Elvis Perkins
Cage the Elephant
Raphael Saadiq
Justin Townes Earle
Heartless Bastards
Al Green
Animal Collective
Delta Spirit
People Under The Stairs
June 18, 2009
Hammel and a camera
Cage the Elephant
Raphael SaadiqJustin Townes EarleHeartless BastardsAl GreenAnimal CollectiveDelta SpiritPeople Under The Stairs
June 15, 2009
Bonnaroo - Day 4
It's been a busy weekend this year at Bonnaroo, but it might have been one of my favorite years. On Sunday we wrapped our on-air radio coverage and made it out to see Animal Collective on the Which stage. "Strawberry Jam" was probably my favorite song from that show, I prefer their electronic indie stuff over their noise jam songs. After that I wonder over to The Other Tent to catch a little of Brett Dennon set. After the song "Made You Crazy", Brett announced to the crowd he was ready for some reggae at Bonnaroo. If you've seen Brett Dennon before, you would not think he would be into reggae.
Above photo by Victor Samuel Huckabee
Bruce Springsteen
Nine Inch Nails with smoke monster from Lost...
Thanks again for following Lightning 100 coverage of the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts festival. Join us next year for even more coverage of the largest festival in the country, in Nashville's backyard. Here is another photo by Victor Samual Huckabee, that kid has some skills.
June 14, 2009
Sunday morning & afternoon
Lots to mention since last time...
After posting last night, I caught some of The Decemberists at This Tent. Great show. This being my first time seeing them live, I was very impressed with the flowing arrangements, the layering of the instruments and the near tangible texture of the overall sound.
On the way back to the compound, I caught some of The Mars Volta and have to honestly say I never got 'in' to the show. Lots of clashing of instruments and sounds..kind of sounded like musical soup (and not the kind that mom used to make).
I did catch Bruce & The E Street Band for part of their set. My official take on the show: Rock. Solid. I fully expected a performance that these guys (and gals) are legendary for, and that is exactly what they delivered. The set was three plus hours and included newer tunes (Lonesome Day, Waiting on a Sunny Day) and plenty of classics (The River, Born to Run, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark). About two hours in, Max Weinberg left the stage and was replaced by his 18-year old son, Jay Weinberg. Jay played through Radio Nowhere, The Rising, Born to Run and a few more right in the middle of the set. I am glad that was the part of the set I actually saw. Jay is more of a rock drummer than his old man, but holy cow. The kid sounded like he'd been playing for 20 years.....he hasn't even been alive for 20 years. Most impressive.
Then it was time for the late shows, starting with Nine Inch Nails on Which Stage. Hammel and I headed to the show and quickly realized that we were going to have to take what we could get as far as a spot to stand. We sold under a lucky star (or in this case, tree) as we took a shortcut and ended up about half way back, standing at the bottom of a huge tree which gave us enough elevation to see and hear everything clearly. While being very impressed by the stage show, about 20 minutes into the set, there was so much smoke on and around the stage, I was waiting to hear someone yell 'FIRE!". The lights were many, and the synchronization with the music was spectacular. And the mix was great - clarity and volume from all instruments...and LOUD. Perhaps the biggest surprise at Bonnaroo (at least thus far) was when Trent Reznor announced that last night's (ok, this morning's) performance would be the last for NIN in the United States. Ever. There is little doubt about the genius of Reznor and his penchant for one-upping even himself, but personally, I cannot relate to the content and message of his music. While Reznor's well of talent seems to run very deep, it also seems to come from an extremely, extremely dark place.
After NIN, we came back to the radio compound to check things out and hooked up with Lt. Dan
and thought seriously about crossing to the far end of the festival grounds for the last half of MGMT, but decided the walk and time it would take to get there, with our luck the set would be over by the time we would have arrived. So we ended up hanging out with Thom Burkhart who was spinning for Radio Bonnaroo from 1am-7am, and the guys covering Bonnaroo for CNN. Dan befriended CNN crew that were in the tent right next to the production 'bunker' in the radio compound. Bedtime: none of your business
Today (Sunday) began with hourly updates beginning at noon until just before the start of Music Business Radio at 7pm CST. Wells took care of noon. Right after I finished the update at 1pm, I checked out a bit of Mike Farris and the Roseland Revue, and was not disappointed. Mike has a great voice and is using it better than he ever has before. I enjoyed what I saw of the set, albeit only about 20 minutes.
After returning for the 2pm update, I ran back to Which Stage to see Citizen Cope. Moving to get a better spot, I saw Rev. Keith peeping the set so we watched together...and had a fine time watching the festival goers as well as CC's set. I thought both shows (Citizen Cope and the expressions, tatoos and such of the Bonnaroovians) were excellent.
So here I am back in the compound...getting ready to work on the remaining break-ins at 5,6 & 6:50. I figured I had better update the blog before starting that.
Still to come as of 4:40 CST, Merle Haggard, Snoop Dogg, Band of Horses, Neko Case, Okkervil River and Phish.
Photo credit: Rev. Keith Coes (entitled "De feat")
Until next time.....
cheers
-jayson
Bonnaroo - Day 3
It's the last day of Bonnaroo? Wow, this has been a busy weekend for the Lightning 100 staff. It's been fun covering Bonnaroo this year, but I will be glad to not wonder campsites with four bags of equipment next week. I've been so busy, I did not even notice a hot air balloon being blow up right next to me. Probably the best way to watch The Boss is from a hot air balloon over Centeroo. From every other view, he just looked old. He did put on a pretty good set. Half way through the show, Max Weinberg's son, Jay Weinberg stepped in for Max and played for 80,000 fans. He is only eighteen years old. I left the show when Bruce Springsteen decided to bust out Santa Clause is Coming to Town.I've got to go film a performance with local artist Madi Diaz, here are some photos I grabbed from Music Allies Josh Rhinehart.
TV on the Radio
Al Green
Phoenix
David Byrne
Backstage interviews at Bonnaroo!
We got inside connection at Bonnaroo from Lightning 100's own Lt. Dan on his blog. Click here to get over 20 backstage interviews in the radio compound. Check out his blog for interviews and performances with Gomez, The Features, Low Anthem, Ani DiFranco, Tiff Merrit, Zac Brown Band, and tons more. Dan rocks!
June 13, 2009
Saturday afternoon at Bonnaroo
Last night ended the way today began: late. Public Enemy was absolutely ridiculous. They had incredible energy and played a memorable set. After PE (at about 2:00am) Hammel and I went to check out some of the DJ's that were spinning early morning sets. We saw Girl Talk and Pretty Lights until about 3:30 and couldn't go anymore. Got back to the bus around 4am and it was curtains.
Today once I got up and moving, Wells and I did some updates for Lightning 100's on-air coverage and then it was off to see some music. Raphael Saadiq (formerly of Tony Toni Tone) played That Tent and absolutely freaking killed it. I had previously heard a few tracks, but had never seen him live and he and his band were so solid. A little something for everyone - soul, jazz, rock, funk - you name it, Raphael and his band can play it. Well. I've already put Grimey's on alert....I'm going to seek out everything the guy has ever released and add it to my collection.
After that, we caught Rodrigo y Gabriela on That Stage (main stage). It was my third time seeing them live, but I'll never forget the first time I saw them - it was a late night set on Bonnaroo Thursday in 2007 - and the sight and sound was like nothing I've ever experienced in my life. Although it was a bit different this time as they were playing at 3:30 in the afternoon, the performance was incredible. At one point, Rod told the crowd that yesterday was Gab's birthday, so the 45,000 or so there (including me) sang her Happy Birthday. I'm not so sure that she expected that, but it really added a cool element to the show. Looking forward to a new CD from Rod y Gab, hopefully sometime this summer.
I caught part of Wilco and, as always, they were very good. Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche stopped by the radio compound for interviews....stay tuned for clips from those at some point tomorrow. (That's Glenn with Brian, Wells, Rev. Keith and I in the picture)
Also heard some of the Gov't Mule set on Which Stage. They played a lot of their bigger hits (Beautifully Broken, etc) and some covers (Helter Skelter, Southern Man). I dig Warren and the Mule. I am setting the over/under for how many other acts I see Warren play with this weekend at 4.
Tonights lineup features The Mars Volta, The Decemberists and Elvis Costello. From 9:00-12:30 Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band will be the only band playing. Then things get interesting...at 1am, all of the following take their respective stages: Nine Inch Nails - moe. - Yeasayer - Ben Harper & Relentless7. Hammel is telling me that I cannot miss the NIN set, and he hasn't steered my wrong yet, so that will be where I start.
The question then becomes, where will I finish?
Stop by here tomorrow and you'll find out.....
As for today's blog, I am as they say in Canada - OOT!
-j
Bonnaroo - Day 2
Got to use the bathroom, so does everyone else.
Press conference with Justin Townes Earle and Lucinda Williams.
Heypenny
The Features
Were the Beastie Boys ever tough? The Beastie Boys headlined Friday night on the What Stage on Friday. Nas joined them on stage to perform the song Paul Revere.
Justin Townes Earle
Flava Flav from Public Enemy. It's good to see Flav do something other than reality tv.
Last night was off the chain!! Looks as though "Phoenix" is going to be the Vampire Weekend of this year. Great indie band from France put on a amazing show. Pick up their new album asap-"Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"!
The WRLT Bonnaroo staff
Phish fans rejoice, the hiatus is over!! They are back and better than ever. Caught at great set last night where they played some old favorites. Classics like "Down with disease" "Possum" "Wolfman's brother" and "2001" were among some of the songs they jammed to. Seems as though they haven't missed a beat.
June 12, 2009
Bonnaroo - Day 1
Greetings from Bonnaroo arts and music festival 2009! Lightning100 has your complete backstage coverage for all that is WaterRoo. It rained on us most of the day yesterday, mainly when we really didn't need it to. For example.... when we tried to set up our campsite. But the sun has shone through the clouds and shined on all of us and the amazing artists. We started off Thursday focusing on local lightning artists. We saw Erin McCarley and K.S. Rhodes and shot some video of her opening song that we have featured on Lightning 100 a bunch "Pony(its OK). Next up the Murfreeboro's female trio "Those Darlings." An amazing set that included the song "Wild one". Both of those videos will be up shortly.
Disappointed in the weather, we made our way to the backstage radio compound bar to wait out the storm. As we sipped on some refreshing beverages, we were suddenly addressed by a Music Allies official that "If we see a tornado, please make our way to the tour bus as quick as possible." We stayed alive long enough to see our pick of the night, a Nashville Sunday Night artist named Delta Spirit. Delta Spirit got stuck in Austin due to inclement weather and wasn't able to perform at 7:00. But all was well in the world of Roo. They made it later that evening and played an amazing set at 12:45. Couldnt have asked for a better closing to the night.
Very Busy day ahead of us. We will be interviewing the Nashville band Heypenny later on in the day and checkin out that set. Apparently they have something exciting for us. It may or may not include a marching band.
Todays lineup is CRAZY! Gomez hits the stage at 12:30. Animal Collective goes on at 2:45. Bela Fleck and Toumarni Diabate will be kicking it off at 3:30. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be going on in that following hour. Oh yeah, just Al Green at 6:00, then Beastie Boys and David Byrne go on around 8:30. Dear lord... So much good music so little time. Then of course, what most everyone here is waiting for, Phish will be hitting the stage late night.
Keep checkin in to the blog for more updates all weekend long for interviews, videos and news!
June 5, 2009
Lightning 100's Top 10 Bonnaroo picks
Bruce Springsteen
David Byrne
Elvis Costello
Wilco
Neko Case
Ben Harper
Government Mule
Gomez
Rodrigo Y Gabriella
Andrew Bird
By David Hall
David Byrne
Elvis Costello
Wilco
Neko Case
Ben Harper
Government Mule
Gomez
Rodrigo Y Gabriella
Andrew Bird
By David Hall
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