bonnaroo arcade

II Notjust forjam.-bands anymore II Bonnaroo 2006 seemed at first suspicious that the own first family-The Neville Broth- within the crowd, the experience of crowd of such a widely-known ﾷ ｾ ｡ ｭ Ｂ ers. In addition, Grace Potter & the merely turning around and looking at *****June16-18 festival could embrace his music. But Nocturnals, Steel Train, Buddy Guy the throngs behind you was enough Manchester, Tennessee as time passed, Oberst settled into his and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah were to induce severe claustrophobia. The set, playing mostly songs from his lat- all present. New York indie rockers show rocked on for two and half hours, Erin Hall est efforts Digital Ash in a Digital Um to the core, CYHSY brought down a including hits from their entire col- senior staff writer and I'm Wide Awake It's Morning. It packed house with their unique sound. lection. Particular highlights, for this was all spot on, aside from a brief and Singer Alec Onsworth was in full force, writer at least, included 'The Bends," Maybe it's that sunburn on the one unfortunate tryst with a horn section in complete with the signature squeaks "Climbing up the Walls" and "Karma spot of your back that you can't reach. the massively popular "Love I Don't and yelps in his quirky vocals. The Police." Or that nifty thing your hair does after three days in the blazing Tenn heat without a shower. Whatever the reason, something keeps nearly 80,000 people com- ing back to the small town of Manchester, Tennessee every summer to participate in what has been heralded as our generation's Wood- stock. In this, its fifth year, the Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival presented its most diversified lineup yet with RYAN MASTRO/('ONTRIBI 1TING PHOTOGRAPHER acts spanning genres from The masses flocked to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers play at this year's festival. jam to indie and hip-hop to jazz. The music was distributed over Have to Love." With sundown came a day was rounded out with great per- Sunday, the third and final day of two large stages and three sizeable new burst of energy. Tom Petty & the formances from Rusted Root, Cypress the festival, included such eclectic acts tents for the main acts and a handful Heartbreakers took the stage at 8:30 Hill, Gomez, Les Claypool and many as Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Be ofother more intimate tents for smaller p.m. for their three-hour set. It's a tall more. The final stretch of this writer's Your Own Pet, Soulive, Matisyahu, acts. order to fill three hours without boring day came at one stage. Elvis Costello Atmosphere, Bonnie Raitt, moe., Son In addition to the plethora of music the crowd, but Petty managed it easily. (featuring New Orleans' own Allen Volt and Shooter Jennings. Starting it offered, the festival also included a In addition to classics like "American Toussaint) followed by Beck and off with local favorite and seemingly comedy tent, a cinema tent, and ven- Girl," "Refugee" and "Free Fallin'," topped off by Radiohead. soon-to-be-national-sensation deadboy dors of food and crafts. Bonnaroo has Petty brought out the legendary Stevie Beck provided one of the best shows & and the Elephantmen the momentum been likened to an independent uni- Nicks of Fleetwood Mac to join in on of the festival as well, bringing out grew with each passing set. Next up verse where, for three days, everything their duet "Stop Dragging My Heart favorites like "Devil's Haircut" and was Stephen Malkmus (of the indie you could ever need is there at your Around." "Where It's At" as well as covering classic band Pavement) with his new fingertips. And it's all complete with The decision about which late night The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize" band, the Jicks. Rounding out the day an amazing soundtrack. show to attend on the first night was and Radiohead's immortal "Creep," were the masters of discordant wonder Friday started the festival off on a a troubling one. On one hand, there (Beck citing, "l doubt they'll play this - Sonic Youth. They played mostly good foot with mind-blowing perfor- was the amazing progression of Lyrics one"). It was a show within a show, newer material, but played the hell mances from Andrew Bird, Devendra Born, Common and Blackalicious at a for on stage there was a small puppet out of it. Banhart and Ben Folds. One interesting stage. On the other there was four-year setup with puppets of the entire band Bonnaroo isn't cheap, but it's worth thing to observe at Bonnaroo is how Bonnaroo veteran My Morning Jacket. being manipulated to act precisely as it. Jack Antonoff of Steel Train may even the lowest billed acts have a fol- This writer went with option B. And their larger counterparts were, moment have put it best when he described what lowing. Each performance was well- the choice was a good one. Jim James to moment. In addition to that, the it's like to go back into the "real world" stocked with genuine fans, singing and the boys might have delivered one presence of an inexplicable tambou- after a weekend at Bonnaroo when he along with every song. The diversity of the best, if not the ultimate, perfor- rine-playing guy who danced around said, "It's like holding hands inArkan- of musical taste and experience within mance of this year's festival. Playing the stage in an outfit similar to that sa-; after having great sex in Tennessee. the massive crowd created an almost old favorites from It Still Moves and of a Mormon bike-missionary was You just can't top it." So start saving palpable energy. new tunes from Z, including a guest just enough to qualify this show was now. Quit drinking so much and stick The remainder of the first day pro- appearance by virtuoso violin-rocker spectacular. a few dollars in a drawer somewhere vided acts such as G. Love & Special Andrew Bird, MMJ rollicked its way The moment everyone had been every week this year. Figure something Sauce, Robert Randolph & the Fam- through two and half nours of divine waiting for finally arrived when Radio- out, because if you don't go, you only ily Band, Oysterhead, Death Cab for rock'n'roll. head took the stage. Reportedly nearly have yourself to blame for not being Cutie, Cat Power and Bright Eyes. Saturday morning started off with all of the Bonnaroo attendees made pre ent for some of rock's greatest Bright Eyes singer Conner Oberst the smooth sounds of New Orleans' an appearance at this show. From moments.

12 09.01.06