With my three-part final interview project comes the end of Bonnaroo or Bust! … for now at least. Though I have had fun talking about, writing about and listening to massive amounts of music in preparation for this blog, with the summer time comes some much-needed rest.
As the spring 2009 semester and my junior year in college come to an end, I have learned a number of useful multimedia tactics that will aid me in the field of journalism, which is going increasingly high-tech. I now can create a mini-podcast, upkeep a blog and know the ins and outs of working on WordPress.
Still, if anything I’ve learned previewing Bonnaroo is that the festival is just as much about the experience as the music that fuels it. I do plan on updating here and there over the next month if any breaking news happens and I look forward to writing while I’m at Bonnaroo this June. I even here there are Internet cafes, so I may even blog directly on-site, if I can find time between the dozens of music acts, of course. I can’t believe it’s only a month away!
But for now, here are some post I am most proud of over the past four months.
Margaret Appleyard-Smith is a 20-year-old student from Wilmington, Delaware who is also attending Bonnaroo for the first time. After missing out on Phish tickets due to heavy traffic on the vendor Web site LiveNation, she was still determined to have as dynamic summer music experience as last year.
When she saw the lineup for Bonnaroo that included two shows from Phish, Appleyard-Smith was sold. She purchased her ticket, got her boyfriend and friends involved, and could not be more excited with one month left before show time. Appleyard-Smith said she is excited at the prospect of camping with hundreds of thousands of people and seeing some of her favorite bands for the first time. Including, of course, Phish.
Like the previous two posts, above the transcribed interview is a full audio version for you to read along with.
Bonnaroo or Bust!: When did you first hear about Bonnaroo?
Margaret Appleyard-Smith: I guess my junior year in high school, so three years ago. My sister’s boyfriend was going and that’s how I heard about it.
BoB: Were you immediately interested? What was your initial react towards it?
MAS: initially, I was like, that sounds really cool, that would be something I’d like to do one day. I knew I didn’t have the means to do it right then and there, but I knew that eventually, I wanted to go.
BoB: What made you interested in going this year?
MAS: Everything just kind of fell into place this year. I had the cash, I had people to go with, so it just seemed like the right time.
BoB: So you weren’t worried about the money or the fact that it’s all the way in Tennessee?
MAS: A little bit, but not really because I kind of weighed it out. I knew I wanted to do something, go on vacation this year; me and [her boyfriend] Eric wanted to go on vacation this year. But we had a time frame to when we could go because we couldn’t go during the summer months when we had to work, because we’re working at a summer camp or whatever. We have to be there every day. It’s before camp, it’s about as much money as we’d spend to go anywhere else and stay overnight. Plus you get the added bonus of having 24-hour music.
BoB: Weren’t you originally going to see Phish?
MAS: We were going to do Phish, but it was sold out or whatever. I just couldn’t get on the freaking Web site to buy the tickets. Before we had even seen the lineup, I had heard Phish was rumored to be playing Bonnaroo and then it came out and it was just like, well why not? To go to Phish, we would spend $100. But at Bonnaroo, you get two nights of Phish. That’s $200 worth of concert tickets right there, plus every other band for only $270.
BoB: Who else are you excited to see?
MAS: Definitely Bruce Springsteen. I’m excited to see Girl Talk again. I’m very excited to see Public Enemy and Erykah Badu, Al Green.
BoB: Other than the sheer amount of bands that they have, what do you think sets Bonnaroo apart from the average concert experience and the average music festival?
MAS: Well, Farm Aid was only a one-day festival. So you show up at noon, you tailgate for a little bit, you’re there until midnight or whatever, and you leave. Not only do you have the fun of having a road trip with all of your best friends, but you’re out there, you’re camping every day. Not to mention all the art shows and comedians.
BoB: What is the most alluring part about Bonnaroo?
MAS: I would say not one specific thing is most alluring. But sort of all of it together, the community aspect of it. A bunch of high school/college aged kids getting together for a weekend to have this experience together. If it weren’t so big – if it were 100 people, it wouldn’t be nearly as fun.
BoB: Nervous about camping with hundreds of thousands of people?
MAS: Not really, because I don’t mind camping. I’ve done it before, and I can be dirty for four days, it’s not that big a deal (laughs). As long as I have deodorant, I’m good.
BoB: What about being with tons of strangers?
MAS: I feel like that’s part of the experience though. Being surrounded by all these people you don’t know, I feel like that’s going to be half the fun of it, talking to people and meeting people.
BoB: What do you expect you’re going to see?
MAS: I haven’t even considered what kind of wild s*** I’m going to see go down. With the amount of drugs and alcohol floating around that concert, just anything could happen.
BoB: What’s one big thing you want to get out of the Bonnaroo experience?
MAS: I’m not really sure because I don’t know what to expect. So I’m not sure that I know what to expect to get out of it. I guess, from what I know, the major thing would be like a good timing bonding with close friends, having the experience of my first road trip by myself, without my parents.
BoB: What’s the one thing you are most excited about?
MAS: It’d have to be Phish, yeah.
Eric P. (last name removed) is a 21-year-old art student at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. Though an avid concert attendee, Eric had never before been to a large music festival. After spending “too much money” on concert tickets last summer, he decided the most cost-efficient option for musical entertainment would be to attend Bonnaroo for the first time.
Eric views Bonnaroo as a vacation within itself, and is excited to get away with his close friends and his girlfriend, Margaret. He thinks that one of the biggest aspects of attending his first Bonnaroo will be how he deals with camping in such a large crowd of people. Still, he remains open-minded and optimistic that his first trip to Manchester will be a positive experience that he’ll remember for years to come.
Bonnaroo or Bust interviewed Eric on the telephone and asked him to explain how it feels to be a first-time festival-goer, much like myself. Again, above the transcribed text is an uncensored audio supplement with more questions and more in-depth answers.
Bonnaroo or Bust!: When did you first hear about Bonnaroo?
Eric P.: I first heard about Bonnaroo like two years ago around this time when a bunch of my friends were going to it. I guess I had heard little blurts of it on the news and side stories, but I never really investigated until my friends started going. They came back and told me what a blast they had.
BoB: What made you interested in going this year?
EP: I’ve been looking for a vacation thing with [his girlfriend] Margaret just to get out of the way, and last year we’d spent way too much money on concerts. We’d go to like Kanye West, Dave Matthews, Widespread Panic and all these concerts are like $50 each, minimum. And we were in the back of the f***ing place. So, we figured why not go to the most cost-effective show which is actually Bonnaroo, which turns out to be pretty much a vacation in itself. For the price of the tickets, I think, basically, you get the four or five headlining bands. Phish twice, Bruce Springsteen, Al Green; all the bands I want to see are there, plus some other ones.
BoB: Were you worried about the price or the long trip to Tennessee?
EP: Everything kind of had some worry attached to it, but I kind of feel like the overall experience will outweigh the cost of it.
BoB: What other bands are you interested in?
EP: Al Green’s going to be cool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are going to be cool. I’ve never been to a Phish show, so this might be neat. I’m not looking at a lineup or anything, but off the top of my head – Ted Leo & The Pharmacists. I wish the White Stripes were there, at least they’re back on terms. Snoop Dogg’s going to be f***ing crazy. And honestly, I want to see Erykah Badu, I’m sure she puts on a good live show.
BoB: What is the most alluring part of Bonnaroo that drew you in and made you say, “I’m definitely doing this?”
EP: I think the notion of camping out with 400,000 people is going to be kind of crazy. I’m a little worried about security, but at the same time, what are a bunch of f***ing hippies going to do to my stuff? We’ll get a lock on the tent or something like that, but I’m not too concerned about it. The most alluring thing is almost definitely the prospect of camping out, cooking burgers or whatever, smashed next to 200,000 other campers. That actually seems kind of cool to me.
BoB: What do you think you’re going to see, granted the circumstances?
EP: Excessive drug use. And you know what’s funny? Part of me really hates the people we’re going to be around, because I think they’re going to be your typical smelly, hippie pothead that didn’t go to college or whatever and they sold drugs to get to the concert. But at the same time, I’m kind of judging it on what it is and I haven’t even been – it’s an educated guess. It’s all in huge hyperboles; I have this terrible Woodstock envisionment. I don’t think it’s going to be as awful as I’m making it out to be.
BoB: What’s the one thing you really want to get out of the experience?
EP: I don’t want to have to wonder what it’s like to go to a big music festival anymore. I’ve never been to like a huge music festival and obviously, people I know have. Margaret’s been to Farm Aid and some other things that had pretty decent bands. I guess the biggest thing that I’ve been to is maybe a Reggae festival in Wilmington, which might have had 20,000 people. But even that pales in comparison to the Kanye West concert which was like 60,000 people. So I think what I want to get out of it is just the total experience. I’m going for the music but I think that’s probably like 40 percent of the whole ordeal. If all the bands suck, I’d be disappointed, but I’d still be happy I went.
Gabby DeFilippis is a self-proclaimed music enthusiast, singer, actress and full-time nanny from Bayonne, New Jersey. She had grown tired of the same local shows and one-note music festivals, and was invited to go to Bonnaroo last year with a friend. After having the incredible experience seeing a number of big-name bands in 2008, DeFilippis was immediately intent on purchasing a ticket for this year’s festival.
Defilippis also happens to be the person who got me so interested in attending Bonnaroo, and in some ways, can be thanked as inspiration for me to write this blog. Much like any friends anticipating a big music event, we have been trading albums and artists to look up for the past three months.
Above the edited transcription is an audio podcast interview with DeFilippis that clocks in at around 12 minutes long and includes many more hilarious and insightful answers. I apologize for any audible laughs throughout the piece.
Bonnaroo or Bust!: When did you first hear about Bonnaroo?
Gabby DeFilippis: I first heard about Bonnaroo through a friend. She asked me to go as a favor because some kids wanted her to go. And I said, “I don’t know, that sounds kind of weird. I’ll go on the Web site and check it out.” And then I just said, screw it, you’ve got to live life to the fullest. So I figured I’d just go, I don’t really care.
BoB: Went on a whim?
GD: Well I noticed that a lot of the bands that I liked – Rilo Kiley and Tegan and Sarah – were going to be there. MIA was basically the driving force in the whole thing because I absolutely love her. And thank god I went because that was like her last show – technically – she said it was her last show. Whatever, I lucked out. I liked all the bands and I said, you know what I might as well do something exciting for once. I grew out of the whole Warped Tour.
BoB: Were you worried about going all the way to Tennessee from Jersey?
GD: Yeah? First of all, I don’t drive, so I thought that they were going to get mad at me because I don’t know how to drive. So I felt like I was going to be the one they got jealous of all the time because I got to sleep and they had to drive the whole way. Second of all, I thought we might get into a car accident and it was Father’s Day weekend that weekend, so I thought “Oh my god, my father doesn’t even know I’m going here and I’m going to die on the way there.” (laughs). And I thought it was going to be a hick town, so that also scared the s*** out of me.
BoB: What made made you say, “Okay, I’m definitely going?”
GD: The lineup, definitely. I wouldn’t have went if it wasn’t going to be music I like. Why would you go for four days? That’s the whole point of going there was the music all day. They start at like noon and they don’t finish until 4 or 5 in the morning. They’ve got other things to offer there but mostly it’s just the music.
BoB: What makes this year different as compared to last year when you went?
GD: Well, obviously, I’m going with closer friends. That makes me very, very excited. I’m going with you and my sister’s going to come so I think that will be an experience for her. Plus the bands; if I thought I liked a lot of the bands last year, I like way more bands this year. I can’t believe how many they put on there.
BoB: Who are you most excited for?
GD: I would definitely have to say Yeah Yeah Yeahs because they never disappoint; I saw them once and they weren’t disappointing. Plus, Santigold will be really, really great. The Beastie Boys – I grew up listening to them since I was a youngin’. And of course, Bruce Springsteen, but that’s obvious. I’m a Jersey girl, so you’ve got to see Bruce.
BoB: What sets Bonnaroo apart from the average concert experience and the average music festival experience?
GD: First of all, it’s outside, which is great. But it’s not stadium seating like the PAC, Performing Arts Center. You can kind of roam around, and people don’t get mad if you ask to go in front of them. There’s no seats or anything, everybody’s equal. There is no special person, except where you stay in your tent, if you want a VIP tent thing or whatever. When it comes to actually seeing the shows, nobody’s special and every time I wanted to move up closer – I remember during Metallica, we wanted to get up closer and nobody said anything, nobody cared. It was much nicer. And there’s music all day. It’s like a 24-hour experience, you just walking around to a soundtrack all day, nonstop. Whether it’s the local bands, the big bands or the real big bands, the headliners, you just walk around all day to music, it’s awesome.
BoB: Where you nervous about camping with hundreds of thousands of people?
GD: Yes, I was extremely nervous, I thought I was going to get raped. As simple as that, I really just thought something horrible was going to happen. But then my mom and I did extensive Google searching and we kept typing in “accidents at Bonnaroo” and all different types of bad situations that could possibly happen and honestly, nothing came up. Not a damn thing came up. I trust Google a lot, I always Google. The fact that nothing came up made me feel much better and the fact that your car is parked right by your tent makes you feel ten times better. You don’t have to run back and forth. I thought we were just parking in a giant parking lot and then have to walk back and forth all day, but that wasn’t the case whatsoever.
BoB: What do you wish you would have know last time that you know this time?
GD: Bring a blanket! You can be comfortable; everybody’s laying down in the grass at the shows. Every show that I’ve been to in Jersey, everybody wants to be in the front of the stage and pushed up against the stage. But the shows there are much more relaxed. Everybody has a blanket, everybody’s hanging out, relaxing. I wish I would have brought more fun things. Honestly, everybody acts like a kid all day. People are blowing bubbles all day, it’s really crazy – hula hoops. You have to make it as comfortable for yourself as possible, basically. It’s your home for four days. I wish we would have bought a better tent, I would have prefer to have spent more money on a tent because I have expensive taste and I’m like that. We bought a cheaper tent. I was definitely very nervous about using the showers, so I didn’t shower for two days and I should have f***ing showered. Once I took a shower, it was gorgeous. It was so clean in there that there were no complaints about it at all; I should have showered from the beginning.
BoB: What was your favorite act you saw last year?
GD: MIA was definitely amazing. Tegan and Sarah was really special to me because I wanted to leave. I was really, really upset when I was there and within 24 hours, I just wanted to f***ing leave. Then, the first act of the real first day of Bonnaroo, which was Friday, Tegan and Sarah came on and it just made everything better. Once that came on, I didn’t want to go, I didn’t care that I wasn’t enjoying the people I was with, I was staying, that’s it. But, definitely Metallica. Honestly, they put on a damn good show, they were amazing. I didn’t know what to expect but all my guy friends told me “you’d better go.” And I went and it was awesome. Everybody was having a great time, they had pyrotechnics, Chris Rock went on before they did. Pearl Jam was amazing as well. I think the headliners were really, really good. I also saw this circus show, freak-show act that was really cool. It was really local, people were barely watching them. They just have cool s*** everywhere.
BoB: What do you want to get out of the experience this year?
GD: Well, now that I know my way around, I’m definitely going to do more things. I’m going to buy more art; there were so many great people there that were making such beautiful stuff. I would probably wander around more, get up early, if I don’t get inebriated that’s fine. I got up early one day and walked around and it was so nice. So I’m going to do more of that, more wandering around. Maybe meeting more people, I really didn’t meet anybody when I was there. I met like a boy and girl, they were best friends, and I hung out with them for a little while waiting for Janeane Garafalo. I really didn’t talk to that many people, but whenever I asked them to take a picture of me somewhere with whoever I was with, that was the only time I interacted with people. But they were so freaking sweet; everyone I met there was so non-confrontational and really, really nice.
One of the most “colorful” bands on the Bonnaroo lineup this year, of Montreal is a gender-bending, indie pop band that has a massive cult following. Formed in Athens, Georgia, the band is known for their outrageous stage performances that often feature lead singer and front-man Kevin Barnes in provocative attire. With a sound that could be compared to The Beatles, of Montreal has released nine studio albums since their formation in 1997, and that doesn’t include the waves of singles and compilation records.
As I’ve mentioned time and time again, I have a tendency to respect bands and musicians who reinvent themselves in between records. Looking back over their long career, of Montreal has moved from a poppy-sounding guilty pleasure with personal lyrics to and electronically-enhanced pop powerhouse with epic narrative stories. Of Montreal is also known for their lyrical style. They have the tendency to write particularly gloomy lyrics set to upbeat, cheerful background music, a sort of music anomaly.
Over the years, of Montreal has dealt with pressing issues in their songs including sexuality, love, lust and friendship. Though he has a wife, Barnes is often described as bisexual, and his affinity for men is often represented in his lyrics. In his song, “Tim Wish You Were Born A Girl,” off their 1997 debut, “Cherry Peel,” Barnes sings, “If I could’ve met you at school, or met you at work/It would have changed everything/Those years of losing, confusion and insecurity/They would have been shared/They would have been easier.”
As previously mentioned, of Montreal’s stage presence is palpable. On their most recent tour, Barnes was seen stripping down to his underwear and being painted with red body paint onstage by as many as five people. Sex is the most obvious staple in their shows, and Barnes is the ring leader.
Though of Montreal is often considered a band, most of the lyrics, music and composition is all by Barnes. He has single-handedly taken over his own band, but they are crucial to letting his proper vision show. He is not a solo artist, but he is responsible for almost all of Montreal’s music.
In 2005, their seventh album “The Sunlandic Twins” thrust of Montreal into the world of electronic pop, a realm they would later continue to dabble in. Their song, “Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games),” was featured in an Outback Steakhouse commercial with altered lyrics. Fans were outraged at the band’s mainstream venture, but they ensured that they it was just one-time thing.
I am excited to see just how interesting their stage performance is, and how Barnes really acts live. Of Montreal promises to the shock the Tennessee crowd and show them something they probably haven’t seen yet.
Although most Bonnaroo patrons travel to Tennessee to see the hordes of talented musicians and comedians exhibit their work, people often forget all the activities event planners have put together. In addition to the countless artist selling their pieces in Centeroo, there are a number of booths set up around the grounds to be used for leisure purposes. Here is a quick run-down of five of the activities you can participate in during your time off from rocking out.
- Bonnaroo Cinema: The Bonnaroo Cinema tent is apparently one of the most popular stops by patrons, if not only because it is one of the few that is air-conditioned. Festival-goers can cool off and take a breather out of the hot Tennessee sun while their watch their favorite movies from a number of different genres. Though the schedule of the movies has not yet been released, who cares? I’m really only interested in the air conditioning.
- Arcade Discotheque: Sponsored by Xbox 360, the arcade allows Bonnaroo-goers to try their hand at the most recent titles for Xbox 360 in personal kiosks. As many as 12 stations will be set up in personal booths so that people can play games like Rock Band 2 on large, high definition televisions. At night, the tent turns into a make-shift rave, with popular DJs spinning some of the hottest records on tap for weary-eyed patrons. Video games + dancing all night = FUN.
- Silent Auction: This tent is a means for Bonnaroo to give back to the community in a profound way. This year, sponsors and artists have donated autographed photographs and guitars, among other jewels, for people to scoop up. Patrons to the silent auction will not only be walking away with an invaluable token of memorabilia, but the satisfaction that they have helped a good cause.
- Bonnaroo Baseball: Presented by the MLB, the baseball tent will give the sports fanatics at Bonnaroo something to do while their hippie friends dance the day away. Pitching and batting cages will be offered, as well as a video game booth that will exhibit some of baseball’s newest and best games. Though I do love baseball (and the Yankees), you would be hard-pressed to find me swinging away while there are talented musicians onstage.
- Broo’ers Festival: Last, but certainly not least, one of the most popular stops for Bonnaroo-goers is the beer and brewery tent. Located in the heart of Centeroo, patrons are offered a large number of beers of different colors and tastes to quench their thirst during a long, hot day of music. Microbreweries from around the nation exhibit their beers to sample and buy, ensuring that festival patrons will remains liquored-up and happy. I cannot wait to try brews that I have never heard of, and sample more from brands that I have.
At the end of the day, Bonnaroo is just another rock festival. Looking back over the past four decades, there have been innumerable festivals, both successful and unsuccessful. I have taken a look back since the first known large-scale music festival in 1967 all the way to 2000, highlighting some of the most well-known and successful tours and festivals in American history.
Each spot on the timeline includes some brief information about the festival in “description” and most have a related YouTube video of sometimes rare concert footage. I apologize if any of your favorite festivals did not make the cut, there’s so many to choose from.
Unfortunately, the embedded timeline link does not work, so you can visit my timeline at here. It is best viewed at the “10 year” viewing level.
Enjoy! I actually found some quality performance, particularly the rare shots from the ’60s and ’70s festivals
Here are a few more of the best videos/performances I’ve found online of Bonnaroo over the years. They’re ordered chronologically, but by no means is any better than the other. Well, except maybe Bob Weir and Widespread Panic doing “I Aint Superstitious” from 2005.
1. Dave Matthews and Friends – “Stay or Leave” – Bonnaroo 2004
2. Bob Weir and Widespread Panic – “I Aint Superstitious” – Bonnaroo 2005
3. Oysterhead featuring Les Claypool and Trey Anastasio – “Jailhouse Rock” – Bonnaoro 2006
One of the newest additions to the Bonnaroo lineup but by no means a newcomer, Ani DiFranco is a Grammy-winning who has released over 20 albums over her career. A singer, songwriter, guitarist, poet political activist and mother, DiFranco is very much a Renaissance woman who thrives in explaining her life through music. (-Photo/bob_sanderson)
Ani DiFranco performs at the Inter-Media Art Center in Huntington, N.Y.
DiFranco began recording in 1990, with her seemingly-effortless, self-titled debut album that put her poignant lyrics up against an acoustic guitar to produce a simple, yet effective sound. Often called an integral part to the New York City anti-folk scene, DiFranco often mixes in poetry on her albums and is brutally honest in the words she writes.
A liberal crusader for abortion and gay rights, DiFranco’s lyrics often deal with sexuality, God, love, mutual respect and her own personal longings. She is often witty and straight-forward, and her songs are laced gems; on “Fire Door,” she sings: “Oh how I miss constituting the conclusion to confrontation with a kiss/And oh how I miss walking up to the edge and jumping in like I can feel the future on your skin. “
The sheer volume of DiFranco’s discography seems a bit much to get through, and admittedly, I only have five of her 18 studio albums – that does not include the throngs of live releases over the years. But whether you’re a fan of her older albums – like me – or a new fan, there seems to be something to like for everyone to pick from.
DiFranco’s musical styling is often described as staccato and is categorized by her emphatic bursts of guitar and percussion that leave the listener a bit unsettled. Her voice sounds a bit different on every recording I’ve heard, and when she sings live, she often reworks her compositions and rarely sings a song the same way twice.
My favorite of DiFranco’s album is “Not a Pretty Girl” from 1995, when she began to record with a fulled band and more conviction in her voice. Stand-out tracks include “Shy,” “The Million You Never Made” and my all-time favorite DiFranco track, the half-poem, half-song “Asking Too Much.”
Over the years, DiFranco has slowed down a bit, especially after the birth of her daughter Petah in 2006. She released a two-disc compilation album in 2007, “Canon,” in which she rerecorded songs from her entire career with a new band and a new outlook. DiFranco isn’t afraid of reinvention, and as I’ve said throughout this blog, that gains big points for me.
Now that she has less time to tour and record because of her new baby, it’s great that I get to catch DiFranco before she retires (an all-too-common occurrence in the music industry today). After writing hundreds of songs, playing thousands of shows and influencing artists worldwide, DiFranco is sure to be a hit at this year’s Bonnaroo. (-Photo/mhwing)
Ani DiFranco performs at the Paradiso in Amsterdam in October 2008.
With months left till Bonnaroo, and the new addition of big names like Public Enemy and Ani DiFranco, I am still confident that the festival’s lineup is not yet complete. The website still says that more artist additions will be coming soon, but hopefully they are not only contest winners and no-name bands. Here are three more artists whom I’m hoping Bonnaroo will contact and hook in.
Clutch
Clutch performs in Jacksonville, North Carolina in 2007.
The southern, stoner-rockers Clutch have only made the trip to Bonnaroo once in their incredibly long-lasting career, in 2007. Still, after seeing them play around Christmas last year for the second time and being – yet again – completely blown away by their stage presence, I can guarantee their presence will be missed this year.
After releasing their joint CD-DVD collection of live music in the summer last year, the modern rock gods have remained relatively quiet. Still, considering that Clutch is one of the music industry’s biggest workhorses, they are probably itching to tour and test out some new material.
I got into Clutch through my brother who lists them as their favorite band, and the sheer amount of music they have produced over the years is downright intimidating. Still, with a spring tour lined up for 2009 and no dates yet released for June, I’m hoping they decide to come down to Tennessee and please the crowd with their entertaining stage show. (-Photo/jasonawhite)
The Dresden Dolls
The Dresden Dolls perform in Milan, Italy in 2005.
When the burlesque-pop group The Dresden Dolls played the festival in 2006, their star was only beginning to shine. Front woman and pianist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Vigilone have been praised by critics for their honest lyrics and stripped-down sound.
Their self-titled debut album, released in 2003, became a cult-favorite amongst those with a chip on their shoulder. Their sophomore attempt, “Yes, Virginia,” was much more mature, both in the lyrical intensity and the presence of other instruments made their sound much fuller.
Often called a cabaret act, The Dresden Dolls released a full-length EP called “No, Virginia” that contains such stand-out tracks as “Dear, Jenny” and “Night Reconnaissance.” Despite Palmer and Vigilone’s tendency to release music as solo acts, this EP proves the dolls still have that magic that got them noticed six years ago. Separate solo tours for the pair in 2009 may mean my hopes for a reunion may be a bit pointless, but still, a Bonnaroo-er can dream. (-Photo/littleo2)
Zappa Plays Zappa
Ray White and Dweezil Zappa perfom at the 2008 Bonnaroo Festival.
The Frank Zappa cover band fronted by one of his offspring, Dweezil Zappa, made their Bonnaroo debut last year. Since then, they have enjoyed great success for a cover band, even winning a Grammy award earlier this year for their version of the Zappa classic “Peaches en Regalia.”
If Frank Zappa were still alive, there is no doubt in my mind he would play Bonnaroo every year, or at least, as much as possible. Zappa Plays Zappa has the distinction of being a band whose female vocalist, Scheila Gonzalez, is singing to lyrics written by a man.
Unfortunately, a repeat appearance by the band seems to be more wishful thinking than an actual possibility. Zappa Plays Zappa is currently on a world-wide tour and will be performing in Sweden when the festival kicks off June 11. Who knows, maybe they’ll get a sudden rush to come home to the states and entertain Bonnaroo patrons. (-Photo/HipNosePhotography)
