6.04.2008

bonnaroo 2008


Where else can you see this many bands in one weekend for less than 300 bucks?

Tennessee has the dubious distinction of being the Country Music state. We have unbearably hot summers and more redneck hicks than you can count. We do have some diversity, though:
  • We have blues & barbecue on Beale Street in Memphis...and Elvis.
  • We have music stars and some pro sports teams in Nashville...and Al Gore.
  • We have some NCAA champions in Knoxville...birthplace of Quentin Tarantino.
  • We have some tourist attractions here in Chattanooga...birthplace of singers Usher and Bessie Smith, writer Arthur Golden; former hometown of Samuel L. Jackson.
Whatever. Those accolades ain't nothin' compared to what we have in Manchester, a mere 50 miles from my house.

We have bonnaroo music & arts festival and it is one mind-blowing event.

A recently-edited Wikipedia entry about Bonnaroo stated before it was removed:

"Once inside the festival, there is no law enforcement,
which means that illicit drug use of all varieties
is not only overlooked, it's basically encouraged.
Artists are often even seen partaking while on stage."

Yep. It's all there. Anything you want, anytime you want it. (Except indoor plumbing & air conditioning - c'mon, you can't have it all.) What's the word I'm looking for? Oh yeah: smorgasboard. Everyone you meet is your new best friend & everybody shares. Your only foe is the scorching southern summer sun. Of course, nobody is ever sober enough to try that much alliteration at Bonnaroo.

Bonnaroo is a music lover's dream and a recovering addict's nightmare. But it's more than a trip or a musical microcosm. It's an ephemeral Utopia. It's people from all walks of life coming together for a week, sharing their beliefs and passions, and enjoying great music while creating a harmonious society. Maybe the psychopharmaceuticals help. I overheard someone say (or maybe I said it - the details are fuzzy) last year at Bonnaroo: "man, if Congress got stoned together, they could fix everything that's wrong with this country!"

Next Bonnaroo blog topic: a listing of all the acts I'll try to see (the schedule is logistical hell), plus a special playlist for your enjoyment. Stay tuned...



No comments: