Bonnaroo Recap Day 1 & 2 – Little Dragon, Moon Taxi, Orgone, Ludacris, Radiohead and more (VTT Feature)
Bonnaroo: June 7, 2012
To give a recap of an event like Bonnaroo is similar to
walking into a circus of freaks, getting hit over the head with a giant
glowstick and waking up 4 days later with nothing to show for it. But those freaks
are my people so let’s embark on a journey back to Great Stage Park, the
grounds on which people gather once a year to rejoice, and come together
seamlessly to celebrate all that is life and all that is music.
walking into a circus of freaks, getting hit over the head with a giant
glowstick and waking up 4 days later with nothing to show for it. But those freaks
are my people so let’s embark on a journey back to Great Stage Park, the
grounds on which people gather once a year to rejoice, and come together
seamlessly to celebrate all that is life and all that is music.
Much to my surprise this year there was absolutely no line
at all. If you’ve been to Bonnaroo than you know what I’m talking about. The
line is crippling; you and your compadres are pent up on the verge of greatness
yet so far down the highway shoulder that is all too familiar with this crowd
of hooligans. But this year it was smooth sailing from the start.
at all. If you’ve been to Bonnaroo than you know what I’m talking about. The
line is crippling; you and your compadres are pent up on the verge of greatness
yet so far down the highway shoulder that is all too familiar with this crowd
of hooligans. But this year it was smooth sailing from the start.
Once inside the farm we set up camp. As much as I attend
Bonnaroo for the music, there is also a deeper meaning to Bonnaroo, which
translates to “a really good time.” That’s exactly what it’s all about. Setting
out on a journey with your friends, some new, some old, but all ready to bond and have a good time. Festivals are unlike any other event I’ve ever attended.
You’ve got to go in with an open mind, heart, and schedule, because nothing
goes the way you think it will, and it’s a beautiful thing.
Bonnaroo for the music, there is also a deeper meaning to Bonnaroo, which
translates to “a really good time.” That’s exactly what it’s all about. Setting
out on a journey with your friends, some new, some old, but all ready to bond and have a good time. Festivals are unlike any other event I’ve ever attended.
You’ve got to go in with an open mind, heart, and schedule, because nothing
goes the way you think it will, and it’s a beautiful thing.
I kicked off the weekend with Orgone, a Los Angeles Funk
band who spent much of it’s early career as a back up band for hip hop acts.
Orgone may have been the funkiest set I saw all weekend, it stepped up in a big
way to set the tone for what was to come. Some highlight tracks were ‘Who Knows Who,” “Rock Me
Again & Again,” and “Say Goodbye.”
band who spent much of it’s early career as a back up band for hip hop acts.
Orgone may have been the funkiest set I saw all weekend, it stepped up in a big
way to set the tone for what was to come. Some highlight tracks were ‘Who Knows Who,” “Rock Me
Again & Again,” and “Say Goodbye.”
My crew of tripping billies stuck around for Moon Taxi since
it was at the same tent (‘That Tent’) and we were surprised at the additional
funk we were hit for this set. With a full band Moon Taxi brought the sun down
with their pianist just tearing the set apart during a few of the songs. Check out this awesome video of
“Cabaret.”
it was at the same tent (‘That Tent’) and we were surprised at the additional
funk we were hit for this set. With a full band Moon Taxi brought the sun down
with their pianist just tearing the set apart during a few of the songs. Check out this awesome video of
“Cabaret.”
Following Moon Taxi we wandered over to Kendrick Lamar who
was performing at ‘This Tent,’ but quickly jettisoned over to Phantogram who
would be playing before Mimosa. Live rap music is very hit or miss and if it
doesn’t grab ahold of you quickly it’s done. This being the case we listened to
the Phantogram set while they played tracks like “As Far As I Can See,” “Don’t
Move,” “When I’m Small,” and the crowd favorite, “Mouthful of Daimonds.” The
fans hanging on every word Sarah Barthel belted out.
was performing at ‘This Tent,’ but quickly jettisoned over to Phantogram who
would be playing before Mimosa. Live rap music is very hit or miss and if it
doesn’t grab ahold of you quickly it’s done. This being the case we listened to
the Phantogram set while they played tracks like “As Far As I Can See,” “Don’t
Move,” “When I’m Small,” and the crowd favorite, “Mouthful of Daimonds.” The
fans hanging on every word Sarah Barthel belted out.
Once the crowd began filing out, my goons and I rushed
forward to get a good spot for Mimosa. This was my fourth time seeing Tigran
and I am still in awe every time. Mimosa has grown as a producer and a DJ
dramatically since I first saw him almost three years in Florida. Between his
latest album Sanctuary, the collaborative SexyTime project with Sleepyhead, and
the progression and production of his live sets, Mimosa has solidified a place
in the overcrowded world of electronic music. Bouncing around stage with his
Bob Marley spliff the man absolutely killed it. Throughout the weekend there was good amount of DJ’s
dropping songs other DJ’s had already played, but Tigran was the first to spin
“Hard in the Paint,” as the opener to his Bonnaroo set. Well played, homie,
well played.
forward to get a good spot for Mimosa. This was my fourth time seeing Tigran
and I am still in awe every time. Mimosa has grown as a producer and a DJ
dramatically since I first saw him almost three years in Florida. Between his
latest album Sanctuary, the collaborative SexyTime project with Sleepyhead, and
the progression and production of his live sets, Mimosa has solidified a place
in the overcrowded world of electronic music. Bouncing around stage with his
Bob Marley spliff the man absolutely killed it. Throughout the weekend there was good amount of DJ’s
dropping songs other DJ’s had already played, but Tigran was the first to spin
“Hard in the Paint,” as the opener to his Bonnaroo set. Well played, homie,
well played.
Bonnaroo: June 8, 2012
Before I go too deep into the Friday of Bonnaroo I’d like to
mention my crew got silly drunk REAL early. But it’s all good because we hit
centeroo hard and tore it up. Two Door Cinema Club did a great job of getting
people on their feet including performance of their single, “Something Good Can Work.”
mention my crew got silly drunk REAL early. But it’s all good because we hit
centeroo hard and tore it up. Two Door Cinema Club did a great job of getting
people on their feet including performance of their single, “Something Good Can Work.”
We stuck around for Little Dragon’s performance at the same
stage. I actually don’t remember much from this show but all was not lost and I already had the chance to see Little Dragon in Atlanta and their intimate set at UltraMusic Festival. The Yukimi gods were also in my favor because five of the
tracks performed that day were posted on YouTube at a very high quality;
“Little Man,” “Nightlight,” “Please Turn,” “Ritual Union,” and “Brush the
Heat,” can all be seen HERE.
Feeling like a good leg stretch I headed over to catch a
little of the Feist set before heading back over to ‘This Tent’ for Ludacris.
Luda was full of energy despite the Manchester heat and gave the crowd some
party music to get down to. Bows were thrown (by me according to friends)
during “Southern Hospitality,” Cigars were smoked during “Blueberry Yum Yum,”
(by everybody) and the ladies shook their asses during “Area Codes.” The
highlight of the Ludacris Bonnaroo set may have been the comedic moshing to
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” while Luda asked where all his 80’s babies were
at. After the Luda show I headed
back to camp to get ready for Radiohead.
little of the Feist set before heading back over to ‘This Tent’ for Ludacris.
Luda was full of energy despite the Manchester heat and gave the crowd some
party music to get down to. Bows were thrown (by me according to friends)
during “Southern Hospitality,” Cigars were smoked during “Blueberry Yum Yum,”
(by everybody) and the ladies shook their asses during “Area Codes.” The
highlight of the Ludacris Bonnaroo set may have been the comedic moshing to
“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” while Luda asked where all his 80’s babies were
at. After the Luda show I headed
back to camp to get ready for Radiohead.
Thom Yorke and the rest of the boys had such a good time
performing during their 2006 headlining spot at Bonnaroo that they jumped at
the opportunity to play the Manchester circus when they were asked. Grabbing
the crowd immediately with “Bloom,” and driving hard into “15 Step,” got the
crowd amped. Check out the setlist for the show along with videos of some of
the songs performed in the links.
performing during their 2006 headlining spot at Bonnaroo that they jumped at
the opportunity to play the Manchester circus when they were asked. Grabbing
the crowd immediately with “Bloom,” and driving hard into “15 Step,” got the
crowd amped. Check out the setlist for the show along with videos of some of
the songs performed in the links.
Bloom
15 Step
Kid A
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Staircase
The Daily Mail
I Might Be Wrong
The Gloaming
Separator
Nude
Morning Mr. Magpie
Identikit
There There
Karma Police
Feral
Idioteque
Encore:
You and Whose Army?
House of Cards
Supercollider
(Thom Yorke dedicated song to Jack White)
(Thom Yorke dedicated song to Jack White)
Everything In Its Right Place (True Love Waits intro)
Encore 2:
Give Up the Ghost
Reckoner (Thom
Yorke dedicated song to RHCP)
Yorke dedicated song to RHCP)
Paranoid Android
After the Radiohead set it was time to turn things up with
none other than Diplo going in on his Major Lazer set. Diplo truly knows how to
throw a party. “Original Don,” hit me right in the face like a ton of bricks,
in the best way possible. This set was probably the only chance to catch any
sounds of moombahton or an electronic sound heavily influenced by countries
like Jamaica where you can hear the culture coming through the highs and lows
in tracks like the new single “Express Yourself.”
I’m not really sure if there was a segway inbetween Major
Lazer and the next set of the night, but if there was it would have been Black
Star. I honestly think I can’t remember because the next show was my favorite
of the entire weekend… enter Flying Lotus.
Lazer and the next set of the night, but if there was it would have been Black
Star. I honestly think I can’t remember because the next show was my favorite
of the entire weekend… enter Flying Lotus.
FlyLo absolutely smashed his performance of Bonnaroo 2012.
Back in March when I saw him at Ultra Music Festival I was painstakingly underwhelmed
with his performance, which was one of my most anticipated of the weekend. Much
of this was because FlyLo brought along an emcee to add to his afternoon
performance. I really feel like it was just poor planning on Ultra for giving
him an afternoon slot, because that kind of set can really bring out some real
electronic fans (not to hate on the Avicii ‘fans’ and Aoki heads), but he may
have felt his rhyming cohort would add something necessary to an afternoon set
of listeners who were unfamiliar. Bonnaroo was a whole different story. Flying
Lotus took the entire crow and put them in his pocket for 2 hours. Dropping a
ton of his original production along with, “Yonkers,” “Intergalactic,” and “IWant You Back,” from the Jackson 5.
Back in March when I saw him at Ultra Music Festival I was painstakingly underwhelmed
with his performance, which was one of my most anticipated of the weekend. Much
of this was because FlyLo brought along an emcee to add to his afternoon
performance. I really feel like it was just poor planning on Ultra for giving
him an afternoon slot, because that kind of set can really bring out some real
electronic fans (not to hate on the Avicii ‘fans’ and Aoki heads), but he may
have felt his rhyming cohort would add something necessary to an afternoon set
of listeners who were unfamiliar. Bonnaroo was a whole different story. Flying
Lotus took the entire crow and put them in his pocket for 2 hours. Dropping a
ton of his original production along with, “Yonkers,” “Intergalactic,” and “IWant You Back,” from the Jackson 5.
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