#3 - Part One

[Seriously, could these Bonnaroo posts be any less timely?!?  This summer has been crazy busy!]

[Also a Public Service Announcement:  If you are anywhere near Newport, RI this weekend, GO TO THE NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL.  Not only a great lineup but the chance to see a show by a band that I classify as the most fun band ever!!!  More on them in tomorrow's post...]

Saturday was day #3 of Bonnaroo 2011 and it was shaping up to be a hot one.  Like a your face is going to melt off hot.  And once again due to my 'Bret Michaels' hat, my vehicle and backpack got thoroughly searched upon entry to the venue and I did not make it in time for the first show that I had wanted to see. 

Thankfully, I did make it in time for Old Crow Medicine Show.  They are a string band playing bluegrass/folk/Americana/etc but I like to call their music, Newgrass.  It is very bluegrass but it has a modern edge to it.  I was really looking forward to this show and they did not disappoint.  OCMS is always a romping, stomping good time!  Their set included one of my favorites - Mississippi Saturday Night - as well as their hits, Wagon Wheel and Tell It To Me.  Another band deserving some space on your iPod!

My plan was to stay for Alison Krauss & Union Station.  I just knew that my good friend, Alison, would miss me in the audience if I was not there.  Oh, you didn't know that I was friends with Alison?  We met at LAX back in May.  We were both flying home to Nashville.  For some weird reason, she didn't want to sit with me but preferred to sit with the members of Union Station.  But she did sit in front of me for the flight home.  And after 4 hours of sitting behind her, I can tell you that she is the wiggly-est, peeing-est human being in the world!  :) 

But my reunion with Alison was not meant to be.....My ability to withstand the heat made other plans.  Alison was performing on the same stage as OCMS - The Which Stage.  It is notoriously hot at that particular stage.  It isn't anymore sun-drenched than the other stages but the air does NOT move for some reason. So it seems a whole lot hotter!  And my ability to take the heat had hit a wall.  I needed water and shade.  Fast.  I got a couple of cold bottles of water, found a shady spot, and sat misting myself until I recovered.  That is the first time in all my years of Bonnaroo attending that the heat had caused me to miss a show!  I guess being used to those cool California temps did me in.  But soon enough I was back to myself.  And I chose a spot close enough to be able to listen to Deer Tick.  They have a great combination of country, blues, and rock in their music.  I really enjoyed recovering while listening to them!

And I was in place for Devotchka.  I learned about this band from listening to Pandora Radio and I really enjoy some of their music.  But I could have lived another day without seeing them live.  They were late coming on and took a break about 10 minutes into their set.  I am not impressed with that kind of primadonna attitude.  Especially when there are loads of other bands to see!

Instead of waiting around for them to return, I had a difficult choice to make.  Go to see Mumford & Sons (a band that I love and one that I had seen before) or go to see Loretta Lynn (country music legend).  I'll admit I have never been much of a fan of Loretta Lynn's music.  I know, I know - Go ahead and take away my "Country Music Lover" membership card.  But I had seen Mumford & Sons, so I chose Loretta.  And boy, was I glad that I did!  At 79, she has one of the most powerful voices I have ever heard.  I cannot imagine the power of her vocals 40-50 years ago!  She was incredible and it was an honor to be able to watch her perform.

All this and it was only 8pm.  And my day (night?) was not even half over!!!  More later.....