True Roo Part 2: Bonnaroo Saturday 6/13/09
I would love to see Kevin Barnes, the flamboyant frontman for of Montreal, share the stage with Bruce Springsteen. How can two men who both lead rock bands, both dress in tight clothes, and both played at Bonnaroo yesterday be so similar and yet so completely different? It’s Born to Run vs. born to prance. Patriotic vs. homo-erotic. These are the things that Bonnaroo dreams are made of!
The day started for me with of Montreal, and they came ready with their full setup of crazy costumes, theatrics, cirque-du-noir projections, and complex emotional songs. They had a lot of sound trouble at first so it took a while to really get going, but they picked it up as things went along and delivered their softcore both-ways antics to everyone’s delight. Things really started to get crazy in the last ten minutes as they made the fascinating choice of closing with their longest and darkest song, “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal.” First, one of their minimally clad nymph-like theatrical characters managed to crowd surf 100 yards from the stage to the soundboard, quite an incredible feat. Then they really started to go batshit. Barnes started running around the stage causing random acts of destruction, the guitar and the bass were smashed to pieces, the tiger got in a brawl with the ninja, the mimes fought the hogs, and the sirens were strangling each other and the band. All this really happened on stage, I’m not kidding. Only at Bonnaroo.
As if that show weren’t out of this world, my next trip was to Mars Volta. These guys work harder physically than any band I’ve seen in a long time. Their notes-per-minute are astronomical. They spent an hour and a half blowing people’s minds apart with their furiously desperate vocals, screaming guitar, and earth-shattering drumming. I was exhausted just from listening to this show, I can’t imagine playing it. They were incredibly tight over some of the most difficult composed prog-metal progressions you could ask for. They really brought the noise from start to finish. Consider me permanently in orbit with these guys.
On the walk out of the show, I made my completely accidental band discovery of Bonnaroo that I talked about in yesterday’s article. Some band was playing in the Troo Music Lounge, which is the equivalent of the 9th stage at Bonnaroo. I had looked at this stage a couple of times over the weekend and there were never more than 30 people there, usually taking a food break while watching whatever singer-songwriter happened to be up. But tonight, there were 1000 people trying to watch this tiny stage. People were even holding up the canopy that formed the walls of the tent so they could watch from the side of the stage. What the heck was going on? Turns out it was Russian Circles blasting out their blend of technorati jams. It was impossible to stand anywhere where you could see, so I only lasted a couple of minutes, but consider me intrigued. Further research will definitely take place when I get home!
Bruce Springsteen then had Bonnaroo to himself for 3.5 hours, quite a slot indeed. Given my paltry interest in Springsteen’s music combined with the huge energy expenditure necessary to navigate the 50,000 person crowd and stand up for 3.5 hours before heading to late-night shows, I decided to take it easy and listen from our campsite, where we could actually hear pretty well. I will not pretend to review a show that I listened to through a bunch of trees and didn’t watch, but I can tell you that the crowd was INCREDIBLY loud when called upon to participate, and he played a rockin’ Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. I’m sure it was great and I’m sure Kevin Barnes was as far away as possible for his own sanity.
Late night started at 1am with Nine Inch Nails, a band I have wanted to see for a long time. They came with mostly the intense rock and rage that one would expect, and also sprinkled in some unexpected mellow moments. Trent Reznor was loud and proud and everyone in the band was pouring out energy. The show was mobbed and the crowd responded riotously. The light show was something from Stephen King’s mind. I loved it and I had nightmares when I went to sleep. I wish I had more than an hour to spend with NIN, and I would love to see a full NIN show soon after seeing this.
The last spot on the agenda was MGMT. Speaking of opposites bands, if such a thing is possible, MGMT might be the opposite of Mars Volta. Volta packs the hard, complex, musician-geek prog fire that no radio station would ever touch in a million years. Then you’ve got MGMT who, while not completely a pop act, have a much easier, simpler, bubble-gum sound with much broader appeal. Theirs was the most hit-oriented crowd I saw in the day. Everyone kind of hung on and politely enjoyed the wide selection of new, unheard songs that MGMT tried out, and then people really got excited when the duo hit the popular songs from their latest album, Oracular Spectacular. Their tune “Electric Beam” totally turned the party out and was still in my head when I woke up today. MGMT sounded great and weren’t afraid to sail the songs into experimental waters. The light show was spectacular; they brought in some huge beams to light the entire ceiling of the tent so the party was completely engulfing. They closed with the title track of their upcoming album, “Congratulations,” which by their own admission was a pretty mellow song to end on, but at 4am it’s not so bad to be able to wind down in a mellow mood so I thought it was a classy move if not the most memorable. Again, I look forward to my first “evening with” MGMT show after seeing this!
So goes another great day in a world of musical opposites and a temporary society that has absolutely nothing to do with the one we are used to. Up today: Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, Coheed and Cambria, Phish closing, and whatever else happens to happen. Until next time!
The National - 9/11
Marymoor Ampitheatre
The Black Keys - 10/2
The Paramount Theatre
Broken Social Scene - 10/10
Neumos
Broken Social Scene - 10/15
The Paramount Theatre
It was a great show. The energy was intense. I was lucky enough to be right up front.
by Burt on Thu Sep 2, 2010 at 05.01 pm from the entry: The Avett Brothers + Langhorne Slim - Crystal Ballroom (Portland-town, OR; Aug. 30, 2010)
lovin trackz #4,13, and 16
by Phoxy Philly on Thu Sep 2, 2010 at 04.03 pm from the entry: Chiddy Bang's "The Swelly Express" Mixtape (download)
Nice concerning as better as clarifying position.Gives Thanks for providing for us.I show your article with my delight.
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by jhon on Thu Sep 2, 2010 at 02.35 pm from the entry: Tiny Vipers + Rafael Anton Irisarri + Cars & Trains - Mississippi Studios (Portland; Jul. 14, 2010)
agree with beth! dope stuff on both sides of the review.
by @bosconcertphoto on Wed Sep 1, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: DJ /rupture + Tanlines - Whitney Museum (New York, NY; August 27, 2010)
Thanks Nicole!
Just wanted to say that although this may be our last time performing this show, I have many other projects in the works. Info and show schedule is on my website.
- Ben
by Ben Darwish on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 11.47 pm from the entry: Ben Darwish - Afrobeat Tribute to Michael Jackson - Tractor Tavern (Seattle, WA; August, 29, 2010)
Love these photos and review. So, these DJ sets are at 7:30? I don’t really get it. And are these gonna continue once the Whitney moves? And most importantly, where can I attend an “hour-long clinic on shaking ass?”
by beth on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 06.44 pm from the entry: DJ /rupture + Tanlines - Whitney Museum (New York, NY; August 27, 2010)
Super post there! Comprehensive and well collated material. Thanks for sharing.
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by jhon on Tue Aug 31, 2010 at 01.56 pm from the entry: Deerhoof + The Donkeys + Southeast Engine - Berbati's Pan (Portland, OR; July 6, 2010)
cool review seth! that MGMT song is called “Electric Feel” not “Electric Beam”