Part Deux

So as Saturday rolled into evening, the temperatures at Bonnaroo cooled.  And I headed to the Main Stage to catch The Black Keys.  They are a Grammy-winning blues rock duo.  Tighten Up is the song that won them a Grammy and is probably their best known.  They have a great sound and put on a great show.  Their sound is not as 'manufactured' as many acts these days.  I can imagine that this is what Woodstock might have sounded like.

I could have jogged across the venue to catch Buffalo Springfield but I wasn't really feeling that much energy flowing.  I always sit toward the back of the main stage, in close proximity to a tiny stage called Cafe Where.  So I was in the prime position to hear J. Roddy Walston & The Business.  I had never heard of them but I was really glad I stayed for their show.  What a fun, fun time!  I will definitely be adding some of their music to my iPod.

Next up was a headliner.  Eminem.  I wasn't really excited about this show because rap just isn't my thing.  But I will say that if I am going to listen to rap, I would rather listen to Eminem than most other rap artists.  Mainly because years ago, he had some really funny videos:)  From those that like rap, I heard that the show was really good.  For me, it was just OK.  He had a second guy on stage with him that was acting as an emcee but also was rapping.  And much of the time I couldn't tell if it was Eminem or the assistant rapping.  After his set ended around 12:30am, my crew of Bonna-pals deserted me for their nice comfy beds.  But for me, this night was young!!

Thankfully the first late night show I wanted to see was late starting so I was able to catch some of The String Cheese Incident.  These guys are festival mainstays - one of the great jam bands!  They always have such a fun but laid back vibe to their music and it translates to the audience.  This time they had all kinds of 'props' to accompany their show.  Giant lightup beach balls.  A huge inflatable t-rex.  And a dude in a jetpack!  This video, though not the best quality, gives a great shot of what it is like to experience The String Cheese Incident at Bonnaroo:)

Next it was time for a reunited Dr. John and the Original Meters with Allen Toussaint.  That show was about as funky as funky can get!  I was ready to put on my big gold hoop earrings and grow a huge afro it was so funky!!  The highlight of their show was the performance of their album, Desitively Bonnaroo - where Bonnaroo gets its name.  One thing I love about Bonnaroo are these once in a lifetime experiences!

Next up was the band that I had stayed up this late for...the band I had seen at Bonnaroo 2008...the band that I had deemed the most fun live show I have ever experienced...the band that I always said if given the chance, I would definitely see again!  That band was Gogol Bordello.  Their music is called Gypsy punk.  And that is almost a perfect description.  A perfect description would be Gypsy punk all hopped up on cocaine!  They are the most high energy band ever!  And you cannot help but join in on their energy.  Seriously starting at 3am, I danced for 2 solid hours.  And I DON'T dance!  At one point, a couple of hippy chicks came and asked if they could join me because I had been "up here just jamming the whole time" all by myself!  The entire crowd was dancing the entire time - so much so that it looked like the stage was on fire from all the dust being stirred up!  They finished their set as dawn was starting to light the sky.  Wow, what a show!  I stand by my earlier statements - most fun live show ever and if given the chance, I will not miss seeing them perform!

It had been a long, long time since this old girl rolled home at daybreak....