Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Best: MMJ '08 (lifechanging) Galactic '10 (so much fun, the crowd really was the cherry on top) Pearl Jam '08 (fabulous perfect) Neon Indian '10 (didn't know them really beforehand, 1st full sent of the fest, amazing) White Stripes '07 (so lovely) Worst: OAR '08 (sooo bad, so offkey, so boring) Gaslight Anthem '10 (was looking forward to them - sounded terrible & should not do "witty" banter between songs) Police '07 (BOOORING) Regina Spektor '07 (so bad I have had a hard time liking her since)
And I loved Regina Spektor! Totally my fault that you had to stay for all of it ;D
All good, the way I look at it, every show is an experience. And I know I have made you stick through shows that weren't your personal fave. All balances out in the end!
Post by stallion pt. 2 on Jan 14, 2011 18:57:34 GMT -5
My best list culled EXCLUSIVELY from other peoples' worst lists:
The Flaming Lips '10 (Am I the only one who saw all 3 Roo Lips shows and enjoyed each one, although without a doubt 2003 was the best of the 3) Gabby La La '05 (Loved seeing the disappointed people leaving who had been chanting LES! LES! LES! before she went on.) James Brown '03 (except for the girl singing Janis songs - she was a turd - I had a lot of fun at this show, despite the heat). Beastie Boys '09 Yeah Yeah Yeahs '09 Ween 10 Stevie Wonder 10 Superjam in 08 Flaming Lips in 07 mgmt 08 Buddy Guy (2006) elvis costello 06 Beck (06) - still don't understand the hate for this one Tegan and Sara 08 Neil Young 03 Pearl Jam, 2008
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
Been to every Bonnaroo except '02 and '06. Loved almost every set with very few exceptions. I'll list my favorites from every year, along with a few dissapointments. Favorites: 2010: Trombone Shorty/Black Keys/Avett Brothers 2009: Beastie Boys/Rodrigo y Gabriela/Al Green (that's baby makin music) 2008: Robert Randolph Revival/Yonder Mountain/WSP 2007: Galactic/Superjam/SCI (first set) 2005: The Word/Galactic/Yonder Mountain/Jack Johnson/Allman Brothers, WSP (2nd night my favorite show ever), etc. 2004: Dave Matthews and Friends/North Mississippi Allstars/SCI 2003: Neil Young/Jack Johnson/The Meters
Now for the failures: 2010: Tenacious D, Les Claypool, Steve Martin (too much schtic) 2009: Phish's final set (nothing special to finish the festival) 2008: Kanye West (easily the worst show ever. I would rather see a fat hippie take a Leno in the portapotty) 2007: Tool, The Police (no headliner should finish that early, Stevie Wonder gets a pass because he was awesome) 2005: Perfect in every way 2004: Bob Dylan, The Dead (ruined by weather i reckon)
Wow, that list was way longer than I planned. And I could list hundreds more that were very special. Hoping for another outstanding year on the farm!
GRAB 06 - Totally unexpected, really was a great time.
Radiohead 06 - Top five headliner, easily. They had a ton of unreleased stuff at this show and it still went over perfectly.
Pearl Jam 08 - Loved every minute of this
MMJ 2006 - Cut this one short, but damn.
Grace Potter -> Grizzly Bear 2009 - This was a near perfect lineup for a mid-afternoon for me. GP was everywhere that year and nailed it every time. Grizzly Bear was a treat in seeing them for the first time.
The National 2010 - I ended up shooting this show from the front of second stage. Right time for the right band. It was better than their 07 set.
NIN - This was packed. I'd probably feel better about this show if I hadn't already seen a 'wave goodbye' show.
Jack Johnson 03 - I hate to say this, but I loved his 03 set. Its light years ahead of 2008
UM 08 - I was sad to see them have a short set in the middle of the day, but this was pure fire. I wish the liveUM didn't suck so hard.
Best all star: Ben Harper 03, 07, 09
This guy truly exemplifies what the Roo means to me. He's pulled out the stops at all of his shows. JPJ and marley guest in 07, SMOKING BH&r7 set that NO ONE saw in 09. Plus the super jam in 07. This guy brings the heat every time he's on stage at the roo.
Worst: Neil Young 03 - I just couldn't get into this. I was so amped to see him again and it just fell apart so quickly for me. I guess i should have stuck around for this according to everyone else.
MGMT 08,09 - Both sets were plain terrible. I only caught the latter half of this in 09 after floating between NIN and BH, but this was plain shit. After 08, I don't get how they got bumped up to a late night set.
Jack Johnson 08 - Zzzzz. Boring as hell. Even the great guests couldn't save this. It was literally like listening to the radio.
The Police 07 - My expectations ruined this show. You can't wait nearly 20 years for something to be happen and have it blow your mind.
The Flaming Lips '10 (Am I the only one who saw all 3 Roo Lips shows and enjoyed each one, although without a doubt 2003 was the best of the 3)
You aren't the only one to see them all friend ;D
My biggest problem with seeing them is that they are always stuck at which and that is never a good plan. Plus I had some bad interactions with the people around me, so I kinda got crap for their shows sans 2003.
I did get to see a guy try to jam out his eyeballs with his thumbs at 07. That was pretty much it for me there.
My best list culled EXCLUSIVELY from other peoples' worst lists:
Beastie Boys '09
Flaming Lips in 07
Beck (06) - still don't understand the hate for this one
I don't understand the hate for Beastie Boys either. I thought they killed it. Great stage presence, great energy, great setlist, Mix Master Mike AND Money Mark
Flaming Lips '07 is my single favorite show I've been to. I thought his "rambling" was more like spot-on political criticism. But the setlist and show were phenomenal
I enjoyed Beck, I just didn't like the crowd. Where I was, I was the ONLY ONE into it. During "E-Pro", I thought the whole crowd was going to sing the "na na na na na na na na" part, but I was the only person in my area who was singing it. The people around me had crossed arms and looked at me like "what is wrong with you?"
To the guy who asked about The Police, for me it was two things: absolutely zero stage presence or chemistry and a way-too-short set (I remember thinking when they walked off stage before the encore "Are they seriously going off now? It's only been an hour"). Other than that, it was an alright show, just way worse than it should have been.
Last Edit: Jan 15, 2011 16:30:18 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Post by stallion pt. 2 on Jan 15, 2011 17:47:15 GMT -5
My Worst list:
WSP every year but 02 Superjam 06 (most disappointing superjam ever) Phil & Friends 06 (I left when it started raining) Phish Friday (gave em a chance but bailed to see bits of Phoenix, Public Enemy and Femi Kuti, who were all better IMHO) String Cheese 2002 (Thankfully I was so loaded I couldn't really hear the music. I actually had a good time but listening to (and watching) that show in (sober) hindsight the music was terrible.) The Police (easily the most dissappointing Headliner ever) Kanye (or rather, waiting for Kanye) Margaret Cho 2010 (actually, everyone in that show was either terrible or inaudible. I felt bad for Brendan Benson being there).
That's pretty much it. Everything else I've seen in 9 Bonnaroos has been acceptable to awesome.
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
Post by jesmith5508 on Jan 15, 2011 18:18:17 GMT -5
my list...
My Favorites: Tool, 2007 The White Stripes, 2007 Gov't Mule, 2007 Levon Helm, 2008 Sigur Ros, 2008 The Fiery Furnaces, 2008 Bluegrass All-Stars, 2008 Katzenjammer, 2009 David Byrne, 2009 Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3, 2009 Grizzly Bear, 2009 The National, 2010 Daryl Hall & Chromeo, 2010 Jeff Beck, 2010 Medeski Martin and Wood, 2010
My Least Favorites: The Little Ones, 2007 Widespread Panic, 2007 North Mississippi All-Stars, 2007 Dark Star Orchestra, 2008 Pearl Jam, 2008 Widespread Panic, 2008 MGMT, 2009 (saw 2008 which was better) Charlie Allen, 2009
2010: 3/12: The Bad Plus/Happy Apple/Buffalo Collision/The Bad Apple 6/10-13: Bonnaroo 6/19: Rock the Garden 7/30-31: Mid West Music Fest 8/21: Los Hombres Calientes 8/31: Marijuana Death Squads 9/11: The Book of Right On w/ City on the Make 9/23: Of Montreal w/ Janelle Monae 10/4: Broken Social Scene 11/23: Grinderman
Post by BRCHLD LFNT on Jan 15, 2011 21:28:38 GMT -5
Been every year since 07 so I'll give it a shot.
Best: Mute Math 07 (blew my mind for a thursday show) Tool 07 Flaming Lips 07 (first flaming lips show so yeah.) White Stripes 07 Chris Rock>Metallica 08 Sigur Ros 08 (Can't believe I left before it was over, you can guess why) Girl Talk 09 (people dislike GT and I get why, but this show was the most fun I've ever had anywhere, ever.) Nine Inch Nails 09 Bassnectar/LCD Soundsystem 10 Jeff Beck 10 (I'm glad so many people were at Weezer. 4th row for a legend. Amazing show) Jay-Z 10 (late nights in 2010 were all insanely great. I'm just sad there isn't two of me sometimes) Deadmau5 10 (daft punk-esque lights in a tent. Great show)
Worst:
Police 07 (left after 6 songs to get a spot for the FLips. Good call.) Kanye 08 (I wanted to like this show. Too bad that was ruined before it even got started.) Animal Collective/TV on the Radio 09 (maybe it was just the which stage mid-day but both bands sound quality sucked. Luckily the YYY's saved the day.)
Just out of curiosity, how many of you were actually at the Kanye set in 08 and saw him perform? I know a lot of people are listing it as one of their worst (for obvious reasons), but when I finally gave up waiting and left to get some sleep (about 4am, I think) there weren't that many people still standing there. Even at 3:15 when I left the also barren cinema tent after Christmas on Mars to see what I thought would be the tail-end of the Kanye show, the What stage was like a ghost town and I was able to walk right up front to see the non-event.
I'm just wondering how it was whenever he finally went on and how many people were still there.
Just out of curiosity, how many of you were actually at the Kanye set in 08 and saw him perform? I know a lot of people are listing it as one of their worst (for obvious reasons), but when I finally gave up waiting and left to get some sleep (about 4am, I think) there weren't that many people still standing there. Even at 3:15 when I left the also barren cinema tent after Christmas on Mars to see what I thought would be the tail-end of the Kanye show, the What stage was like a ghost town and I was able to walk right up front to see the non-event.
I'm just wondering how it was whenever he finally went on and how many people were still there.
There was a decent size crowd, probably about half the field. The set itself was awful, partly because the sun was coming up (which killed whatever light show there might have been) and Kanye was off (perhaps from partying too much earlier that night?)
I left after an hour. On my way out Kanye told his computer, Jane, that he needed some pu$$y
Last Edit: Jan 17, 2011 0:34:13 GMT -5 by Deleted - Back to Top
Post by The Gr8 Wormholio on Jan 17, 2011 0:52:38 GMT -5
There weren't many people at Kanye. I stayed for the whole show. The only really great part was when he opened with "Good Morning" as the sun was coming up behind the crowd. Which was actually the downfall of his set. Apparently his light show was supposed to be killer.
Post by The Gr8 Wormholio on Jan 17, 2011 1:04:29 GMT -5
Best sets: MMJ '08, Phoenix "10, Stevie Wonder '10, NIN '09, Daryl Hall and Chromeo, Yeah Yeah Yeahs '09, Passion Pit '09.
There is no such thing as a bad set at Bonnaroo. If you don't think a set is good, there is sure to be one going on somewhere else. That being said, Bruce Springsteen was pretty lackluster. He really lost the crowd when he played "Santa Clause is coming to town" in the middle of June.
Post by TalonissinolaT on Jan 17, 2011 1:54:33 GMT -5
some of these are better/worse for reasons other than the music...
Best: 06: Radiohead, Buddy Guy, Jr. Gong, MM&W, G. Love & Special Sauce 07: White Stripes, Superjam, Flaming Lips, MuteMath, The Nightwatchman 08: MMJ, Raconteurs, Lupe Fiasco, Robert Randolph's Revival, Ghostland Observatory (waited on kanye for a second, then decided to take a walk and found them...best decision ever)
Worst: 06: Sonic Youth, Mike Gordon & Ramble Dove (was excited to see mike, but was quickly bored to death and left) 07: Police, Wolfmother 08: Metallica, Robert Plant & Allison Krauss (hot and boring)
I don't understand the hate for Beastie Boys either. I thought they killed it. Great stage presence, great energy, great setlist, Mix Master Mike AND Money Mark
.
Seriously? They closed with Sabotage and messed it up 3 times and had to re-start. That show was embarrassing.
Post by The Gr8 Wormholio on Jan 17, 2011 12:27:59 GMT -5
Jello Biafra, That's not how I meant that. Of course there really are bad sets and we should discuss them. A set technically means the whole show. If a band or whatever isn't great or aren't bringing it that day, the beauty of Bonnaroo is there will always be something else going on. I think I just mean a bad set won't ruin your weekend, even if you were looking forward to that show.
i dont know it could of been the amount of people that was there for such a small band. i thought it was gonna be smaller and more intimate. i guess it had nothing to do with their performance.
I see what you're saying, I definitely expected much less people there as well.
Just out of curiosity, how many of you were actually at the Kanye set in 08 and saw him perform?
i did, for the whole thing. that show isn't on my worst list, but it's not on my best list. that said, i had a great time. only at bonnaroo can you see kanye west perform at 5am. for that alone, i will have good memories of that show. it wasn't great, but it wasn't as bad as the people who didn't even bother to stick around sure make it out to be. kanye deserves the shit he got for it, no doubt, but there are way more people who like to talk shit about it than were actually there.
Post by luckyusername on Jan 18, 2011 14:38:25 GMT -5
BEST: My Morning Jacket (you know the one) Jay-Z Bassnectar last year! Mastodon in 08
WORST: Tom Petty was so aweful in 06 Kanye was pretty bad dude. I stayed too, because I was camping where I had no choice but to either listen from my van, or walk 50 yards and watch it...I have seen him 2 other times, both other sets were amazing in comparison, it was pretty bad.
I was there for the Kanye debacle as well, but you're right in assuming alot of the people complaining never showed up. It became the running joke of the weekend to randomly chant "Kanye Sucks" at any pause in action. I credit Robert Randolph for starting the chant at the end of his amazing Sunday set, but people definately were thinking it. It has become so infamous for several reasons...
1. He showed up over 2 hours late, and the big screen next to the stage kept updating his new time every 20-30 min. So people would go do something else, walk back and still got nothing. And the laser light show (which was the only reason I stayed) was hardly noticed in the daylight 2. All the other performers were allegedly asked to cut their sets short. And the only way to make a Deadhead angry, is to tell them Phil Lesh is stopping early for a premadona with no musical talent 3. Kanye never acknowledged the crowd at any point in the hour I stayed. Alot of people made the trip for him (poor souls), the least he could do was apologize for the mix up 4. I was told he finished 20 minutes early, which is bogus for any headliner not named Stevie Wonder (see Police 2007) 5. He was just plain awful. In between songs he would talk to a female robot voice which I think was called Karen. I remember thinking that I would have to raid Shakedown Street just to believe he was actually talking to a robot.
So thats my rant on the infamous Kanye show. That being said, I would love him back on the farm so I can throw more things at him
I was there for the Kanye debacle as well, but you're right in assuming alot of the people complaining never showed up. It became the running joke of the weekend to randomly chant "Kanye Sucks" at any pause in action. I credit Robert Randolph for starting the chant at the end of his amazing Sunday set, but people definately were thinking it. It has become so infamous for several reasons...
1. He showed up over 2 hours late, and the big screen next to the stage kept updating his new time every 20-30 min. So people would go do something else, walk back and still got nothing. And the laser light show (which was the only reason I stayed) was hardly noticed in the daylight 2. All the other performers were allegedly asked to cut their sets short. And the only way to make a Deadhead angry, is to tell them Phil Lesh is stopping early for a premadona with no musical talent 3. Kanye never acknowledged the crowd at any point in the hour I stayed. Alot of people made the trip for him (poor souls), the least he could do was apologize for the mix up 4. I was told he finished 20 minutes early, which is bogus for any headliner not named Stevie Wonder (see Police 2007) 5. He was just plain awful. In between songs he would talk to a female robot voice which I think was called Karen. I remember thinking that I would have to raid Shakedown Street just to believe he was actually talking to a robot.
So thats my rant on the infamous Kanye show. That being said, I would love him back on the farm so I can throw more things at him
I thought the robot was Jane? I was there, and yes, Kanye sucks.
Post by ineedtosleep on Jun 17, 2011 12:29:33 GMT -5
Kellee Maize was the worst act at Bonnaroo 2011. There was a lot of hype about her on blogs and her YouTube video's. Then when I witnessed why so many people were in an uproar I totally understood! Complete garbage!
Post by highcountrychillin on Feb 13, 2012 19:28:24 GMT -5
Tool 2007 . never seen a field of people taken over like that. A group of grown (30-40) men were beside me the whole time and by the end of the show they had shirts off/ sweat covered and ready to go another 2 hours . This started the infamous mooooooing
Tool 2007 . never seen a field of people taken over like that. A group of grown (30-40) men were beside me the whole time and by the end of the show they had shirts off/ sweat covered and ready to go another 2 hours . This started the infamous mooooooing
mooooing started well before 07, brah
and I don't think there is 'hatred' for the Police, just severe disappointment in seeing them fall flat on their faces