Well... kinda. As I write this, I'm pausing every thirty seconds or so to cough or blow my nose - because of course the nasty cold that flattened me two weeks prior to the festival made a reappearance after the beatdown I gave my immune system this past weekend. But I count myself lucky to have made it out with just a cold, a few scratches, one giant blister and a huge and mysterious bruise on my right knee. I haven't abused myself like this since college (or at least since SXSW - though that isn't quite on par with the endurance challenge that is four days of bands and booze and sunshine and heat and rain and mud plus three nights in a tent), and I think I did admirably well for a Bonnaroo virgin. I even succeeded in taking a shower every day - in general camping, no less. So there, Father Time. 27 isn't too old for Bonnaroo after all.
So here's a rundown of my adventures and misadventures, highlights and lowlights, 'Roo-rocking tips and favorite moments of the fest. But no regrets - there's no room for regrets in rock and roll.
The Bands
First thing's first - the music. I felt like I was going into Bonnaroo under the best circumstances possible, and by that, I mean that I had seen a good chunk of the bands on the lineup before. I know that sounds a little weird, but let me explain - I haven't been to a big festival (other than SXSW, which is another beast entirely) since ACL in 2006. I had given up a little on the huge outdoor thing - the big crowds, the running from stage to stage, the pressure to catch any and every band you have any desire to see, and then the occasional crushing disappointment when the show doesn't live up to your expectations (whether it's because of the performance, or an apathetic crowd, or the baking heat, or you being too exhausted, etc etc). But with Bonnaroo, there were a few bands I was dying to see, and the rest of the time I was pretty free to go where the wind blew me. Of course that means I didn't get to see every band I would have liked to see, but I also didn't die in the attempt, and I had a ton of fun in the process. Here were the highlights:
- Beastie Boys - probably the band I was most psyched about seeing. They were the first act I caught on the What Stage - the massively massive stage that accommodates the headliners and all 80,000 of their fans, and I've gotta say I was a little overwhelmed by the crowd and underwhelmed by the show at first. But then we worked our way all the way around the field to the left side of the stage, where there was a ton more breathing room, and got close enough to be surrounded by a bunch of excited fans (instead of the idly chatting and mildly interested festival-goers in the back). And DAMN can the Beasties still put on a great show - all wise-cracking gray hair and hip-replacement jokes aside, they can sure jump around a stage. I was a huge fan for a good span in high school, and this is a band I've been waiting patiently to cross off my "must-see" list.
- Girl Talk - hands down, the most fun I had at Bonnaroo and the biggest dance party I've ever been a part of in my life (and will ever be a part of, most likely). Ridiculous. Take all the highlights of your drunken college dancing days, mix them with the freak-out frenetic energy of a Girl Talk samplefest, and throw in a few thousand people singing along to every familiar hook and chorus that gets dropped on the crowd. Plus, you know, a few trillion glow sticks, some massive inflatables and two balloon drops. My head is still spinning.
- Bruce Springsteen - I mean, it's Bruce Springsteen. Bruce. Springsteen. Sure, his show reminded me that there are a shitload of Springsteen songs I've never heard (or probably only heard once), but it also reminded me that I've been listening to that one-of-a-kind voice since I was a little girl, giggling at the denim-clad butt on Born in the U.S.A. And I can honestly say that I never in my life expected to hear "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" live. Ever, let alone in the middle of June. "It's too fucking hot for Santa," indeed.
- Grizzly Bear - of course a midday set in a massive tent at Bonnaroo could never come close to touching the intimacy and borderline religious experience feeling of seeing them at a church in Austin earlier this year, but it was an amazingly great show nonetheless, one that has me hoping I get the chance to see them at least a third time this year. It was absolutely sweltering side-stage without a breeze and I was pretty much dripping with sweat, but they still gave me goosebumps.
- Phoenix - this was only the third time I've seen the band live, but it's safe to say they are consistently SOLID live - and it was amazing to see all the new fans they've snagged with the new album. I really wish they could have played longer, but it was a great lead-in to the Friday night dance party.
- Dirty Projectors - sounded GREAT and it was amazing to see David Byrne hop on stage with them. Here's hoping I get to see them play a proper club show soon.
- Animal Collective - ditto. Sounded amazing, but I really wish they could have scored a night-time slot - something about seeing them in the blazing sunshine just wasn't the right aesthetic. Regardless, it was great to finally hear them live.
- Gomez - I will always and forever love Gomez, and they will always and forever repay me for that love by playing older tunes. This was an excellent kick-off to Friday's run of shows.
- A.A. Bondy/Elvis Perkins/Andrew Bird/Merle Haggard - my run of shows on Sunday was 100% laid-back and amazing. Personally, I think the perfect festival experience is a careful balance - about 25% running around, getting up close to the stage, completely rocking out and dancing your ass off, and about 75% chilling on the edges, laying back and just enjoying the fact that you're watching some kick-ass bands in a field. A.A. Bondy sounded sublime, Elvis Perkins is always a treat, Andrew Bird was like a whistling dream, and Merle Haggard was... Merle Haggard. Throw in a ferris wheel ride and the perfect combo of shade and sunshine and you have the makings of one of the best Sundays ever.
- MURS/The Knux - saw part of both these sets on Friday, and both acts totally bowled me over. I hear the Knux are looking to make a stop in Nashville later this year, so I'm going to cross my fingers that it happens.
I also caught White Rabbits, Hockey, Passion Pit, The Features and Crystal Castles, along with parts of sets including Al Green, David Byrne, Paul Oakenfold, Pretty Lights, Those Darlins, and enough others to make my head explode. All in all, an amazing weekend, and well worth the rain, the mud, the sun, and this vicious little cold.
Surviving
Leading up to Bonnaroo, everyone was all "pack this" and "remember to bring that" and "here's how you do it." I heeded the advice of a few veterans, read a few run-downs, and remembered a few of my own personal camping and festival-going tips. Here are the things that helped me survive the weekend:
- Showers - I'm not even kidding, taking a shower every day was one of the few things that kept me alive and feeling like myself. At $7 a pop, the showers in general camping certainly aren't cheap, but they're hot, they're relatively clean and private, and there is absolutely no time limit. Plus, I didn't have to wait in line once (and only saw a line form on Sunday morning). Drink at your tent one day and set aside the $21 you're saving and you'll have clean hair and a relieved smile every morning of the festival.
- Rain boots - BEST. IDEA. EVER. Granted, they gave me a blister after wearing them for 24 hours, but they were the greatest thing I thought to buy before this year's festival. 30 minutes of sliding around in muddy flip flops during Thursday night's downpour was absolutely miserable, but once I slipped into those bright green boots, I was solid. Because even after the rain stopped, the mud remained. And not only did my rain boots let me walk absolutely everywhere, they also let me stand in those wide-open perfect-view-of-the-band mud puddles right in front of the stage that everyone else was avoiding.
- BYOB - beer is expensive at Centeroo. Silly expensive. Best to get tipsy at your tent and take a to-go drink to quickly sip as you walk over to see the bands. And you can't bring anything but water into Centeroo, but doing it up high school style with vodka in water bottles is a GREAT plan that will help you save a ton of money (which we finally realized on Sunday). Just buy some juice from Whole Foods, save a plastic cup from your $4 iced tea, and hit up the beer tent for a some ice (just bring a few bucks for a tip).
- Battery-powered fan and some shade - sleeping in and napping ARE possible, under the right circumstances. A fan is a MUST. And even throwing a dark-colored blanket over your tent and unzipping the sides can make it a more pleasant daytime napping environment.
- Bring a pillow - yeah, I remembered pretty much everything imaginable EXCEPT for my pillow. Which means I got stuck in Thursday's torrential downpour carrying a loaner from a friend in a plastic trash bag while I myself got as drenched as I would have by jumping into a swimming pool. Simultaneously the best/worst moment of the festival - walking from guest camping to my own tent with flip-flops in hand, as everyone cheered on the lightning and all I could think was "holy shit, I'm really at Bonnaroo."
- Bring a camera you don't care about - Otherwise you won't have any pictures. That's why I don't have any pictures. I was too worried about rain, and then too worried about losing it, and then too worried about being drunk and accidentally damaging it/leaving it behind myself. Next year I might go the single use/waterproof route.
Press vs Plebs
I scored a pair of media wristbands for the festival, which not only meant I got access to the press area during the event, but also meant I a few other big perks - access to the side-stage "media area" during many of the performances, an air-conditioned press trailer to use as blogging HQ, free bottled water and a means of sneaking into the guest camping area, where there were free showers to be had. But to be honest, the greatest things about having that red and blue piece of fabric around my wrist were the little things - being able to come through the Centeroo exit instead of having to wait in line at the proper entrance, and the ability to charge my cell phone in the press trailer. Other than that I didn't take much advantage - in fact I paid for the more conveniently located showers near my campsite (which had more abundant quantities of hot water anyway) and more than a few times I skipped watching a show from side-stage in favor of standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the crowd. Privilege is a plus, but sometimes festivals are all about being a part of the crowd instead of watching that crowd from backstage. That's why I'm glad I got to experience general camping for my first Bonnaroo (granted we got lucky and ended up a five minute walk from Centeroo, and under different circumstances I might be bitching about being two miles away), because the only thing that would have sucked was not being able to shower. And that part of things was a piece of cake.
Overall observations
Bonnaroo was a blast. Part of me is sad that I've been missing out for the past five years, and part of me is glad that I waited until I was at an age where I wouldn't try to kill myself trying to see everything at the festival. From what I witnessed, everything was pretty calm and incident-free - yup, I saw my fair share of naked people and zonked people and vomiting, but everyone was nice, and friendly, and polite, and really only unintentionally rude when under the influence of various substances. Plus, everyone was really INTO IT. I don't think I saw one set all weekend where the audience didn't clap along at one point - crowd participation was at an all-time high, the fans were always singing along (even at indie-indie stuff like Passion Pit, which really surprised me), and everyone was pretty high-spirited and enthusiastic - something I'd love to see trickle over into Nashville's music scene a lot of the time. The big crowds got overwhelming and old pretty quick, but sticking to tent shows for most of the festival and avoiding the crush immediately in front of the stage kept things from getting too annoying. And the thing that made Bonnaroo one of the best festivals I've ever attended is actually the thing I expected to make it the worst - being immersed in the whole thing for four days (camping, not leaving, etc) is exactly what makes it so fun and so tolerable. At an ACL, a Lollapalooza or a Pitchfork, you don't really have a home base - you're just there at the festival until you call it quits at the end of the day. At Bonnaroo, things never really stop at the end of the day, but you can step out of Centeroo and take a breather whenever you want - morning, noon, or night.
So will I be back in 2010? You bet.
