BONNAROO 2011

[oistheone]

I don't care for Arcade Fire, so...

Fair enough, but after catching them live last summer, I can't imagine anyone not enjoying themselves, at the least.

I've seen them.  I reeeeeallllllly don't care for them.

The lineup is solid, but in terms of unique acts you can only catch at Roo, it's a little light this year.  Granted those unique sets all have the potential to be pretty epic (superjam, Dr. John performing Desitively Bonnaroo, the possibility of Jack White with Loretta Lynn and/or Wanda Jackson...).

Those unique sets are what Bonnaroo is all about! There's a good chance the Meters will never play together again, ever -- let alone with Dr. John and performing one of the funkiest albums of all time in its entirety.  Come for the funk, stay for the Jacket, that's what I say.

You know the boys will find a way to make this set unique regardless of when or how long they play. I mean c'mon, it's Roo X we're talkin' about here!

Man, I am such a Bonnaroo cheerleader.

[ALady]

I do think we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves based on a random message board posting.

*waves Bonnaroo pom poms*

[itrainmonkeys]

My Morning Jacket played a one hour set in 2003.

They played an hour and a half set in 2004.

The had an hour and a half long set in 2005.

They had a two and a half hour set in 2006.

And we all know about the 3+ hour set in 2008.


But the key thing to remember in EVERY one of those shows is that My Morning Jacket rocked faces and won over many fans and continued their journey to where they are today.

I think a lot of people here are upset and that's understandable because who wouldn't want to see their favorite (or one of their favorite) band play a marathon set at one of the biggest music festivals in the country. But I think people are looking at it the wrong way. I feel like playing 8-10 would be amazing for MMJ and they would be playing in front of a huge crowd on the biggest stage in what essentially has been the headliner slot in the past. Even if Arcade Fire plays after them......My Morning Jacket is basically headlining Bonnaroo and playing the prime spot on the What stage.

I feel like Jim and the gang wouldn't take this news as hard or negative as some of the fans here seem to be and maybe we should try viewing it from some other perspectives. I personally am happy that it frees up more time for the late nights which are usually filled with conflicts. Now I think I will get to see the full Dr. John set that I wanted (i'm assuming he's playing late night).

Either way......MMJ will be amazing  :D. 2 hours or 4 hours. I think it's amazing that Roo has given them so much exposure over the years and allowed them to take a few prime late night slots that only a handful of bands usually get.

[oistheone]

My Morning Jacket played a one hour set in 2003.

They played an hour and a half set in 2004.

The had an hour and a half long set in 2005.

They had a two and a half hour set in 2006.

And we all know about the 3+ hour set in 2008.


But the key thing to remember in EVERY one of those shows is that My Morning Jacket rocked faces and won over many fans and continued their journey to where they are today.

I think a lot of people here are upset and that's understandable because who wouldn't want to see their favorite (or one of their favorite) band play a marathon set at one of the biggest music festivals in the country. But I think people are looking at it the wrong way. I feel like playing 8-10 would be amazing for MMJ and they would be playing in front of a huge crowd on the biggest stage in what essentially has been the headliner slot in the past. Even if Arcade Fire plays after them......My Morning Jacket is basically headlining Bonnaroo and playing the prime spot on the What stage.

I feel like Jim and the gang wouldn't take this news as hard or negative as some of the fans here seem to be and maybe we should try viewing it from some other perspectives. I personally am happy that it frees up more time for the late nights which are usually filled with conflicts. Now I think I will get to see the full Dr. John set that I wanted (i'm assuming he's playing late night).

Either way......MMJ will be amazing  :D. 2 hours or 4 hours. I think it's amazing that Roo has given them so much exposure over the years and allowed them to take a few prime late night slots that only a handful of bands usually get.

HEAR,  HEAR!!!

[Penny Lane]

I don't think MMJ would take it as negative, either. I think it's a testament to how deservedly big they've gotten. But to make the opposite argument, I think as much exposure as Bonnaroo have given MMJ, I think MMJ have given continual credibility to a festival that continues to get worse every year, while keeping its prices the same. The late night Bonnaroo sets are the main draws for a lot of people. The superjam was a really cool thing, also, all the collaboration. 2 out of the 4 times I went, were ONLY to see  MMJ. With all the cool festivals (Hangout on the BEACH, Lolla in a cool city, Mt Jam up in the mountains) I have no idea (other than MMJ) why anyone would wanna trek out to that farm anymore. To me it's become the non-music fan's festival (then again, I'm getting old and cranky)..so I think MMJ playing the main stage is GREAT for them but kind of a bummer for fans

[itrainmonkeys]

But to make the opposite argument, I think as much exposure as Bonnaroo have given MMJ, I think MMJ have given continual credibility to a festival that continues to get worse every year, while keeping its prices the same. The late night Bonnaroo sets are the main draws for a lot of people. The superjam was a really cool thing, also, all the collaboration. 2 out of the 4 times I went, were ONLY to see  MMJ. With all the cool festivals (Hangout on the BEACH, Lolla in a cool city, Mt Jam up in the mountains) I have no idea (other than MMJ) why anyone would wanna trek out to that farm anymore. To me it's become the non-music fan's festival (then again, I'm getting old and cranky)..so I think MMJ playing the main stage is GREAT for them but kind of a bummer for fans

I've gone almost every year since 2005. Missed last year because of some BS but wanted to go badly. There are always at least 40 acts I want to see and I have a great time. There's an amazing amount of music on the lineup this year (and the years I've gone in the past) so that's why I would want to trek down there. I really enjoy it for more than just MMJ. This year I get to see Buffalo Springfield, Gregg Allman, The Black Keys, Robert Plant, Cold War Kids, Dr. John (twice!), and so much more all in one weekend. I'm so excited. I can't wait for My Morning Jacket and all the other great acts  ;D

[e_wind]

I don't think MMJ would take it as negative, either. I think it's a testament to how deservedly big they've gotten. But to make the opposite argument, I think as much exposure as Bonnaroo have given MMJ, I think MMJ have given continual credibility to a festival that continues to get worse every year, while keeping its prices the same. The late night Bonnaroo sets are the main draws for a lot of people. The superjam was a really cool thing, also, all the collaboration. 2 out of the 4 times I went, were ONLY to see  MMJ. With all the cool festivals (Hangout on the BEACH, Lolla in a cool city, Mt Jam up in the mountains) I have no idea (other than MMJ) why anyone would wanna trek out to that farm anymore. To me it's become the non-music fan's festival (then again, I'm getting old and cranky)..so I think MMJ playing the main stage is GREAT for them but kind of a bummer for fans

Have to agree here. Roo has become a non-music fans festival. I think this year is the break out proof of that? While they're grabbing acts as great and legendary as Neil Young and Buff Spring, they're bringing in acts like Lil Wayne. Between Lil Wayne and all the other 99.7 DJX bands playing, they are attracting a crowd that is just different than any other festival other than Coach. When it comes down to it, it's a festival for the masses, where as Waka or Mtn Jam are not. Honestly, that's not even a bad thing, it's just not what I personally want. I wa going to go this year for a MMJ 2008 repeat. For me that's enough to me to make the jump to waka this year, but it's all personal preference. Obviously there are music lovers at bonnaroo, and idiots at all festivals, I just think the ratio is higher at Roo. Between those factors and the environment I this there are many better choices.

[ALady]

The Superjam is back this year, though...   ???

[Penny Lane]

The Superjam is back this year, though...   ???

you got me there..

[ALady]

It ain't much, but I'll take it   ;D

I'm actually sort of annoyed that Dennis Coffey was added, he was one of the acts keeping me away from Roo this year...  ;D  (I'm supposed to see him here on Roo Thursday, dangit).

[e_wind]

Superjam is one aspect of Roo I've never seen, and I don't really get. What music do they play if its just a "super group"

[ALady]

Whatever they damn well please.   8)

[e_wind]

So... Covers of basically anything? Covers that many people would know or what?

[ALady]

Who knows what they'll do this year, but in the past it's been songs from the people participating in the jam and covers.  To wit, the '07 Superjam setlist (stolen from Inforoo):

Disc 1
01 Intro/Tuning
02 When The Levee Breaks*
03 Good Times Bad Times >
04 Bass Solo > Ramble On Jam >
05 Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)**
06 Drums Jam >
07 Dazed & Confused***

Disc 2
01 Banter
02 Superstitious^ >
03 Them Changes^ >
04 It's Your Thing^~
05 Introductions

Band:
John Paul Jones - bass
Ben Harper - slide guitar & vocals
Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson - drums


Notes:
* w/ Michael Ward (Ben Harper) on Bass & John Paul Jones on second lap steel guitar
** Cissy Strut teases
***Immigrant Song teases
^with Kirk Douglas (The Roots) on guitar & vocals
~I Wanna Take You Higher teases

Set is dated June 16 as it began after 12am.
Inner City Blues is by Marvin Gaye
Superstitious is by Stevie Wonder
Them Changes is by Buddy Miles (performed by Band of Gypsies)
It's Your Thing is by The Isley Brothers

[itrainmonkeys]

SuperJam used to be a bunch of musicians coming together and playing a bunch of songs. No real rhyme or reason.


The 2004 Superjam featured:

Stanton Moore, Maceo Parker, George Porter, Eric Krasno, Neil Evans, Papa Mali, Adam Deitch, Reggie Watts, The New Orleans Horns and others.

and they played:

01 - Intro
02 - Jam
03 - Check Out Your Mind
04 - The World Is A Little Bit Under The Weather Jam
05 - Shake Everything You Got
06 - If You Want Me To Stay
07 - I Walk On Gilded Splinters
08 - Unidentified Instrumental
09 - Soul Power


You can listen here: http://www.archive.org/details/superjam2004-06-134.flacf




2005 had Herbie Hancock, Pino Palladino and Questlove with I think a few others playing a mix of songs.



Some years they've put together a little theme or group for the show. In 2006 they had Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon from Phish play with the Benevento Russo Duo for a bunch of jammy songs. they even brought Phil Lesh out for some Grateful Dead tunes.


Other years it was less of the original superjams and more of a group with a theme. 2008 had Les Claypool and Gogol Bordello play a bunch of Tom Waits covers with Kirk Hammet from Metallica joining in.

2007 as listed above was a Zeppelin-themed superjam with some other tunes mixed in.



The last two years saw Superjam being left off the Bonnaroo schedules for one reason or another. Either cancelled last minute or other things took up the focus of the people running it. But this year they have vowed to bring it back by calling it Revenge of the Superjam and are putting a big focus on the collaboration aspect of Roo.

This year there are three sets that they are considering "Superjams":

• Dr. John and The Original Meters performing Desitively Bonnaroo
• SuperJam with Dan Auerbach and Dr. John
• Global Gypsy Punk Revue curated by Eugene Hütz


The set with Dan Auerbach (of the Black Keys) and Dr. John will likely be the most representative of the superjams of the past. Expect many guests and a lot of different tunes - likely classics and standards. I could see some Dr. John songs, maybe some New Orleans Funk or some old blues covers (The Black Keys covered a whole album of Junior Kimbrough songs in the past).

The one with Eugene Hutz (of Gogol Bordello) should be a wild time with a lot of Gogol members and other high energy music.

The final set with the Meters and Dr. John playing the full Desitively Bonnaroo album will be amazing and I expect some guests on that one as well.




can't wait.

[ALady]

Thanks ITM!  I knew you'd be on it.   

So wait....question about this:

This year there are three sets that they are considering "Superjams":

• Dr. John and The Original Meters performing Desitively Bonnaroo
• SuperJam with Dan Auerbach and Dr. John
• Global Gypsy Punk Revue curated by Eugene Hütz

I thought the Revue thing was going to be more like a curated tent, like David Byrne did that year?  I don't know if I read that somewhere or just assumed.

[itrainmonkeys]

I'm still not totally clear on what that will be. I think he will be curating a stage one day and I could see the "Global Punk Revue" either being a set of Superjam stuff with many guests on the stage that Eugene Hutz curates at the end of all the other acts or maybe it just refers to the whole day of different acts that will have a lot of collaboration.

This is from an e-mail from the band:

We play many amazing festivals all over the world but Bonnaroo has always held a special place in our hearts and Gogol Bordello will not only return to the scene of the crime this year but Eugene will be curating a Gypsy Punk Parranda stage with the Bonnaroo folks to help bring in some of our favorite flavors from all over the world. Hutz and Dubta will be Djing as well and plenty of other cool stuff to be announced. In other words Bonnaroo will prove once again the place to be ... Don't sleep until then. And stay plugged in here and Bonnaroo.com for more info and stage line-up as it develops. PARTY!!


So I guess we'll get more info....I just know that Bonnaroo has mentioned that this year they have 3 superjams and the Gypsy punk thing was one of them. Check it out here:

http://www.bonnaroo.com/news/2011/02/14/2011-revenge-of-the-superjam.aspx

[Ghosts_on_TV]

Getting back to mmj, anyone think maybe they chose to not play late night?

[EasyRyder]

Getting back to mmj, anyone think maybe they chose to not play late night?

I was thinking the same thing. The large number of festivals that they are playing, and only the handful of stand alone dates seem to suggest that they really do just want to introduce the new material and get their tour legs back under them.

Maybe a long Bonnaroo set just wasn't in their cards...I could understand that, especially since bonnaroo is early in the tour

[Erik26]

I don't think Bonnaroo is a festival for the masses at all. They may have some mainstream acts now but the schedule offers SO much more than any of the other festivals. Case and point--super jam, global punk review, shows that start at 3am, as well as the spirit of Bonnaroo.

Am I excited that Eminem and Lil Wayne are on the bill? Fuck no, I wish there were two other acts instead but one could say that about all the festival lineups.

As ITM has shown there really has only been one super long MMJ set and all of their Bonnaroo sets have been classified as classic so there really is no need to worry there.

I get that AF and Eminem might not be exciting for some and I think that is great because Bonnaroo schedules in a way that forces you to make decisions so you're only going to see shows that you really want to see. (unless you're camping in front waiting for a set)