The 10-hour lanes of traffic have been entered. Mud lanes are somewhat dried up. The tents are staked. And the “shower” situation is finally accepted. Let the Bonnaroo games begin!
With a “Bonnaroo Guide” boasting as many as 10 shows, signings and conferences at a time, your real life is pretty much forgotten and your music-fan life takes over here.
From the What Stage to the Which Stage to This Tent and That Tent to a serious debate regarding shows by like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Santogold at the same time ... it's enough to make our head hurt!
Festival favorites gracing the 'Roo range from NIN, Phish and Beastie Boys to radar bands like Girl Talk, Phoenix and Chairlift.
Once the schedule is set, there are other fest musts that must be attended to — like the Silent Disco, a DJ spinning to a crowd of headphone-equipped dancers, and the Arcade Discotheque, which is basically frenzy powered by Xbox 360.
Need a break from head-bobbing and booty-bouncing? The fest also includes dance performances, a cinema and educational seminars.
First on the buzz schedule is Passion Pit, a band that half-day traffic lines prohibited many fans from seeing Thursday night. Those who made it in saw a group that's bigger and badder than MGMT.
Gomez, who played Cleveland last month, performed at one of the fest's first afternoon slots. Armed with years of good old material and new goodies like "Airstream Driver," Gomez were an early highlight.
Now onto Animal Collective, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV on the Radio, Phoenix and Girl Talk … and back to the Silent Disco to close the night. —Carissa Bowlin
