This post is from Out the Other's 2009 Bonnaroo Artist Previews, where I will be posting previews of all the musical acts playing the 2009 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Please check out and subscribe to the full site to learn more about all of this year's performers.
There are certain concert stories I feel like I tell over and over - like what it was like to brave the Paradise alone my first month in Boston to see Gomez, and how David Byrne was the first show that made me teary, and how I fell in love with Spoon the moment I saw them hit the stage. The tale behind my introduction to California's Delta Spirit wasn't as life-changing as those moments, but it was absolutely a welcome introduction. Two years ago I saw them open up for Cold War Kids and it was one of those moments where you think to yourself, "wow, why haven't I heard of this band before?" They sounded phenomenal, they seemed to be having a blast on the stage, and they had this kind of gritty, rootsy intensity running through their songs that absolutely caught and held my interest.
I think I've managed to see the band four or five times since, and every show has been as engaging as the first. Both prior to and following last year's re-release of the band's debut, Ode to Sunshine, they have been touring extensively, and much to my delight they keep popping up here in Nashville (whether their tours just happen that way or they love this town, I'm not really sure). And when they're in town, you can bet I'll be front and center, singing along and closing my eyes and letting songs like "Children" sweep me away. You see, Delta Spirit - more so than most bands I've run across in the past few years - is a live band. Ode to Sunshine is a great record of course, but it's one of those that just seems to tide you over in between concerts - you really can't fully appreciate the band until you see them in person. In fact, I'm pretty sure I wasn't even impressed by "Children" (my favorite Delta Spirit song) until I was standing in front of the stage, feeling the drums pounding in my chest.
You can bet there are a number of acts I've never, ever seen playing Bonnaroo this week. But I'm still going to do my best to check out a band that I've seen a healthy handful of times before - and that alone should be proof that Delta Spirit is absolutely worth checking out.
"Children"
"People, Turn Around"
Delta Spirit will play the That Tent on Thursday from 7-8 p.m. Check out the Full Bonnaroo schedule on the official Bonnaroo website.
