I already wrote about Thursday's big highlight; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaking at the screening of The Last Mountain. Two people passed out from the heat while we were waiting in line. After that they moved the line faster and people got their first warning about Tennessee weather in June.
I had to miss a few bands to see the movie but I made it to Deerhunter. They sounded kind of like what I was expecting from My Morning Jacket, which was good.
Tammy and I both won stuffed Stewie's playing Plinko at the Adult Swim carnival!
One of the best things about Bonnaroo is discovering new bands and Friday started off with an excellent set by Sharon Van Etten, who I'd never heard of. My picture isn't very good but she played a few songs with some kind of tabletop accordion. I've never seen that before.
I saw a long list of great performances Friday but Ray Lamontagne was probably my favorite. Besides his own songs, he knocked my socks off with covers of Momma Tried by Merle Haggard, plus a medley of Neil Young's Down by the River and Pink Floyd.
We caught Austin alt-country band Hayes Carll on the small Sonic stage. They were great but I was disappointed that they didn't play She Left Me for Jesus.
I saw enough of Lil Wayne to know I wasn't missing much. Arcade Fire impresses me more every time I hear them.
I was looking forward to the Black Angels late night show as much as any band and they didn't disappoint.
The crowd at Bonnaroo is always interesting. I noticed more public nudity from both genders than in previous years.
It's not the hippie jam band fest it was the first year or two. The hipsters, hippies, and various counterculture music lovers all get along well. The only group whose anti-social behavior makes them stick out in a negative way is the frat boy crowd that seemed larger this year.
For example, suppose you're standing or sitting while listening to a great band at one of the smaller stages. Someone stands in the middle of a group at the edge of the crowd, and after dropping a can of cheap beer on the ground, starts to obnoxiously yell over the band, "Josh! Josh! Where the fuck are you!" I guess he can't just look around like everyone else does. The proper response is to help him out by yelling, "Josh! Your douchebag friend is looking for you!"
Anyway, the first two days were a blast.