louisville or bonnaroo

[rats]

so from those of you lucky enough to attend both shows, which was better, the bonnaroo 08 or louisville show? i was lucky enough to attend the bonnaroo set from the front row, it was best show i've ever seen and didn't think it could get any better but people seem to be thinking pretty highly of the louisville show.......i'm going to red rocks this week and initially i had no expectations after bonnaroo thinking it would be impossible to top but i'm starting to get pretty excited. think they can make it another 3 hour show even with the keys opening?

[beeblebrox]

I may be wrong, but i doubt they will play as long on the other stops of the tour. but who knows, regardless i've seen them 5 times and they've never been short of amazing. each time i've brought someone along that really wasn't familiar with the band and they are converted after the show.

[Penny Lane]

the only show you can compare bonnaroo 08 with is bonnaroo 06--don't be silly

[Sassbox]

Bonnaroo, hands down.  I preferred the Nashville show to Louisville.

[Angry Ewok]

1. Bonnaroo 2008
2. Bonnaroo 2006
3. Louisville 2008

[blimeyha]

I enjoyed Nashville more than Louisville this weekend.  The lines were so bad in Louisville that it took away from the experience a little.  That said Bonnaroo crushed them both.

[elwood77]

1. Bonnaroo 2008
2. Bonnaroo 2006
3. Louisville 2008

I saw all 3, but have a slightly different take.

1. Bonnaroo 2006
2. Louisville 2008
3. Bonnaroo 2008

[j_rud]

I enjoyed Nashville more than Louisville this weekend.  The lines were so bad in Louisville that it took away from the experience a little.  That said Bonnaroo crushed them both.

Ive heard the line complaint several times, and all I can think when I see it is "is beer really that important?". When Im at a concert once I get to my spot my feet are glued to the floor/ground. Of course there might be extenuating circumstances like when someone has to use a bathroom, but I dont see how someone can complain about a show because the beer line is too long. Beer can wait. Its not worth leaving your spot for, whether it takes 5 minutes or 50.

[bigeazyfish]

I enjoyed Nashville more than Louisville this weekend.  The lines were so bad in Louisville that it took away from the experience a little.  That said Bonnaroo crushed them both.

Ive heard the line complaint several times, and all I can think when I see it is "is beer really that important?". When Im at a concert once I get to my spot my feet are glued to the floor/ground. Of course there might be extenuating circumstances like when someone has to use a bathroom, but I dont see how someone can complain about a show because the beer line is too long. Beer can wait. Its not worth leaving your spot for, whether it takes 5 minutes or 50.

J rud, I concur.  I was at Nashville and Louisville as well and was shocked at how many people would rather stand in line than watch history be made.  Absurd.

As for the ranking of shows, I didn't get to go to Bonnaroo in 06 or 08, but don't forget about Return to Thunderdome in the wind and rain of 'Roo 04.  I was at all 3 "Evening with..." shows (NYC, Nash, L'ville) and still have to say that the Bonnaroo 04 was the best experience.  The setlist of L'ville was better...and of course longer...but just the wind trying to knock down the stage and Jim's torrential reverb smacking it back was amazing.
;D

[Angry Ewok]

I wasn't at Bonnaroo '04, but it is definitely iconic.

[ltstridor02]

I enjoyed Nashville more than Louisville this weekend.  The lines were so bad in Louisville that it took away from the experience a little.  That said Bonnaroo crushed them both.

Ive heard the line complaint several times, and all I can think when I see it is "is beer really that important?". When Im at a concert once I get to my spot my feet are glued to the floor/ground. Of course there might be extenuating circumstances like when someone has to use a bathroom, but I dont see how someone can complain about a show because the beer line is too long. Beer can wait. Its not worth leaving your spot for, whether it takes 5 minutes or 50.

J rud, I concur.  I was at Nashville and Louisville as well and was shocked at how many people would rather stand in line than watch history be made.  Absurd.

As for the ranking of shows, I didn't get to go to Bonnaroo in 06 or 08, but don't forget about Return to Thunderdome in the wind and rain of 'Roo 04.  I was at all 3 "Evening with..." shows (NYC, Nash, L'ville) and still have to say that the Bonnaroo 04 was the best experience.  The setlist of L'ville was better...and of course longer...but just the wind trying to knock down the stage and Jim's torrential reverb smacking it back was amazing.
;D

Bonnaroo '04 was a life changing experience for me personally. My mind had not been blown like that before, and I have been hooked ever since, so I'd have to say the most important show.  
I'd have to vote for the Louisville show, simply because I like to see MMJ play MMJ songs. Although I enjoyed the covers, I can't get enough of their own music, and that was the first show I was able to see after the year and a half hiatus.
I have to add that the Philly show 12/1/06 at the electric factory was pretty fucking amazing also, but every show is pretty fucking amazing. Worth a listen though on the audio stream.

[Love Dogg]

I like to see MMJ play MMJ songs. Although I enjoyed the covers, I can't get enough of their own music...

Very good and very valid point. Touche`. ;)  I think more people should remember that.

[Penny Lane]

I like to see MMJ play MMJ songs. Although I enjoyed the covers, I can't get enough of their own music...

Very good and very valid point. Touche`. ;)  I think more people should remember that.

i agree--i like the idea of making a pilgrimmage down to TN every year to hear covers :-) hearing 'across 110th street' in the pouring rain in the middle of a field at 1am is the closest i'll probably get to a religious experience

[alexzbik]

1. Bonnaroo 2008
2. Bonnaroo 2006
3. Louisville 2008

I saw all 3, but have a slightly different take.

1. Bonnaroo 2006
2. Louisville 2008
3. Bonnaroo 2008

i was also at all 3 and would have to agree with AngryEwok.  Roo 06 might have been better musically (and might hold up better on tape) but 08 Roo was an experience I will never forget.  Being in that pouring rain for 4 striahgt hours was one of the best concert experiences of my life and I would easily rank it above 2006 Roo.  the rain effected the equipment so that is why I would say musically 2006 might get the nod.

[alexzbik]

and i was also at Roo 04 (return to thunderdome) and it was a life changing concert since it was my first time seeing MMJ.  it is something I will never forget but I wasn't a fan yet so I can't rank it over Roo 08, Roo 06, or Louisville 08.

[alexzbik]

REAX: At Bonnaroo last month you did a four-hour set, performing a half-dozen covers and Kirk Hammett of Metallica joining you on stage. How do you even begin to prepare for a marathon session like that?

TB: Most of it is planned and usually everything with us, if it's a live show, like when we did New Year's Eve in San Francisco, everything starts out as, "wouldn't it be funny if. . .?" And then fill in blank. The same thing with Bonnaroo, like "wouldn't if be funny if we did Motley Crue's 'Home Sweet Home' to end the show?" "Wouldn't it be awesome if we asked Kirk Hammett to come on stage?" It snowballs from there. As for the four-hour thing, we've done three hours two years ago. So we were like, "well, we have to do at least three hours." Laughs [size=14]It would've been over four hours but because of the rain some of the equipment got damaged and we weren't able to do some of the songs.[/size]

[Angry Ewok]

Top 5 Performances...

1. Bonnaroo 2008
2. Bonnaroo 2006
3. Nashville 2008
4. Louisville 2008

...And I'm predicting Madison-Square Garden 2008 may be even better than Nashville and Louisville - if not, it'll probably still be in the Top 5. I wish I could go.