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