Bonnaroo 2008 Friday (Day 2): The Sun, The Fiery Furnaces, The Free Beer Tent; This Is Why I'm Hott

Friday morning started about 4 hours after Thursday night ended for me with the sun making things too uncomfortable for me to sleep late. I grabbed some breakfast and got an early start on the day. I got to the media area to do some blogging and listen to the media orientation speech. They laid out everything we could and couldn't do, and none of it really seemed to effect what I'm doing. I don't have all access, but it seems like there are lots of artists in the media area doing interviews and such, so that has been really cool. I gave the guitarist from Minus The Bear some daps before catching some shows.

First up was The Fiery Furnaces. They did a set that was very similar to the set they did at The Variety Playhouse earlier this year, except this time they had a thimble player to make it a 5 piece. It was extremely tight and heavily weighted by Widow City songs, which I love. At some point a cardboard cutout of Eleanor made its way into the crowd, followed by other cardboard cutouts that I thought at first were the rest of the band, but then I saw one of them was Bradford Cox and realized they were from the Converse ad.



After that I stuck around for the first half of Minus The Bear's set and they were pretty good but I felt like the Langerado set I caught earlier this year had a little more energy or something. Next I went to see Tegan And Sara. I watched them butcher one of their own songs about 5 different ways and decided that I wouldn't waste any more of my time with them. Instead I set up earlier at the Sonic Stage to catch the second Fiery Furnaces set of the day. This time they were a 4-piece with Matthew playing a guitar instead of keyboards for the entire set. They dug deeper in this completely different set even taking requests at the end. This band is just so phenomenal and I can't get enough of them. Bonus to this set, Beatle Bob was there doing his crazy dancing backstage. I really need to find him and interview him.











After that I went backstage to interview Royal Bangs. They were chilling out in the hidden free beer and liquor tent backstage, which was a festival changing discovery. I hung out with the Royal Bangs dudes for a little while and video taped it, so expect to see that very soon. They seemed really cool, and probably the thing that I enjoyed most about the interview was their answer to my "What do you think about the state of music and the music industry?" question, which almost word for word reflected my own opinions.

When they left to catch the very end of !!!, I stuck around and started abusing the keg back there. I spent a few hours chugging beers and stalking the Fiery Furnaces as they did interviews for more reputable journalists. After getting properly "festivalized", I met up with my ATLiens and watched some of Willie Nelson. I guess it is cool to say I have seen him now, but that was about all I enjoyed about it. Along with the Bonnaroo masses, we headed to the What Stage next to see Chris Rock. I lost my entire group on the way there and caught his routine stranded by myself. Chris Rock is one of my favourite comedians, but the set seemed lacking. I feel like ever since he started doing Everybody Hates Chris, which I like, he has gotten a lot more restrained and sort of falling back on his typical sorts of jokes. But even a lackluster Chris Rock routine is pretty damn funny.




As the rain that had been looming all day finally broke loose, I opted to go back to camp instead of catching Metallica. It seemed like that was a fairly popular sentiment as the line getting out of the stage area was longer than the one to get in. As I extended my drunk rally, sleep deprivation finally caught up with me and I passed out early. I would have really liked to catch some of the My Morning Jacket set, but I didn't wake up in time.

Now well rested, It's time for an intense day and a long night of music.

Bonnaroo 2008 Thursday (Day 1): Festies Ain't Easy, But They Sure Are Fun

Going to a festival is not all fun and games. The live concert experience is never assured bliss. There are so many external factors that could go sour. A huge fest like Bonnaroo has an army of these possible setbacks. But sometimes overcoming the odds and the elements can be the recipe for an unforgettable weekend.

So after hanging out in Manchester a little bit Wednesday night, I rode back into town in the morning to pick up my press credentials. I then went to my hotel to await the arrival of my caravan of ATLiens. One of the cars in our group had a road cone fly up and crack their windshield in Chattanooga, forcing them to abandon their vehicle to repair and then squeeze their gear and bodies in other folks' already tightly packed rides. The slight travel delay here would seem insignificant compared to the traffic jam we would wait in shortly after.

Now I'm from Atlanta so traffic isn't new to me, but sitting still on the side of the interstate for 5+ hours is just never that fun. This would actually be the longest I've ever waited to get into the 'roo. As is typical, everyone gets out of their cars and socializes on the side of the road to pass the time, and then as soon as the line starts moving a bit, everyone scrambles into their rides to grab another 50 feet.









After getting through the gate, and then still waiting in line to get a campsite that wasn't too far but wasn't too close, the inevitable, unbridled, and unrelenting blitz of setting up camp and partying begins. There is nothing like a cold beer after sitting in your car all day. Well, maybe like 10 cold beers.





Suddenly it is late afternoon and time to check out Centeroo. The nice stroll across the campgrounds leads to waiting in line to go through security, and going inside to search out a schedule. They had ran out of guide books when we came through the gates and the only ones I have even seen so far are a horde back in the press area. I tested my credentials and took a look backstage. Things were a little different then last time I had been back here, but still pretty similar. It was at this time the partying, heat, and lack of sleep this week struck me like a punch to the face, and after cooling off in the press tent, I went back to camp.

After regrouping and recouping, our crew made its way back to Centeroo, and this time had to wait in a ridiculously slow moving line to get in. We made it to MGMT a song or two into the set and the tent was packed out. The crowd reactions to the songs seemed very surprising to me, everyone was going crazy. It seemed like everyone at the fest knew and loved these songs, so I guess these guys are pretty big now. Just like last time I saw them, at times I really enjoyed it, and at other times I lost interest.

I made my way up closer for Battles, and they put on a hell of a show. When I saw them last year at Pitchfork Fest, I was really far away and couldn't tell how fun they are to watch live. Everyone who saw it was raving about it. With my second wind dying down, I decided I was in no mood to stick around for Vampire Weekend, and went back to camp yet again. Tired, intoxicated, and with everyone else at my camp slowly fading into the night, I sucked it up and took a few brave souls back to Centeroo again to catch the late night Royal Bangs show. It was a wise decision and the grueling day ended with a pleasant reward. The Troo Music Lounge is about the smallest venue in the fest, so the setting was more up my alley, and the band exploited its almost nonexistent barrier between the crowd and themselves. The crowd wasn't huge, but they were all going wild for this one. Seeing them live just reinforced everything I liked about them and I can't wait to have them again at our show next week.







Well, It's time to catch more music, so keep it here for total coverage.

The Serendipitous Hottness: Royal Bangs

Long before I started doing this blog thing, I was booking bands at house parties and other disreputable venues on the westside. Even a bunch of Tech kids getting drunk in a backyard can be valuable exposure to young bands just starting out, so I've always done everything I can to help bands that I thought had potential. The whole point behind both this blog and those parties was to give art an audience. Connect people to good music. You know, "Those who can't do, teach."

So recently one of the local outfits that I've been rallying for reached out to me for help in booking another band. The band needing some help turned out to be Royal Bangs, and has been one of my favourite discoveries of this year. It is mind boggling to me that none of the very talented booking agents around this city didn't nab a band of this caliber (I mean they're playing at Bonnaroo) before me, but I hadn't heard of them before this either, so I guess I just got really lucky. It's so nice to have great music just dropped in your lap.

The record I now have on my heaviest of rotations was actually self-released by the band back in 2006, but Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney scooped these guys up for a re-release on his label, Audio Eagle, last month. What I love about this album most is its balance. It has such a ridiculously accessible sound and remains so engaging at the same time. It pays tribute to the roots of rock 'n' roll while at the same time successfully co-opting progressive and somewhat experimental musical ideas seamlessly. Each song holds its own, but the album has a distinct structure to it. They get get hard, fast and wail on the guitar, or they can do soft, sweet melodies. I think you could easily draw comparisons between this band and just about any important band over the last 20 years. You'll find these various different comparisons on the multiple other blog-hype posts across the Internet. Don't let that fool you. It doesn't come off as some generic hybrid of other peoples styles, but rather they have tapped into some strangely transcendental sound.

So I recommend going and picking it up. If you're going to Bonnaroo, be sure to catch them late tomorrow night. If not, they will be playing at WonderRoot a week from tonight. In addition to Royal Bangs, we have also gathered two of Atlanta's best young bands for you to check out, This Piano Plays Itself and a solo, acoustic set from Nomen Novum. Come down and party with us next week!

Royal Bangs : Japanese Cars

Royal Bangs : Little Switzerland

Buy We Breed Champions here

Royal Bangs myspace

Ohmpark's Guide To Bonnaroo 2008

Less than a week away and I'm ready to go! If you're going to Bonnaroo this year, the following post will give you what I think is the crucial info and best acts. If you're not going, you might want to rethink that and buy a ticket. You can read up on some of my stories from the first 5 Bonnaroos here. You can read my review of last year's fest here. If you want to really obsess about Bonnaroo for endless hours, I highly recommend checking out Inforoo, the Bonnaroo message board. You can get pretty much every single bit of information you could ever imagine about the fest there. I'm going to give you a couple of nuggets that I think are particularly educational for first timers:

Currently, the Weather.com forecast calls for scattered t-storms all weekend right now (up to 60% chance of rain Saturday) and highs in the '80s. I recommend you get some good mud boots just in case, because even a little bit of rain is going to make that place a big muddy mess. The mud will literally eat flip flops off of your feet, so beware. All my hippier friends swear by wearing crocs during regular conditions, but I always feel more comfortable in socks and tennis shoes. Also on the rainy weather tip, I've seen the thunderstorms decimate some campsites, so prepare accordingly. Put tarps under/over your tents. Bring a poncho.

The gates usually open early Wednesday night, but ever since the 3rd 'roo (when they finally found the best way to deal with traffic), they send all of the first arrivals to the very, very far away Southeastern camping outpost. I've been the victim of this several times, and it was annoying. The more you walk, the more energy you're going to exert, and this will hinder your ability to all out party for 4 days. And don't expect to get a bunch of sleep, because usually by 8am it is too hot to sleep in your tent. It seems like if you get there late Thursday morning or early Thursday afternoon you can get a spot closer to Centeroo (the area where the stages are), especially if you are coming from the east (like us ATLiens). The downside, less time at the party and longer waits in the line to get in. Think about it.

Speaking of the party, this is a big-ass music fest with circa 75,000 people, so there is gonna be some craziness going on. BUT, this is not the Bonnaroo of your older cousin's. There will be police sparsely around inside the fest grounds looking to bust folks for illegal activities. The ban on unofficial vendors is heavily enforced now, so "Skakedown Street" is not what it used to be. If you're smart and just a tad bit careful, you are almost assured have a fun-filled week, just don't be too stupid.

Ok, so let's dig into the line-up. The first night has me really excited:

Thursday:

6:00 PM Troo Music Lounge: The Big Sleep

This brooklyn trio caught my ear when I was checking myspace pages of bands I didn't recognize, so I'm planning on checking this out:

THE BIG SLEEP - Slow Race
by lablogotheque

6:25 Pm Cinema Tent: Sigur Ros' Heima

Get yourself prepared for what I am already calling the best show of the fest, with a spectacular documentary on the band.


8:30PM This Tent: MGMT

While I thought their live show was a little lackluster when I saw them with Yeasayer earlier this year, now that I know and really enjoy their album, I'm excited to catch them again:




10:00 PM This Tent: Battles

This is my pick for Thursday's "can't miss show". Listen to the live show i posted recently here.


10:30 PM That Tent: The Sword

Black Sabbath-esque stoner metal/rock that is really good:




11:30 PM This Tent: Vampire Weekend

I'm glad I'll finally get to catch 2008's super hype band, if only to talk smack about them. Really, I don't think they are bad or anything, but their stuff just doesn't really hold my interest long enough. But maybe their live show will change my mind:




11:45 PM The Other Tent: Darkstar Orchestra

This is what I consider to be the best cover band to ever exist, so go get your artificial dose of The Grateful Dead.


1:30 AM Troo Music Lounge: Royal Bangs

I've just discovered these guys and I am totally into their album, We Breed Champions. I'll have more on these guys very soon, but I highly recommend checking them out:




Friday:

1:15 PM That Tent: Fiery Furnaces

We are big FF fans around here at Ohmpark, so even though I'd be interested in catching Jose Gonzalez, I can't miss another chance to catch the Friedbergers. I've got a bunch of Fiery Furnaces live videos I'm getting out of the vault soon, so I'll spare you for now.


2:30 PM This Tent: Tegan And Sara

While these ladies only fall in my "like but don't love" category, I really want to see them. Get ready for this song to be stuck in your head all weekend:




2:45 PM That Tent: Minus The Bear

Minus The Bear were outstanding at Langerado, so I can't wait to see them again:




4:30 PM That Tent: !!!

Another band that was at Langerado, another great live act I'm excited to see again:




Midnight Which Stage: My Morning Jacket

While i have still yet to listen to it, I'm hearing good things about Evil Urges. Their late night set at Bonnaroo 2006 was epic, so I expect them to up the ante:




1:30 AM Troo Music Lounge: Howlin Rain

Thsi is the new project from Comets On Fire's Ethan Miller. Comets On Fire were badass, so this should be good (they are at the Drunken Unicorn tonight!):




1:30 AM This Tent: Tiesto

While he's not my favourite DJ in the world, he's not too shabby either. Also, he's going to have guest appearance by Tegan And Sara, Jose Gonzalez, and Cary Brothers.


2:00 AM That Tent: Disco Biscuits

Yeah, they are a jamband, but they are really good.


Saturday:

4:00 PM That Tent: Mastodon

Atlanta's own spectacular metal outfit. If you haven't seen these guys yet, this is a must see:




6:30 PM This Tent: Iron & Wine

I thought his Bonnaroo set in 2006 seemed a bit underwhelming, but the set I caught later that year at Lollapalooza was phenomenal. I think his album from last year is Sam Beam's best work to date, so this show is gonna be sweet:




10:15 PM What Stage: Pearl Jam

I made my case for them last post, so check that out.


1:00 AM That Tent: Sigus Ros

Could be the best show all weekend:

Sigur Ros : Gobbledigook


1:30 AM Troo Music Lounge: Dead Confederate

If you read us regularly, you know we are fans. If you don't, go look into these guys:




Sunday:

2:30 PM The Other Tent: Ladytron

I've yet to listen to the new album yet, but I do plan to catch them and give them the live show test:




6:00 PM The Other Tent: Broken Social Scene

I'm really stoked about seeing these guys. Word on the street is that they are doing half older stuff, hald Drew/Canning solo stuff. Sounds Perfect:

Brendan Canning : Hit The Wall


7:00 PM Which Stage: Death Cab For Cutie

We just dropped a review of Narrow Stairs, so you know how we feel.


Alright, that's enough Bonnaroo hype for now. We will have plenty of more soon.