Alice & Groucho
Who knew that Alice Cooper was such good friends with Groucho Marx in his twilight years? I certainly didn’t, so when I saw this event on the calendar of the Bonnaroo Cinema (an air-conditioned tent complete with a popcorn machine and other concessions in the lobby), my interest was firmly piqued. Turns out, this odd couple spent a lot of time together, simply enjoying each other’s company, chatting about starlets and watching old movies late into the night. To hear Cooper speak so warmly of his old friend was a treat, not to mention the actual movie, Duck Soup, which provided a short but hilarious break from the technicolor, constant stimulation-overload that is Bonnaroo.
Amish Paradise
Yes, there were Amish people at Bonnaroo this year. And they brought it. “It” being some astoundingly delicious bread products. Peddling both salty hand-twisted soft pretzels (which required zero “dippers” to blow my mind) and humongous, fluffy, glazed doughnuts, they were one of the culinary highlights of the weekend for many festival goers. And yes, they were rocking the long hair and conservative outfits. But they seemed to be truly enjoying the music and the experience. I can only hope they pay a visit to a New Orleans festival soon (confession: I have already emailed them with an earnest plea).
Radiohead
This is the one show all weekend that I knew I wouldn’t miss a moment of. Seeing their headlining stand in 2006, I knew I was in for a powerful experience and I wasn’t let down. Despite the swollen crowd, I felt completely transported by the music (both classics and new material) and the visual/light show was one of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. Thom Yorke dropped some hints regarding an upcoming collaboration with Jack White, so I can only gleefully anticipate what wonders await us there.
Get Your Learn On
There’s so much more to do at Bonnaroo than get drunk in tents and listen to music. The “village” in the Planet Roo area (center of the grounds) is home to the Solar Stage and the Academy, where daily yoga and hula hooping classes take place, as well as panel discussions on social change through music and exclusive acoustic performances from multiple bands. This year, my boyfriend took part in some of the gardening classes, learning about the proper ways to handle worm composting. There were also classes on spoken word, juggling, masking, wild foraging, growing your own shiitake mushroom logs and building a bike generator, just to name a few.
Brooklyn Bread
At a loss for something to snack on one evening, we stumbled across this pizza joint, Roberta’s. They had lugged their oven all the way from the hippest of hip neighborhoods in Brooklyn to bring amazing flavors and an ultra-pleasant staff to the farm. We split a Bee Sting (fresh mozzarella, homemade tomato sauce, sopressata and chili flakes—all drizzled with honey) and very seriously considered ordering a second. I definitely hope to see them back next year, but they’re on my list for next time I’m in New York too.
The Black Lips
It was Sunday morning and overcast but everyone was starting to look pretty drained. Leave it to these irreverent brats from Atlanta to get the day started right. An upbeat set of short, punchy numbers was just the prescription for shaking off Saturday night’s indiscretions. Though they’ve toned down much of their infamously disgusting stage antics, there were still plenty of arcing showers of water and booze spit into the pit; and the youngsters filling it couldn’t have been happier. It was a damn good set and it put me in a great mood to finish out the fest.
Up Close & Personal
Sometimes it can get overwhelming, hopping from stage to stage all day. It can mean missing parts of some sets and sacrificing prime viewing spots for many of them. This is where the Sonic Stage comes in. An intimate affair, it allows fans to get much closer to their favorite acts (most of whom will go on to sign autographs in a tent next to the stage after they’re done playing). This year, NOLA’s own Soul Rebels Brass Band opened the festival’s main stage, playing to a healthy but spread out crowd. Their set later that day on the Sonic Stage, however, was a barn-burner of the first degree and allowed people the chance to experience the Rebels like we get to on a weekly basis.
Alice Cooper
Having just seen him chatting about Groucho Marx a few hours earlier, it was delightful to see Alice Cooper roll out on stage at the stroke of midnight, riding a shining staircase, fitted with a monstrous set of spider legs. It may be an old act, but he still performs it with such vigor and attitude that it was infectiously fun and a cool sensory trip. Whether it’s the guillotine trick or the giant Frankenstein (which was kinda terrifying at 2am to the sleep-deprived among us), Cooper is still hell-bent on entertaining.The crowd jubilantly shouted along to “No More Mr. Nice Guy”—even the 10 year-old kids on their parents’ shoulders in front of us. And that, dear readers, is called putting on a show.
Micro-Broo
Sure, there’s plenty of beer to be had at booths all over the grounds. Mostly it’s your standard domestics with a few twists here and there. But inside The Broo’ers Tent, you can find microbreweries from all over the country, providing an Oktoberfest-style atmosphere and offering tastings and full cups of some of their best brews. The hometown kids of Abita are always there to represent, as are other great groups like Magic Hat, Sweetwater, Woodchuck, Crispin and Fat Tire. This year there were discussions on proper brewing techniques and limited-seating tastings of special reserves. Expect this part of the fest to expand and thrive for those interested in more than just getting as drunk as possible, as quickly as possible.
The Weather Gods
I’ve been to Bonnaroo many times now. There have been years when it’s so dusty, your snot stays black for a week after getting home and you can’t seem to get enough water to clear the grit from your teeth. Then, of course, there are the years when it just won’t stop raining and you spend your days fishing flip flops out of mud holes and waking to droplets falling through your tent ceiling. Worst of all are the years when it’s so unbearably hot and there just isn’t a cloud in sight. You can visibly see people wilting and it’s standing-room-only at the mushroom fountain. This year? This year was perfect. We slept in hoodies and extra blankets the first night because it was in the mid-50s! The highs never crested over about 86 or so and cloud cover was decent all weekend. The rains came on Sunday but stayed at bay for most of the music, waiting until the wee hours of the night to really break loose (which made taking the tent down an awesome experience, but it’s a trade-off I’ll take). This is the weather we pray for. Frankly, it may never happen again.
