Saturday started off with a bang. While writing for the day, the strains of the High and Mighty Brass Band made their way into the press compound. The group had a great big-band sound of decades gone by, and they were perfect for the relaxing afternoon slot in the sunshine.
After enjoying picnicking by the High and Mighty Brass Band, I spent time walking around the festival and exploring the area. The best part of festivals is all the things to do! At Bonnaroo, there is a cinema tent (open 24 hours a day!), comedy tent, art area, parade, robe party, Friday the 13th party, and countless other activities. There is also the famous Silent Disco where participants wear headphones and dance to the same song. The effect is magical – hundreds of dancers moving silently to the same beat. Bonnaroo has much more to offer than just music!
Later that day, I watched a show by Cage the Elephant. Their energy was phenomenal, especially considering the oppressive heat. Matt Shultz, the lead singer, spent much of the performance crowd surfing and running through the audience. He elaborated on what goes through his head when he is crowd surfing, remarking “(he) used to not worry about people dropping him”, but with every audience member trying to take a selfie with him, no one holds him up! The band was visibly thrilled with the crowd at Bonnaroo, while guitarist Brad Shultz told the audience “I promise you this. You won’t hear any (expletive) rants. Just music”. Cage the Elephant first attended Bonnaroo 10 years ago as fans, and this year was a triumphant homecoming.
Lionel Richie, performing later that evening, was a huge crowd pleaser. His well-perfected banter and overwhelming charisma won over the crowd. Originally, I had planned to leave during his set to see Ms. Lauryn Hill but Lionel Richie was so engaging that I couldn’t leave! His enthusiastic performances of hits such as “Dancing on the Ceiling” and “Brick House” were finely tuned, and his band included one of the best saxophone players I have ever heard. At the end of his set, he led the crowd in a massive sing-along to the hit he made with Michel Jackson, “We Are the World”. Lionel Richie is clearly one of the hardest working musicians out there, and he definitely earned his spot at Bonnaroo with an amazing set.
Later that night, the “Unofficial Mayor of Tennessee” Jack White performed. His electric opening performance of “Icky Thump” set the tone for his performance, and the crowd was instantly buzzed and ready to rock. There was a dangerous feeling in the air and the crowd felt on the edge of a riot as White and his band blazed through performances of songs by The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, in addition to White’s solo material. Jack White had plenty to celebrate at Bonnaroo; his second solo album, “Lazaretto” premiered at No. 1 this week. With such a rocking performance, it is easy to see why! Jack White ended near his scheduled time, however, the crowd’s pleas brought him back out. He graciously spent an extra hour performing for the thrilled crowd and finally took his bow at 1 a.m. The crowd remained on a high as they left the set, and thousands of attendees spontaneously sung “Seven Nation Army” as they dispersed the stage.
After Jack White, I stopped by The Flaming Lips set to see what was going on. While I don’t listen to much of their music, their unique costumes and bizarre show was infamous enough that I had to stop by. True to reputation, they were wearing unusual gigantic animal costumes and bopping aound a stage filled with silver streamers and psycodelic lights. Near the end of their set (Jack White’s encore led to me missing most of their show), they performed a cover of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” that enamored all of the hippies in the crowd. The Flaming Lips put on an entertaining show, and their chill style of music was popular at the late hour. However, most of the crowd, like myself, had come from Jack White and were still extremely energized and not ready to slow down for the night.
To cap off the night, I stopped by the Superjam led by Skrillex. The Superjam was not quite what I expected; I expected Skrillex to lend his EDM edge to every song but he was clearly thrilled to play host for the other musicians. He bounced around the stage, playing guitar or working the tables. There were oodles of guests at the Superjam, but the surprise appearance of Ms. Lauryn Hill at the end brought the crowd to a frenzy. She performed four songs, closing with “Ready or Not” almost an hour and a half after the Superjam was scheduled to end. The ecstatic crowd was clearly overwhelmed at the barrage of fantastic performances, and this Superjam was definitely one to remember.
Lessons to learn from Bonnaroo Day 3:
There is more to a Music Festival than Music!
Both times I have been to Bonnaroo, my favorite part has been walking around, experiencing the festival. There is so much to see and do; don’t be afraid to explore!
Hard Work Really Does Pay Off!
Lionel Richie is a legend for a reason. His well-practiced show and easy banter is a great reminder that it takes hard work for everything in life.
Support Other People!
Skrillex played an amazing solo set Friday night, but his enthusiasm really showed when he was supporting his friends in the Superjam. Helping your BFFs achieve their goals is a great pick-me-up. After all, two heads are always better than one!