, it’s well worth the trip. It’s a melting pot of music, with everything from Bluegrass to Indie to metal, and a comedy tent to boot. And about the comedy tent, I think Lewis Black said it best when he proclaimed people ought to go see whatever piece of crap is performing in there just to get some air conditioning. But when you’ve got Black, David Cross and Dave Attell performing, the choice is pretty easy to make anyway.

The mass of people is a sight to behold, and considering the heat, were in pretty good spirits. I didn’t expect to see so many women walking around topless (and no, body paint doesn’t count as clothing), but to each her own. There were also tons of empty balloons lying around in the parking lot- I guess there was some kind of balloon-animal-making competition I missed…. The most interesting encounter was with a dude who sat down next to me under a tent with a glazed look in his eyes and asked, “Are we dead?” I didn’t think so I answered, and continued to eat my meal. “Hey, I’ve got a burger in my pocket!” he proclaimed a few minutes later. I somehow managed not to spit out my food in laughter.

What a weekend. Thanks Bonnaroo.

The Police don't disappoint at Bonnaroo

I grew up listening to The Police. I was too young in the '80s to make the pilgrimmage to one of their shows, but marveled at the videos. I stared in wonder at the television as Sting ran through a darkened room lit only by rows of candles. Years later, when I could appreciate their music on a deeper level, the band was long since gone, and there seemed virtually no chance of a reunion. Saturday night the unimaginable became real, and I was treated to stunning versions of my Police favorites while standing among a crowd of 80,000. It's easy to guess what songs were played, but none were performed in the usual way, with new arrangements that dare I say are even more interesting than the originals. Walking in Your Footsteps and King of Pain were spectacular in their new versions. Here's hoping a live album is released.

The performance was spot on with a distinct simpatico between members, though there were a couple of brief instances where they left the stage, returning a few minutes later. Some joked the guys must be back there fighting- if so, it didn't show. Sting and Andy Summers appeared to be playing the same guitars they had 25 years ago. Nice touch. Stewart Copeland was the most enthusiastic of the bunch, his energy seeming endless. Half way through he prompted Sting to remove his clothes for the rest of the show; Sting settled for just losing his shirt, to the delight of many female fans.

This fan was hoping to hear Syncronicity, but Summers seemed to be lacking in the backing vocals department, which probably explains why Don't Stand So Close to Me was also omitted. The show was slotted for 9-11:30 p.m. but ended an hour early- though after this amazing show, how could anyone possibly complain?

Catch The Police at Churchill Downs July 14. You won't regret it. -Mary Q. Burton

Bonnaroo- A taste of reggae, Generation Y

It's difficult to know where to start. There have been some pleasant surprises along the way. As I was gearing up to see Ziggy Marley, I heard this sprite of a voice emanating from another tent. She was using her voice as an instrument, making various odd noises, while pounding away on the keyboard in front of her. Turns out it was Regina Spektor, once upon a time from Moscow, and more recently from the Bronx. She's the Tori Amos for the next generation of fans- she even evokes her father adamantly during a tune, as Amos is wont to do.

What can I possibly say about Marley? The man is a living legend, and he radiates peace, love and happiness from the stage. The audience was the most blissed I have seen, with their own expressions of serendipity- non-stop smiling, swaying and singing along. Maybe we should all add a little Ziggy to our diets.

Various other bands have played today- Fountains of Wayne, Ween, Spoon, Damien Rice- but Keller Williams, in my humble opinion, topped them all with his earnestness, guitar and skat singing. Rock on.

Bonnaroo, meet Tool

So I've heard a lot of raves about this band. The crowd, in the thousands, was psyched. The main stage, normally adorned with the huge, blazing green Bonnaroo sign atop it, remained dark. It was an ominous feeling, to be sure. Suddenly the crowd goes wild as Tool walks onto the stage, and we are immediately hit with a wall of sound that doesn't quit for two and a half hours.

Rather than shots of the band, the massive screens on either side of the stage project various Tool videos, which, well, are disturbing yet entertaining in their own special way. The light show was amazing, and definitely added an element of the extreme to the show. The intensity these guys have makes an impession- the crowd remained in a frenzied trance (I know, sounds like an oxy-moron) the entire time.

Singer Maynard James Keenan chided the crowd about their funny-smelling cigarettes, declaring them all under arrest. He also took the opportunity to brag how he had recently had a shower, which to this sweaty crowd (the temp was in the 90s), sounded pretty enticing. I have a feeling these guys never fail to make an impresson. Catch their show June 17 in Evansville, Ind. while there's still tickets left. -Mary Q. Burton

Who knew the tuba could rock?

A word of advice- never, ever make fun of a tuba player again. Reporting in from Bonnaroo-- after checking out The Roots on the main stage, I was blown away. Don't get me wrong, Kings of Leon were great. I'll admit to not being a big fan, but seeing them live they proved they can rock with a setlist (see speed metal meets power ballad meets straight-on rock) as eclectic as the crowd (see hippy meets reggae meets average beer swilling Joe). On another stage Michael Franti played some reggae-inspired tunes that got the tie-die, hoola-hooping crowd moving. But The Roots rocked Bonnaroo like no other. Take your standard rock instuments and add a horn section which includes a trumpet, sax, trombone, and yes, you guessed it, a tuba. Mix in some hip hop style with a little taste of Hendrix, and you've got The Roots. "Tuba Gooding Junior" jammed with guitarist Kirk Douglas like I never knew a tuba could. Damn, the two of them even ran into the audience to play. The bass rattled my bones and their cover of a Bob Dylan tune was inspired. This ain't your average jam band. Check them out at www.theroots.com. -Mary Q. Burton

Up next- what kind of TOOL will Bonnaroo encounter?

I, Sleepwalker Album Stream

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